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IN^DIA^N^. 



HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, 



IXjILiTJSTI^.A.a?EID. 



CHICAGO: 

F. A. BATTEY & CO., PUBLISHERS. 

1883. 



4 n'^x 

'Of 










>f 



PREFACE. 



THIS volume goes forth to our natrons the result of months of arduous, un- 
remittincr and conscientious labor. None so well know as those who have 
been associated with us the almost insurmountable difficulties to be met with 
in the preparation of a work of this character. Since the inauguration of the 
enterprise, a large force has been employed in gathering material. 
Durina this time, most of the citizens of the four counties have been 
called"upon to contribute from their recollections, carefully preserved 
letters, scraps of manuscript, printed fragments, memoranda, etc. Public 
records and semi-official documents have been searched, the newspaper 
files of the counties have been overhauled, and former citizens, now living 
out of the counties, have been corresponded with, for the verification of the 
information by a conference with many. In gathering from these numei-ous 
sources, both for the historical and biographical departments, the conflicting 
statements, the discrepancies and the tallible and incomplete nature of pub- 
lic documents, were almost appalling to our historians and biographers, who 
were expected to weave therefrom with some degree of accuracy, in panoramic 
review a record of events. Members of the same families disagree as to the 
spellin'<T of the family name, contradict each otlier's statements as to dates of 
birth of settlement in the counties, nativity and other matters of fact. In 
this entangled condition, we have given preference to the preponderance of 
authority, and while we acknowledge the existence of errors and our inability 
to furnish 2. perfect history, we claim to have come up to the standard of our 
promises, and given as accurate a work as the nature of the surround- 
ings would permit. Whatever may be the verdict of those who do 
no"t and will not comprehend the difficulties to be met with, we feel assured 
that all just and thoughtful people will appreciate our efforts, and recognize 
the importance of the undertaking and the great public benefit that has been 
accomplished in preserving the valuable historical matter of the counties and 
biographies of many of their citizens, that perhaps would otherwise have passed 
into oblivion. To those who have given us their support and encourage- 
ment, we acknowledge our gratitude, and can assure them that as years 
go by the book will grow in value as a repository not only of pleasing 
reading matter, but of treasured information of the past that will become 
an enduring monument. 

October, 1883. THE PUBLISHERS. 



CONTENTS. 



PART I. 

THE OLD NORTHWEST. 



I'AGK. 

Early History and Early Occupancy 11 

Accession of the Hritish 17 

Clark's i'aiupaign 19 

County Illinois 20 

I>evelopnieut of the State 30 

Division of the Northwest Territory 21 

Formation of Counties 30 



l>A(iE 

French Settlement, The 16 

Lords of the Soil, The 23 

Organization of the Northwest Territory. 20 

Organization of the State 29 

I'ublic Lands 28 

War of 1«12. The 26 



PART IT. 

HISTORY or WARREN COUNTY. 



OEO logy AND Sf.TTLKMENT 31 

Advantages, Natural 31 

Black Hawk War 40 

Bowlders, The 33 

Chatterlie Reservation 40 

Cicott, Zachariah 3() 

Cicott and the Harrison Campaign 38 

Cicott After the War 39 

Coal 34 

Drainage 31 

Factories, Early 4") 

Indians, The 3() 

Land Entries, First 4'i 

Landscape, The 32 

Library, County 4'J 

McClure Workingmen's Institute 4H 

Mills, Early 4o 

Mound- Builders. The 35 

Old-Time Customs 44 

Railroads 49 

Sandstone .34 

Settlement by the Whites 41 

Surface (ieology .'13 

Topography 32 

Township, Medina, 18.36 ."iS 

Town.ship, Mound, 1836 49 

Township, I'ike, 1836 50 

Town.ship, Pine, 1836 52 

Townshiii, Warren, 1836 51 

Township, Washington, 1836 HO 

Vigilant Companies 47 

Wfld Animals 40 

CoiTNTY OR<iANIZ.\Tli>S 53 

Acts of < oniraissioners 63 

Agents of Thrce-per-cent Fund 79 

Boun<iary Alteration, County •'>7 

Ik)undary Alteration, Township 61 

Circuit ( ourt, First Sitting of. .57 

Circuit Court, Second Session of. 58 

Circuit Court, Subsequent .Sessions of. 59 

Circuit Court Clerks 78 

Circuit Court .ludges 79 

Commissioners 78 

Common Pleas .ludges 79 

Coroners 79 

County Agents 80 



I'AOE- 

County Officers 78 

Court Houses 64 

Court House, The New 65 

Creation of County 53 

Creation of Townships 61 

Cutter Bar Manufacturing Company 77 

Election Returns, First 55 

Election Returns, 1S27 to 1880 70-76 

lOstablishment of County Seat 54 

Fair, Warren County 68 

Finances, County....". 80 

("■rangers. The 78 

Medical ."society 77 

Name of County 66 

Old .'Settlers' Association 69 

Organization of County 54 

Pauper, First County 66 

Politics, County .'. 70 

Poor Farm 67 

Population of County 66 

Probate Court, First ^9 

Probate Court, Second 60 

Probate .ludges 79 

Recapitulation of Taxes, 1882 84-85 

Recorders 79 

He-location of County Scat 56 

Roads, (iravel 77 

School Commissioners 79 

Sheriffs 79 

Surveyors 79 

Statisticsof 1K40 69 

Tal>le of Receipts and Expenditures 82-83 

Treasurers 79 

Vote for August, 1.S27 70 

Towns ani> Villages RT) 

Baltimore 113 

Carbondale 114 

Chesapeake 114 

County Press 96 

Orecn Hill, or Milford 107 

lledrick 114 

Independence 100 

.lolinsonville 114 

Marshlield Ill 

Milford, or (irecn Hill 107 



CONTENTS : 



HISTORY OP WARBEN COUNTY.— Continued. 



PAGE. 

Towns and Villages.— Continued. 

Pine Village 106 

Point Pleasant 114 

Rainsville 109 

State Line City 104 

Warrenton 85 

West Lebanon 97 

West Lebanon's Incorporation 99 

West Lebanon's Industries 98 

West Lebanon's Newspapers 99 

West Lebanon's Population 100 

West Lebanon Railroad Station 98 

West Lebanon's Secret Societies 100 

Williams2)0rt 86 

Williamsport's Merchants and Mechanics.. 87 

Williamsport's Mills and Factories 92 

Williamsport, New Town 93 

Williamsport's Postmasters and Attorneys 93 

Williamsport's Present Business 95 

Williamsport's Secret Societies 94 

Military History of Warren County 115 

Assassination of President IJncoln 133 

Battles in which Warren County Men Par- 
ticipated 134 

Campaign of the Warren Guards 120 

Call of August 4, 1862 124 

Call of October, 1863 126 

Call of April 23, 1864 126 

Call of July 16, 1864 126 

Call of September 19, 1864 127 

Close of the Pvebellion 132 

County Bounty 130 

Democratic Meeting 120 

Draft of October 6, 1862 125 

Enlistments, Continued 121 

Enlistments Under the Calls of July and 

August, 1862 122 

Enlistments During 1803 125 

Fall of Atlanta 128 

First County Relief. 119 

Late Civil Strife, The 115 

Letters from Camp and Field 119 



page. 

Lincoln's Second Inauguration 132 

Military Officers from Warren County 129 

Militia System, The Old 115 

One Hundred Days' Service Men 126 

Opposition to the War 132 

Soldiers of the Wars Prior to 1861-65 115 

Re-organization of Company B 120 

Return of the Soldier Boys 133 

Return of the Warren Guards 120 

Roll of Honor 135 

Summary of Troops from Warren County. 134 

Union Soldiers' Picnic 129 

Volunteering, Continued 118 

War Meeting, First 117 

War Jleeting, Second 118 

AVar Meeting of July 19 123 

War Meeting of July 21 123 

Williamsport Literary Society 129 

Education in Warren County , 13S 

p:arly Schools, The 13S 

Green Hill Seminary 144 

High Schools 140 

Moot Legislature of Indiana 147 

Schoolhouses and School Funds 139 

State Line City Seminary 142 

Warren County Seminary 141 

West Lebanon Seminary 144 

Williamsport Debating Society 145 

Religion in Warren County 148 

Circuit Riders, The 148 

Gopher Hill Church 150 

Grand Prairie Ilarmonial Association 154 

Humanitarian Society of Spiritualists 156 

Independence Churches ^150 

Marshfield Churches 152 

Pine Village Churches 153 

Rainsville Churches 152 

State Line City Churches 152 

West Lebanon Churches 151 

Williamsport Churches lo3 



BIO«RAPHICAIi SKETCHES. 



page. 

J. Q. Adams Township 196 

Jordan Township 192 

Kent Township 177 

Liberty Township 188 

Medina Township 194 

Mound Township 175 



PAGE. 

Pike Township 166 

Pine Township 202 

Prairie Township 209 

Steuben Township 180 

Warren Township 184 

AVilliamsport and Washington Township 157 



PORTKAIT. 



St. John, Seth, between pages . 



.58-59 



PART III. 
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 



PAGE. 

General County Matters 213 

Apostrophe to the Old Court House 251 

Changes in Townships 222 

County Farm and Buildings 238 

Courts, Early 231 

Court House, First in the County 234 

Court House, Second at Oxford 236 

Court House at Fowler 247 

Creation of Townships 222 

Early Elections 228 

Erection of Public Buildings 233 

Jail, First in Benton County 235 

Jail, Second in the County 238 

Jail at Fowler 252 

Land Entries, Early 222 

L<ioation of Seat of Justice 233 



PAGE. 

Marriages, Early 218 

Organization of the County 226 

Re-location of County Seat 241 

Settlement of the County 214 

Soil, The 214 

Timber 214 

Military History of Benton County 252 

Benton's First Company 262 

Benton's Second Company 257 

Benton's Third Company 262 

Benton's Other Volunteers 265 

Conclusion 274 

Public Sentiment aud Civil Action 271 

Rebellion, The Great 252 



CONTENTS : 
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY.— Continued. 



I'AOE. 

Past Events— Presknt Condition 274 

Anibia, Town of. 315 

Associate Judges 283 

Auditors, Couuty 284 

Bar of Benton County 318 

BoBwell, Town of. 314 

Bridges 283 

Cattle Disease in 1868 318 

Churches 296 

Clerks, County 283 

Commissioners 284 

Common Pleas Judges 283 

Coroners, County 284 

County Officers 283 

Earl Park, Town of 312 

Fowler, Town of. 308 

Justices of the Peace 285 

Lands Entered by H. L. Ellsworth 275 

Miscellaneous Acts of the Board 317 

Miscellaneous Items 316 

Murder 315 

Newspapers 291 

Otterbein, Town of 315 



PAGE. 

Oxford, Town of. .TO5 

Pioneers and their Acts 318 

Presbyterianism in Benton County 301 

Probate Judges 283 

Kailroads 276 

Kaub, Town of. 312 

Recorders, County 284 

Roads, State and County '282 

Schools and Schoolhouses 287 

Sherilfs, County 284 

Societies and Associations 2'Jl 

Spaulding Tragedy, The 274 

Sunday Schools 303 

Surveyors, County 284 

Talbot, Town of. 315 

Telephone, The 305 

Teiiipleton, Town of 313 

Towns of Benton County .305 

Township Trustees 285 

Treasurers, County 284 

Voting Population at Intervals by Town- 
ships 275 



»IO«KAPHIC'AIi NKKT('UE.S. 



Bolivar Township 339 

Centre Township 323 

Fowler, Town of. 323 

Gilboa Township 405 

Grant Township. .372 

Hickory Grove Township 380 



Oak (irove Township 347 

Parish Grove Township 384 

Pine Township 386 

Richland Township 393 

Union Township 396 

York Township 389 



POKI'KAITS. 



Atkinson, Robert M 289 

Dunn, James 239 

McConnell, David 2r.i 



Raub, .\. D 229 

Robertson, Henry 249 

Sumner, E. C, and Mrs. E. C 2tW 



Residence of Amos Hagenbuch 27'J 

Residence of Henry Robertson 259 



VIEWS. 

Residence of John E. Morgan 299 



PART IV. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 



PA(.K. 

Formation of County 40'j 

Agriculture 419 

-Agricultural Societies 427 

Cabin, The 441 

Changes in Topography i 414 

Churches 472 

Church Summary 475 

County Officials 454 

County Superintendent's Statement 479 

Courts, The Early 455 

Crime 456 

Economical (ieology 413 

Farm, The 441 

First White Settlements 436 

Game, The 438 

Geology 411 

Horses 423 

Jasper County AsrricuUural Society 427 

Ja.sper Rangers, The 458 

Life on the I'rairie 440 

Live Stock 420 

Material Resources 414 

Mills and Markets 443 

Origin of Name 410 

Physical Features 411 

Political Organization 446 

Prairie Fires .*. 415 

Prairie Travel -144 

Prens, The 469 

Primitive Society 460 

Public Buildings 451 

Roads, Early 463 



P.VHE. 

Railroads J65 

I .'schools 475 

School Funds ■^'^ 

School Fund, Coninion 480 

.■School Fund, Congressional 480 

School Funds, Condition of 4«i 

Secret ."Societies 4,>ji 

Settlement of the County 431 

.Social Development of the County 459 

Swamp Lands 429 

Military History of Jasper County 485 

Artillery, Fourth Battery 504 

Bounty and Relief Funds 489 

Calls for Troops 487 

Cavalry, Twelfth ."502 

Infantry, Ninth 489 

Infantry, Fifteenth 492 

Infantry, Seventeenth 494 

Infantry, Forty-eighth 495 

Infantry, Eighty-seventh 49G 

Soldiers' .Md Society 489 

Tables Showing Enlistments, etc 488 

Growth of Vii,t.Aiih:.s ."ios 

Blue (IrasM SettleiiH'nt 617 

David.sonville ,516 

Fork's ,'<el I lemeut, The .'lU 

Remington, Town of ."in 

Rensselaer, Town cf. 508 

Saltillo Village 611 



CONTENTS : 
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.— Continued. 



BiOliRAPHICAIi .SKETCHES. 



PAGE. 

Barkley Township 567 

Carpenter Township 542 

Gillam Township 571 

Hanging Grove Township 560 

Jordan Township 549 

Kankakee Township 590 

Keener Township 583 

Marion Township 523 



, ., PAGE. 

Milroy Township 555 

Newton Township 557 

Remington, Town of. 542 

Rensselaer, Town of 523 

Union Township 562 

Walker Township 587 

Wheatlield Township 589 



Hammond, E. P. 



PORT It A ITS. 

417 I Newels, David B 



PART V. 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 



Erection of County 593 

Archaeology .% 618 

Benevolent Societies 683 

Cabin, The 643 

Churches 676 

Church Statistics 678 

County Officials 664 

County Seat, The, 657 

Economic Geology 618 

Farm, The 645 

Game, The 641 

Garden Vegetables and Seeds 620 

Geological Survey 608 

Indians, The 631 

Material Resources 608 

Mills and Markets 647 

Origin of Name 603 

Paleozoic Geology 616 

Physical Features 604 

Politics 674 

Political Organization 657 

Prairie Banditti 639 

Prairie Travel 649 

Press, The 674 

Primitive Society 650 

Public Buildings 662 

Recent Geology 610 

Railroads 669 



Roads, Early 667 

Schools 678 

School Funds 680 

Sections of Bores and Deep Wells 611 

Settlement, Early 638 

Settlers, First 666 

Social Development 666 

Surface Configuration 609 

Swamp Lands 621 

Table of Educational Interests 683 

Then and Now 604 

Traces of Earliest Inhabitants 624 

Newton County in the War 685 

Infantry, Fifty-first 691 

Infantry, Ninety-ninth 693 

Militia, State 685 

Regiment, Ninth 688 

Regiment, Fifteenth 689 

Regiment, Fifty-first 689 

Regiment, Ninety -ninth 690 

Regiment, One Hundred and Twenty- 
Eighth 690-^96 

Volunteers, The 688 

Village Growth of the County 700 

Goodland 705 

Kentland 700 

Morocco 707 

Railroad Towns, The 710 



BIOGRAPHICAL. SKKTCHES. 



Beaver Township 786 

Goodland, Town of. 751 

Grant Township 751 

Iroquois Township 779 

Jackson Township 796 

Jefferson Township 715 



Kentland, Town of. 715 

Lake Township 804 

Lincoln Township 808 

McClellan Township 802 

Washington Township 767 



PORTRAITS. 



Hartley, C. W 671 

Johnston, John Z 653 



Kent, Alexander J 601 

Ward, Peter H 6:« 



PART I. 

THE OLD NORTHWEST 



EARLY HISTOHY AND EARLY OCCUPANCY. 

BY .1. H. BATTLE. 

TT"rHEN the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the General Govern- 
^^ ment by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying be- 
tween the Ohio and the Mississippi llivers, and north to the limits of the 
United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States 
of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and that portion of Min- 
nesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The river was at 
that time the western boundary of the United States, but by the purchase 
of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundaiy was removed to the Rocky 
Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. This later addition has been 
called xhe " New Northwest" in distinction from the old " Northwestern 
Territory. " 

In the year 1541, De Soto fii'st saw the " Great ^Vest" of the New 
World, but penetrated no further north than the thirty-fifth parallel of 
latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half 
his army, the remainder of which found its way to Cuba and thence to 
Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. The Spaniard founded 
no settlements, left no permanent traces, and accomplished little more 
than to awaken the hostility of the natives and leave a disheartening fail- 
ure to discourage such as might have been ready to follow his success in 
a career of discovery for better purposes. Complete as this failure 
proved, it opened up to the Old World a theater of activity which subse- 
quently engrossed the attention of all Europe. It was a full centmy, 
however, before any Berious attem])t was made to realize on the possibili- 
ties suggested by De Soto's expedition. In IGIC, four years before the 
pilgrims "moored their bark on the wild New England shore," LeCaron, a 
French Franciscan, had penetrated through the country of the Iroquois 
and Wyandots to the streams which run into Lake Hiu'on, and in 1G34 
two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. 
It was just one hundred years from Do Soto's advent upon the Mississiji- 
pi until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest 



12 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. It was not 
until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a 
winter in the frozen wilds about the great Jakes, and not until a year later 
that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who per- 
ished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allyuez built 
the earliest pei'manent habitation of the white man among the natives of 
this region. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the 
mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years af- 
terward Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Grovernor General o 
Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the presen 
city of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand 
council at Sault Ste. Marie the following spring, when they were taken 
under the protection of the King, and' formal possession was taken of the 
Northwest. This year, Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ig- 
natius, where was founded the old towu of Michilimackiuac. 

During the explorations authorized by the Canadian Government and 
Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, rumors of a great river away to 
the \yest were rife, and the missionary fancied upon its banks whole 
tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had 
never come. Inspired by the wish to preach to these people, and in com- 
pliance with a request from the Governor General, Marquette set out, 
with Joliet as commander of the expedition, to ascertain whether the 
river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean. On the 13th 
of May, 1673, accompanied by live assistants, the hardy explorers set 
forth from Mackinaw. Coasting along the shore of Lake Michigan, they 
entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Win- 
nebago to a village of the Miarnis and Kickapoos. Here they found a 
cross erected in the middle of the village, which marked the farthest 
outpost reached by Dablon and Allouez. Guides conducted the advent- 
urers across the portage to the Wisconsin River, upon which they 
launched their canoes, descending with its current to the Mississippi. 
After varied experiences, they reached a village of the Arkansas tribe, 
about the latitude of thirty-three degrees, where they became satistied of 
the true course of the river, and set aboiit returning. Their course was 
up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Illinois, thence up the latter to 
its source, whence they found their way to the lake, and back to Green 
Bay without loss. Marquette, in 1675, returned to the Illinois tribes 
and established a mission among them. On the l8th of May of this year, 
passing the mouth of a stream on his way up Lake Michigan, he landed 
to celebrate mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he retired a short 
distance alone and began his devotions. Considerable time elapsed, and 
as he did not return, a search for him was instituted by his companions, 
when he was found dead, but still in the kneeling posture. He had 
quietly passed away while at prayers, and was buried on the same spot. 



THE OLD NORTHWEST. 13 

"While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in 
the West, another explorer was preparing to follow in his footsteps, and 
perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. This was Reu6 Robert 
Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. In 1G69, excited by the reports of the In- 
dians in regard to a river which rose in the country of the Senecas and 
Howed to the sea, he started with ,a party of twenty-four, maintained at 
his own expense, on a tonr of discoveiy. After surmounting the most 
vexatious difficulties, he reached the Ohio and descended it to the falls. 
Returning to his trading post of La Chine, and pondering his plan of 
discovering a new route to China and the East, he was startled by the 
reports of Marquette and Joliet. This seemed, to his eager mind, the 
first step toward the realization of his dream, and venturing everything 
in the enterprise, he sold his property and hastened to France, where he 
secured loans of money, and prepared to carry out his plans upon a large 
scale. Constructing a large vessel — the Griffin — he set out with a party 
of thirty men and three monks, August 7, 1G79, for the scene of Mar- 
quette's discoveries. He first conceived the idea of securing the country, 
thus discovered, by a series of forts, which should ^'orm a barrier to re- 
sist the encroachments of the English, who were gaining a strong hold 
on the Atlantic border. This received the encoiu'agement and aid of 
Frontenac, who was then Governor General of Canada, and rebuilding 
Fort Frontenac as a base of operations, he set sail for Lake Michigan. 
Arriving at Green Bay, he loaded his vessel with fui's and sent it, under 
the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors, on its return voyage. Waiting 
here for the Griffin's return until forced to give it up in despair, he set 
out with canoes to pursue his enterprise, and landed at St. Joseph. Fol- 
lowing the river bearing the same name to its soui^ce, ho reached the 
Kankakee by a short portage, and passed down that river to the Illinois. 
Marquette's mission had been established near the present site of Utica, 
in La Salle County, 111. Here, in December of 1G79, La Salle found an 
Iniiian town of 400 lodges temporarily deserted, and, passing on to where 
the city of Peoria now is, found another village of about eighty lodges, 
where he landed, and soon established amicable and permanent rela- 
tions. With the consent of the tribt^s. La Salle sooa built the fort of 
Crevecceur, a half a league below, and then early in March of 1680, 
set out for Fort Frontenac, in "Western New York, and theace to Mon- 
treal to repair the loss of his vessel, the Griffin. 

In the meanwhile the Jesuit faction, engaged in tiez'ce competition 
with him in securing the peltry trade of the Indians, and jealous of La 
Salle's success, and the English of the Atlantic l)order. striving to over- 
reach the French in securing both territory and trade, united in stirring 
up the Iroquois to assault La Salle's Illinois allies in his absence. 
*' Suddenly," says Parkraan, " the village was awakened from its lethargy 
as by the crash of a thunderbolt. A Shawanoe, lately here on a visit, had 



14 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

left his Illinois friends to return home. He now re-appeared, crossing 
the river in hot haste with the announcement that he had met on his 
way an army of Iroquois approaching to attack them. All was panic 
and confusion. The lodges disgorged their frightened inmates; women 
and children screamed; startled warriors snatched their weapons. There 
were less than five hundred of them, for the greater part of the young 
men had gone to war." Here Tonti, La Salle's able Lieutenant, left in 
charge of the foi't, found himself weakened by the early desertion of 
most of his foiTe,and now, an object of suspicion to his allies, in an awk- 
ward and dangerous predicament. Undaunted by the untoward circum- 
stances, he joined the Illinois, and when the Iroquois came upon the 
scene, in the midst of the savage melee, faced the 580 warriors and de- 
clared that the Illinois were under the protection of the French King and 
the Governor of Canada, and demanded that they should be left in peace, 
backing his woi'ds with the statement that there were 1,200 of the Illi- 
nois and sixty Frenchmen across the river. These representations had 
the effect of checking the ardor of the attacking savages, and a temporary 
truce was effected. It was evident that the truce was but a ruse on the 
part of the Iroquois to gain an opportunity to test the truth of the Ton- 
ti's statements, and no sooner had the Illinois retired to their village 
on the north side of the river than numbers of the invading tribes, on 
the pretext of seeking food, crossed the river and gathered in increasing 
numbers about the village. The Illinois knew the design of their foe too 
well, and, hastily embarking, they set fire to their lodges, and retired 
down the river, when the whole band of Iroquois crossed over, and fin- 
ished their work of havoc at their leisure. The Illinois, in the meanwhile, 
lulled into a false security, divided into small bands in search of food. 
One of the tribes, the Tamoroas, " had the fatuity to remain near the 
mouth of the Illinois, where they were assailed by all the force of the 
Iroquois. The men fled, and very few of them were killed; but the 
women and children were captured to the number, it is said, of 700," 
many of whom were put to death with horrible tortiu'es. Soon after the 
retreat of the Illinois, the Iroquois discovered the deception of the 
Frenchmen, and only the wholesome fear they had of the French Gov- 
ernor's power restrained their venting their rage upon Tonti and his two 
or three companions. As it was, they were dismissed, and bidden to re- 
turn to Canada. 

It was in the wake of these events that La Salle returned in the win- . 
ter of 1680 and found this once populous village devastated and deserted, 
surrounded by the frightful evidences of savage carnage. Disheartened 
but not cast down, he at once set about repairing his fortune. Discern- 
ing at once the means and object of his enemies, he set about building up 
a bulwark to stay a second assault. Returning to Fort Miami on the St. 
Joseph, by the borders of Lake Michigan, he sought to form a defensive 



\ THE OLD NORTHWEST. 15 

league among the Indians whom he proposed to colonize on the site of 
the destroyed village of the Illinois. He found ready material at hand 
in remnants of tribes fresh from fields of King Phillip's war; he visited 
the JNIiamis and by his wonderful power won them over to his plans ; and 
then in the interval, before the tribes could arrange for their emigration, 
he launched out with a few followers and hurriedly explored the Missis- 
sippi to the Gulf. Returning to Michilimackinac in September, 1682, 
where he had found Tonti in May of the previous year. La Salle, after 
directing his trusty Lieutenant to repair to the Illinois, prepared to return 
to France for fui-ther supplies for his proposed colony, but learning that 
the Iroquois were planning another incursion, he returned to the site of 
the destroyed village and with Tonti began, in December, 1682, to build 
the fort of St. Louis, on the eminence which is now known in history as 
" Starved Rock" Thus the winter passed, and in the meanwhile, La 
Salle found employment for his active mind in conducting the negotia- 
tions which shoiild result in reconciling the Illinois and the Miamis and 
in cementing the various tribes into a harmonious colony. The spring 
crowned his efforts with complete success. " La Salle looked down from 
his rocks on a concourse of wild human life. Lodges of bark and rushes, 
or cabins of logs, were clustered on the open plain, or along the edges of 
the bordering forests. Squaws labored, warriors lounged in the sun, 
naked children whooped and gamboled on the grass. Beyond the river, 
a mile and a half on the left, the banks were studded once more with the 
lodges of the Illinois, who, to the number of 6,000, had retm'ned, since 
their defeat, to this their favorite dwelling place. Scattered along the 
valley, among the adjacent hills, or over thi-^ neighboring prairie, were 
the cantonments of half a score of other tribes and t^'agu^ents of 
tribes, gathered under the protecting regis of the French— Shaw- 
anoes, from the Ohio, Abenaki s from Maine, and Miamis fi-om 
the sources of the Kankakee." In the meanwhile, a party 
was sent to Montreal to secure sujiplies and munitions to put the 
colony in a state of defense, which, to the disappointment and 
chagrin of the sorely beset leader, he learned had been detained by liis 
enemies, who, by a change of Governors, had come into official power. 
Devolving the command of the enterprise upon his faithful Lieutenant, 
La Salle set out in November, 1683, for Canada and I'rance, where he 
hoped to thwart his enemies and snatch success from the very jaws of 
defeat. Triumphant over his enemies, he returned to America in 1685, 
and after wandering ineffectually for two years in the inhospitable wilder- 
ne.ss of Texas, fell dead, pierced through the brain by the bullet of a 
treacherous desperado of his own band. It was not until the latter part 
of 1688 that Tonti. with grief and indignation, learned of the death of 
La Salle. In 1690, Tonti received from the French Government the 
proprietorship of Fort St. Louis on the Illinois, where he continued in 



16 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

command uutil 1702, when by royal order the fort was abandoned, and 
Tonti transferred to Lower Louisiana. This fort was afterward reoccu- 
pied for a short time in 1718 by a party of traders, when it Wd,3 fiaally 
abandoned. 

THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT. 

The French early improved the opening thus made for them. From 
1088 to 1697, little progress was made in colonization, owing to the wars 
between France and Great Britain, but after the peace of Ryswick, the 
project was taken iip with renewed activity. In 1698, large numbers of 
emigrants, under the lead of officers appointed by the Crown, left France 
far the New World, and in the following year made the settlement of 
Biloxi, on Mobile Bay. In 1700, the settlement of the French and In- 
dians at old Kaskaskia was removed to the spot where the village of that 
name now stands. A year later, a permanent settlement was mada at 
Detroit by Antoine da Lamotte Cadillac, who, in July of that year, ar- 
rived from MontrOT,l with a missionary and one hundred men, and in 
1795 was authorized by the French Governmeut to grant lani in small 
qamtities to actual settler= in the vicinity of Detroit. In 1703, Sieur 
Juchereau and a missionary named Mermet established a •' ' poste " at 
Vincennes. Trouble with the Indians, tbe wet, swampy condition of the 
surrounding country, delayed the development of the little settlement 
here, but throughout the early history of the country this post continued 
to be of the first importance. In 1718, FortChartres was erected on the 
Mississippi, sixteen miles above Kaskaskia. About the fort rapidly 
sprang up a village,which was subsequently called New Chartres ; five miles 
away, the village of Praii:ie du Rocher became a growing settlement, 
while all along the river between Kaskaskia and the fort a strong chain 
of settlements was formed within a year after the fort was finished. 
The erection of Fort Chartres at this point, however, was dictated by 
national considerations rather than by fear of the savages. The col- 
onization of Louisiana consequent upon the exploration of the Mississippi 
and the influx of colonists who found a home at Cahokia and Kaskaskia, 
made this section the key to the French possessions in America, the con- 
necting link between Canada and Louisianar Here the French settlers, 
but little disturbed by the forays of the Sacs and Foxes, pushed their im- 
provements up to the Illinois, while lands were granted, though perhaps 
never occupied, some distance up this stream. The military force found 
occupation in supporting the friendly Illinois tribes against the Iroquois 
and Sacs and Foxes, and in unsatisfactory or disastrous campaigns against 
the Chickasaws. lu the meantime, this " nesk oP the woods " w as rapidly 
becoming a spot of national importance. From the southwes t the Span- 
iards were jealously watching the French colonists, while the British, 
gradually pushing westward, were building forts near the Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi Rivers. 



THE OLD NORTHWEST. 17 

The European war of 1741-46, in which France and England were 
opposed, was echoed in these Western wilds, and it was found that the 
fort must be strengthened or abandoned. The former course prevailed, 
and in 1750 the old fortress of wood was transformed into one of stone, 
and garrisoned by a full regiment of French grenadiers. It was from 
this point that an important contingent went out to the capture of 
George Washington and his forties at Fort Necessity, July 4, 1754, and 
thus furnished to George II one of the causes for a declaration of hos- 
tilities and a begianingof the "Old French war." In the ensuing war, 
a detachment burned Fort Granville, sixty miles from Philadelphia; 
another party routed Maj. Grant near Fort Duquesne, but. compelled 
to abandon that fortress, set it on lire and floated down the river in the 
light of its destroying flames; again a large detachment, augmented by 
a considerable number of friendly Indians, assisted in the vain attempt 
to raise the British siege of Niagara, leaving dead upon the field — the 
flower of the gan-ison. The fort was no longer in condition to maintain 
the offensive, and, learning that the British were preparing at Pittsburgh 
to make hostile descent upon him. the commandaut writes to the Gov- 
ernor General: " I have made all arrangements, according to mv strength, 
to receive the enemy." The victory on the Plains of A.braham decided 
the contest, but the little backwoods citadel, knowing but little of the 
nature of the struggle, dreamed that it might be the means of reofaininsr. 
on more successful fields, the possessions thus lost to the French crown. 
The news that this fort, with all territoiy east of the river, had been 
surrendered without so much as a sight of the enemy, came like a 
thunder-clap upon this patriotic colony. Many of the settlers, with 
Laclede, who had just arrived at the head of a new colony, expressed 
their disgust by going to the site of St. Louis, which they supposed to 
be still French ground. 

ACCESSION OF BRITISH. 

Though transferred by treaty to the English in 1763, the fort was 
the last place in North America to lower the white ensign of the Bourbon 
King, and it was not until the latter part of 1765 that the British for- 
mally accepted the surrender of Fort Chartres. Pontiac, the unwaver- 
ing friend of the French, took upon himself, unaided by his former 
allies, to hold back the victorious English. Maj. Loftus, Cnpts. 
Pitman and Morris, Lieut. Frazer, and George Crogan, some with 
force, some in disguise, and others with diplomacy, sought to reach the 
fort to accejot its capitulation, but each one was foiled and turned back 
with his mission unaccomplished, glad to escape the fate of that English- 
man for which Pontiac assured them he kept a "kettle boiling over a 
large fire." Wearied out with the inactivity of the French, the Indian 
sought an audience with the commandant, and explained his attitude. 



18 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

"Father," said the chieftain, "I have long wished to see thee, to recall 
the battles which we fought together against the misguided Indians and 
the English dogs. I love the French, and I have come here with my 
warriors to avenge their wrongs." But assured by St. Ange that such 
service could no longer be accepted, he gave up the struggle, and the 
flag of St. George rose in the place of the fair lilies of France. Thus 
another nationality was projected into this restricted arena, a situation 
which was immediately afterward still further complicated by the secret 
Franco- Spanish treaty, which made the west bank of the Mississippi the 
boundary of the Spanish possessions. "It is significant of the different 
races, and the varying sovereignties in that portion of our country," says 
a writer, " that a French soldier from the Spanish city of St. Louis 
should be married to an Englishwoman by a French priest in the British 
colony of Illinois." 

At the first announcement of the treaty, the natm-al hostility of the 
people to the English induced large numbers of the colonists to prepare 
to follow the French flag, and a hegira followed which swept out of the 
colony fully one-third of its 3,000 inhabitants. There was still a large 
number left, forming the largest colony in the West; but there were 
forces constantly at work which gradually depleted its numbers. Under 
the British rule, an abnormal activity among traders and land speculators 
was developed. The natives were constantly overreached in trade by un- 
scrupulous persons, protected by the dominant power, and representa- 
tives of land purchasing organizations were acquiring vast tracts of coun- 
try from ignorant savages, who had little comprehension of the meaning 
or consequences of these transactions. These schemes and practices, 
though happily brought to naught by the Revolution, rendered the In- 
dians, for a time, savagely hostile, and left their blighting influence 
long after their removal. The lack of proper sympathy between the gov- 
erning race and the governed, the hostility of the savages in which they 
were involved with the British, induced many of the French colonists to 
leave their old homes as rapidly as they coald make arrangements 
to do so. 

The British garrison had hitherto occupied the old French Fort 
Chartres, but one day in 1772, the river having overflowed its banks, and 
swept away a bastion and the river wall, the occupants fled with pre- 
cipitate haste to the high ground above Kaskaskia, where they erected a 
palisade fort. This was the principal achievement of the British forces, 
up to the beginning of the war with the colonies. In this struggle, re- 
moved from the scene of active operations, the commandant, resorting to 
the favorite means of the British during their entire early history on this 
continent, furnished supplies and munitions of war to the savages, and 
thus equipped, incited them to war upon the unprotected frontier settle- 
ments in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Virginia. 



THE OLD NORTHWEST. 19 

Clark's campaign. 

So disastrous in their consequencos and distracting in their influence 
were these attacks, that Col. George Kogers Clark early set about pro- 
curing the means to effectually check them. Recognizing the British 
posts at Kaskaskia and Vincennes as the sources of the Indians' sup- 
})lies and inspiration, he directed his efforts toward the capture of these 
points, and, enlisting the interest of Patrick Henry, Governor of Vir- 
ginia, secui'ing such help as he could give, Clark was able on June 24, 
1778, to start from the falls of the Ohio with 153 men for Lower Illinois. 
So skillfully did he manage his movements that he caught the garrison 
napping, and captured, on the 5th of July, both force and fort without 
the spilling of a drop of blood. Cahokia fell in like manner without a 
blow. 

Clark's original plan contemplated the attack of Vincennes as the 
first object of his campaign, but on reaching the Falls of the Ohio, his 
force being so much smaller than he had expected, he found it necessary 
to change his plan of operations. In his journal, Clark gives his rea- 
sons for the change as follows: "As Post Vincennes, at this time, was a 
town of considerable force, consisting of nearly 400 militia, with an 
Indian town adjoining, and great numbers continually in the neighbor- 
hood, and, in the scale of Indian affairs, of more importance than any 
other, I had thought of attacking it first; but now found that I could by 
no means venture near it. I resolved to begin my career in the Illinois, 
where there were more inhabitants, but scattered in different villages, and 
less danger of being immediately overpowered by the Indians; in case of 
necessity, we could probably make our retreat to the Spanish side of the 
Mississippi; but if successful, we might pave our way to the possession 
of Post Vincennes." This shrewd forecast of the situation was abun- 
dantly confirmed by the issue of events. His sagacity in dealing with- 
the conquered posts of Kaskaskia and Cahokia was re-enforced by the 
announcement of the treaty entered into between France and the Colo- 
nies, and in August the delegation of French citizens, which had Ijeen 
sent from Kaskaskia to Vincennes, returned bearing the joyful news that 
the whole population had sworn public allegiance to the United States, 
and had displayed the American flag. On the receipt of this intelli- 
gence from Clark, the Virginia Assembly in October erected the whole 
territory thus conquered into the county of Illinois and provided for its 
government. This first attempt to organize the country west of the 
Ohio was thwarted, however, by the descent of the British from Detroit 
in the following December. 

The French population had garrisoned the fort at the suggestion of 
Clark, who subsecjuently sent Capt. Helm as a representative of the 
American Government and an agent to the Indians. On the approach of 
the British, Capt. Helm and one private alone occupied the fort, who. 



20 TFiE OLD NORTHWEST. 

by putting on a bold front, obtained from the besiegers the honors of war. 
This sudden change in the situation boded serious evil to the Kentucky 
frontier, and necessitated prompt action upon the part of Col. Clark, 
Learning in December, 1779, that the English Commandant, Henry 
Hamilton, had greatly weakened his force by sending detachments else- 
where, Clark determined to attack the enemy at once with what ti-oops 
he could collect. After enduring almost incredible hardships and over- 
coming obstacles that would have been insurmountable to any less deter-' 
mined officer, Clark found himself once more before the enemy. Here 
his skillful dispositions and unparalleled audacity were again crowned 
with success, and on February 24 he received the capitulation of the 
English garrison. 

THE COUNTY ILLINOIS. 

The temporary success of the English did not long defer the plans of 
the Virginia commonwealth, and the conquered territory was at once 
placed under control of civil authority, John Todd representing the sov- 
ereignty of Virginia as County Lieutenant. His instructions were broad 
enough to meet the whole case; he was to conciliate the French and In- 
dians; to inculcate on the people the value of liberty, and to remove the 
grievances that obstruct the happiness, increase and prosperity of that 
country. These certainly were the great ends to be achieved if possible? 
but in the nature of things their accomplishment was not possible. The 
French population was easily conciliated, but the education of a life-time, 
and the hereditary characteristics of the race rendered them incapable of 
appreciating the value of liberty. They had grown up under the enervat- 
ing influence of the most arbitrary manifestations of monarchical govern- 
ment, and self-government involved too great a risk for this simple folk. 
The result was a lack of sympathy with the new order of things, more 
decided, perhaps, than under British rule. To this was added a business 
competition, to which they were unaccustomed; more frequent hostile in- 
cursions of the Indians in which the savages gradually forgot the old-time 
love for the French, and repeated losses by the inundations of the river, 
made up a sum of discouragement which gradually depleted this country 
of the French inhabitants. This loss was but imperfectly repaired by 
the immigration which came in from Virginia and Maryland. Notwith- 
standing the fertility of the soil had been widely published, and a con- 
siderable number had already found much better advantages here than 
the older colonies afforded, yet the Indian depredations that followed the 
Revolutionary war deterred others from following until the general pacifi- 
fication at Greenville in 1795. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

On the 13th of July, 1787, Congress passed an ordinance for the govern- 
ment of the territory northwest of the Ohio River, which had been ceded to 



Tni-: OLi> NORTHWEST. 21 

the United States I)}' Virginia tlirec years before, and in October tbllovviny 
Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was elected by Congress as Governor. In July. 
1788. the Gbvernor arrived at Fort Ilarinar (now Marietta). Ohio, where, dur- 
ing that year, the temporary government of the territory was organized. 
During the first two years of his administration, St. Clair was busily engaged 
with the details of governmental organization and negotiating with the 
Indian tribes, who found it diliicult to understand the principles upon which 
the whites made war. On the 8th of January, 1790, the Governor found 
leisure to proceed to Kaskaskia to organize the government in that quarter. 
In August, 1788, Congress had provided for the adjustment of land dis- 
putes among the settlers at Kaskaskia and Vincennes, and on the arrival of St. 
Clair early in 1790 this matter engrossed the larger part of his attention. 
Among the earliest acts of his administration was the erection of the first 
count}', including all' the present State of Illinois, extending as far north as 
the mouth of Little Mackinaw Creek, and named St. Clair after the Gov- 
ei'nor. The general situation is described b}^ the Governor in his report to 
the Secretary of War as follows : "'The Illinois country, as well as that 
upon the Wabash, has been involved in great distress ever since it fell 
under the American dominion. The people with great cheerfulness sup- 
plied the troops under George Rogers Clark and the Illinois regiment with 
everything the}' could spare, and often with much more than they could 
spare, with any convenience to themselves. ]Most of the certificates for 
these supplies are still in their hands unliquidated, and in many instances, 
when application has been made to the State of Virginia, under whose au- 
thority the certificates were granted, payment has been refused. The 
Illinois regiment being disbanded, a set of men, pretending to the authority 
of Virginia, embodied themselves, and a scene of general depredation ensued. 
To this succeeded three successive and extraordinary* inundations of the 
Mississippi, which either swept away their crops or prevented their being 
planted. The loss of the greater part of their trade with the Indians, as 
well as the hostile incursions of some of the tribes which had ever before 
been in friendship with them ; and to these was added the loss of the whole 
of their last crops of corn by an untimely frost. Extreme misery could not 
fail to be the consequence of such accumulated misfortunes." 

DIVI.SION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 

On the 7th of May, 1800, the President of the United States approved 
an act of Congress, entitled " An act to divide the Territory northwest of 
the Ohio into two separate governments." The one retaining the former 
name was composed of the present State of Oliio, a small part of Michigan, 
and a small part of Indiana, being that part in the southeast corner which 
had been ceded to the United States b}' the Indians, in the treatv of Green- 
ville. The other district was denominated the Indiana Territor}', and em- 
braced all the region east of the Mississippi, and between the lakes and the 
Ohio. The population of all this tract of countr}-, b}' the census of 1800, 



22 THE OLD NORIHWEST. 

was 4,875, of which a small portion, in Clark's grant, was of English descent ; 
the remainder, mostl}' of French extraction, resided at or near Kaskaskia, 
Vincennes and Detroit. William Henr}' Harrison was appointed Governor 
of Indiana Territor}-, and during his administration he discovered and 
thwarted the reckless speculation in public lands, which was greatly inter- 
fering with the prosperit}' of the new'Territory. Gov. Harrison thus describes 
the situation in a letter from Vincennes to Mr. Madison : " The court 
established at this place, under the authority of the State of Virginia, in the 
year 1 780, assumed to themselves the right of granting lands to every appli- 
cant. Having exercised this power for some time, without opposition, they 
began to conclude that their right over the land was supreme, and that the\' 
could, with as much propriet3\. grant to themselves as to others. Accord- 
inglv, an arrangement was made by which the whole countr}^, to which the 
Indian title was supposed to be extinguished, was divided between the 
members of the court, and orders to that effect were entered on their journal, 
each member absenting himself from court on the day the order was to be 
made in his favor, so that it might appear to be the act of his fellows only. 
The authors of this ridiculous transaction soon found that no advantage 
could be derived from it, as they could find no purchasers, and the idea of 
holding any part of the land was by the greater part of them abandoned. 
A few years ago, however, the claim was discovered, and a part of it pur- 
chased by some of those speculators who infest our country, and through 
these people a number of others, in different parts of the United States, have 
become concerned, some of whom are actually preparing to make Settlements. 
The price at which the land is sold enables anybody to become a purchaser, 
one thousand acres being frequently given for an indifferent horse or rifle 
gun.'' By the treaty of 1795, the whole of the Indiana Territory was reserved 
to the Indians, and. during his administration. Gov. Harrison was engaged 
in negotiating with the natives for further cessions of their lands. 

In 1805, Michigan was made a separate Territory, and the same year the 
first Legislature for Indiana Territory was assembled at Vincennes. There 
were then five counties in the Territory — Knox, Dearborn and Clark within 
the present bounds of this State, and St. Clair and Randolph within those of 
Illinois. At the session of 1808, the county of Harrison was formed, and 
an apportionment of the Representatives to the Legislature was made, by 
which three members were to be elected from the county of Knox, one from 
Harrison, two from Clark and three from Dearborn — nine in all. The Terri- 
tory of Indiana was divided in 1809, and the western part denominated 
Illinois. The boundary then, as now, was the Lower Wabash, and the line 
running north from Vincennes, where it last leaves the Wabash. In 1810, 
the counties of Franklin, Wayne and Jefferson were formed ; in 1814, the 
counties of Gibson, Warwick, Washington, Perry, Switzerland and Posey 
were added, and in 1815 the law creating Jackson and Orange was passed 
Gov. Harrison having been appointed, in the fall of 1812, to command the 
Northwestern army, Thomas Posey was appointed Governor of the Territory; 



THE OLD NORTHWEST. 23 

aud ill the following year the seat of government was moved from Mn- 
cennes to Corydon. 

THE LORDS OF THE SOIL. 

It will be observed that when the colonies had achieved their 
independence, and as a nation, through the cession of Virginia, became 
heir to ihe vast territor}- northwest of the Ohio, there existed a 
prior claim to this area of country, and one that was not likely to be 
easily extinguished. Notwithstanding the repeated attempts of the National 
Government to obtain a peaceable possession and its partial success in 
securing favorable treaties with the various tribes, it required the campaigns 
of Harraar, St. Clair and Wayne, before the Greenville treaty of 1795 gave 
to the whites the undisputed possession of what is now the State of Ohio. 
But the boundaries established by this treaty gave the Indian nations all 
the territory within the present State of Indiana, except the following tracts : 

1. One tract six miles square, where the city of Ft. AVa3'ne is now situated. 

2. One tract two miles square, on the Wabasli lliver, at the end of the por- 
tage from the Maumee River, about eight miles westward from Ft. Wayne. 
o. One tract six miles square, at the old Wea towns on the Wabash. 4. The 
tract called the " Illinois Grant," made to Gen. George Rogers Clark, near 
the falls of the Ohio, consisting of 150,000 acres. 5. The town of Yincennes 
and adjacent lands, to which the Indian title had been extinguished, and all 
similar lands at other places in possession of the French and other settlers. 
6. The strip of land east of the boundary' line, running directly from the 
site of Fort Recovery, so as to intersect the Ohio River at* a point opposite 
the mouth of the Kentucky. 

When Gen. Harrison became Governor of Indiana Territorj-, he was in- 
vested with authority by the General Government to make such further 
treaties as would best extinguish the claims of the Indians. Accordingly 
at Vincennes, September 17, 1802, a meeting of certain chiefs and head men 
of the Pottawatomie, Eel River, Kickapoo, Piankeshaw and Kaskaskia and 
Wea tribes, appointed the Pottawatomie chiefs, Winamac and Topinepik, 
and the Miami chiefs. Little Turtle and Kichardvillc, to settle a treaty for 
the extinguishment of Indian claims to certain lands on the borders of the 
Waljash, in the vicinity of Vincennes. On June 7, 1803, at Ft. Wavne, 
certain chiefs and head men of the Delaware, Shawnee, Pottawatomie, Eel 
River, Kickapoo, Piankeshaw and Kaskaskia tribes ceded to the United 
States about 1,000,000 acres of land. Again at Vincennes, on the 18th day 
of August of the following year, the Delawares ceded their claim to the 
tract of land lying between the Wabash and the Ohio Rivers, aud south of 
the road which led from Vincennes to the falls of the Ohio, the Piankeshaws 
relincpiisliing their claims to the same tract a few days later in the same 
month. By a treaty concluded at Grouseland, near Vincennes, August 21, 
1805, th(! Governor secured from certain chiefs and warriors of the Delaware, 
Pottawatomie, Miami, Eel River and Wea tribes the cession of their lands 
lying southeast of the line running northeasterly from a pi)int about fifty- 



24 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

seven miles clue east from Vincennes, so as to strike the general boundary- 
line (running from a point opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River to 
Fort Recover}'), at the distance of fift}' miles from the commencement on the 
Ohio. On the 30th of December, this 3'ear, at Vincennes, the Piankeshaw 
tribe ceded about 2,600,000 acres of land lying west of the Wabash, and at 
Ft. Wayne, September 30, 1809, the chiefs of the Delaware, Eel River, 
Pottawatomie and Miami tribes ceded to the United States about 2,900,000 
acres of land lying principally on the southeastern side of the Wabash, be- 
low the mouth of the Raccoon Creek. The chiefs of the Wea tribe in the 
following month met Grov. Harrison at Vincennes and acknowledged the 
validit}^ of this treaty, which was also confirmed by the sachems and war 
chief of the Kickapoos December 9, 1809, besides ceding a further tract of 
about 113,000 acres of land. 

Thus far the Indians had maintained amicable relations with the whites, 
though it was becoming evident that there was a disturbing element among 
them brewing discontent. In 1805, Tecumseh and his brotner, La-le-was-i- 
kaw (Loud Voice) resided at one of the Delaware villages on the West Fork 
of the White River, within the present limits of the county of Delaware. 
Sometime during this 3'ear, " Loud Voice" took upon himself the character 
of prophet and reformer, and earnestly' inveighed against the use of 
whisky, the practice of Indian women marrying white men, and the selling 
of lands, pointing out the deterioration of the natives by their contact with 
the whites and the tendency of the policy adopted. His crusade against 
their evils attracted quite a band of Shawanoes about him, who about the 
end of this year moved to G-reenville, Ohio. The increase of their num- 
bers and the knowledge of their sentiments with reference to the whites, 
aroused considerable alarm among the settlers, untiK the spring of 1808, 
when the band removed to the Wabash near the mouth of Tippecanoe 
Creek, where they established the famous Prophet's town. These proceed- 
ings had not escaped the watchful eye of Grov. Harrison, who sent repeated 
remonstrances and warnings to the band. The only result was to call forth 
from the Prophet a deprecatory reply and a profession of friendship for the 
whites. The matter proceeded until in 1810 a rupture seemed likely to occur 
at an}' moment. In August, Tecumseh, accompanied by sevent^'-five 
warriors, came to Vincennes to have an interview with Gov. Harrison. 
From the 12th to the 22d there was a series of conferences which developed 
the grievances and determinations of the natives. In one of these confer- 
ences Tecumseh said : " Since the treaty of Greenville you have killed some 
of the Shawanoes, Winnebagoes, Delawares and Miamis, and 3'ou have taken 
our lands from us ; and 1 do not see how we can remain at peace with you if 
you continue to do so. * * * * if the land is not restored to us, you 
will see, when we return to our homes, how it will be settled. We shall 
have a great council, at which all the tribes shall be present, when we shall 
show to those who sold that they had no right to the claim they set up ; and 
we shall see what will be done with those chiefs that did sell the land to 



THE ()M> NORTHWEST. 25 

you. I am not alone in this determination. It is the determination of all 
the warriors and red people that listen to me." At a subsequent talk Gov. 
Harrison asked Tecumseh, explicitly, if the Indians would forcibly resist an 
attempt to survey the lands ceded at Ft. Wayne, and was answered in sub- 
stance, that the}' would resist. Said he : •' We do not wish you to take the 
lands." Gov. Harrison replied that his "claims and pretentions would not 
be acknowledged by the President of the United States." " Well," said 
Tecumseh. " as the great chief is to determine the matter, I hope the Great 
Spirit will put sense enough into his head to induce him to directyou to give 
up the land. It is true he is so far ofl' that he will not be injured by the 
war. He ma}' sit still in his town and drink his wine while you and I will 
have to fight it out." 

In the meantime, this disatf'ection among the Indians was increased b}' 
the action of the British authorities in Canada, though no positive hostilities 
occurred until the middle of 1811. During the summer of this year, depre- 
dations were committed b}' straggling parties upon the property of the 
settlers. Several surveying parties were driven away, and others killed. 
During this period, Gov. Harrison was striving by peaceful means to break 
up the confederation of the tribes, and preparing to erect a fort on the 
Wabash for the protection of the settlers in that vicinit}'. In the latter part 
of June, Harrison sent an address to Tecumseh, and the Prophet, to which 
the chiefs made a lengthy reply, and proposed to visit the Governor again 
in person. In pursuance of this project, Tecumseh came to A'incennes in 
the latter part of July with about 300 attendants ; but, being met by a 
formidable array of troops, repeated his assurance of amicable intentions, 
and immediatel}' left to draw the Southern tribes into the confederation. 

During these negotiations, the Governor had suspected the design of 
the Indians, and, though at one time partially convinced that the chiefs 
would allow matters to be adjusted without an appeal to arms, had finally 
become impressed that the confederation at the Prophet's town must be 
suppressed by force. To this end, acting under the authority of the General 
Government, a force of some 900 men set out in September from Vincennes 
under command of Harrison. The little army moved up the Wabash, and 
eilected Fort Harrison on the east bank of the Wabash, above where the 
city of Terre Haute now stands. Leaving a small garrison here, the remain- 
der of the army moved in the direction of Prophets town, encamping on the 
2d of November two miles below the moutli of Big Vermillion liiver, where 
a small block-house was erected on the west bank of the Wabash. Leaving 
a Sergeant with eight men to garrison it. with orders to protect the boats 
emplo3ed in transporting supplies to tiie army, ihe rest of the force pro- 
ceeded to the Indian village, arriving at this point on the Otii of November. 
The Indians, showing no disposition to give battle, the little army selected 
a site for encampment on the banks of Burnett Creek, seven miles northeast 
of the present city of Lafayette. The troops encamped in oriler of battle, 
with clothes and accouterments on, fire arms loadc<l, and their bayonets 



20 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

fixed. The Indians began the attack at quarter past 4 in the morning, 
immediately after the Governor had risen to prepare for the business of the 
day. But a single gun was fired b}' the sentinels, or b}' the guard, in the 
direction of the attack, as they retreated precipitatel}' to the camp. As the 
troops were asleep on their arms, they were soon at their stations, though 
the war-whoop and the attack so soon followed the first alarm, that the lines 
were broken in several places, and one of the companies was driven from its 
position in the line toward the center of the camp. The want of concert 
among the Indians, and their irregular mode of warfare, did not allow them 
to take full advantage of their success, or of the blunders of their opponents, 
so that as the resistance was very obstinate along the line, they were in the 
end obliged to retreat in great haste. The loss of Gen. Harrison's force 
amounted to 37 killed and 151 wounded, of which latter number 25 after- 
ward died of their wounds. The Indians engaged in the battle of Tippe- 
canoe were probably between six and seven hundred, and their loss was 
about equal to that of the whites. After burning the Indian town, which 
had been abandoned by the savages, the army returned to Vincennes on the 
17th of November. The result of the expedition was favorable to the peace 
of the frontiers. Immediately after their defeat, the surviving Indians, hav- 
ing lost faith in their leader, returned to their respective tribes, the Prophet 
taking up his residence among a small band of Wj'andots. 

THE AVAR OF 1812. 

The rupture of the peaceful relations between the United States and 
Great Britain by the declaration of war by the former in June, 1812, was 
foreshadowed for some time previous, and the Canadian authorities taking 
advantage of the Indian disturbance of the preceding year found no diffi- 
culty in securing the support of the Northwestern tribes. Accordingly, the 
culmination of the international differences was preceded by various acts of 
hostility on the part of the defeated Indians. The American Government had 
not been unmindful of the situation, and during the spring and summer of 
this year had caused the erection of block-houses and picketed forts through- 
out the Indiana settlements which were exposed to Indian depredations. 
Notwithstanding these precautions, on the 11th of April preceding the 
declaration of war, an attack was made on a settlement on the west side of 
the Wabash, about thirty-five miles above Vincennes. The wife of Mr. Hut- 
son, his four children and his hired man were murdered in his absence, and 
on the 22d Mr. Harryman, with his wife and five children, was killed on the 
same side of the Wabash, at the mouth of Embarrass Creek, about five 
miles from Vincennes. About the middle of the May following, a great 
council of the Indians was held at one of their villages on the Mississinewa 
River, at which nearly all the northwestern tribes were represented. The 
general expression at this council was in favor of maintaining peaceful rela- 
tions with the United States, though at the same time refusing to surrender 
those who were guiltv of the murders mentioned. Tecumseh, dissatisfied 



THE OLD NORTHWEST. 27 

with tbe action of the council, left with his following, and soon successfully 
attacked, with the assistance of the British, the northern forts at Mackinaw 
and Chicago. On the IGth of August, Gen. Hull surrendered Detroit, which 
so emboldened the Winnebagoes, Pottawatotnies and Kickapoos that they 
sent out war parties to prey upon the frontier settlements. Two men were 
killed while making ha}' near Fort Harrison on the 3d of September. On the 
4th, an attack was made on the fort, during which one of the block-houses 
was set on fire, the garrison, however, eventually repelling the attack. On 
the 3d, occurred the '• Pigeon Roost massacre." Two men hunting bee trees 
were surprised and killed b}' a party of ten or twelve Shawanoes, who that 
night attacked the Pigeon Roost settlement, situated within the present 
limits of Scott Count}-, and in the space of an hour killed one man, five 
women and sixteen children. 

In August. 1812,' Gov. Harrison was appointed Major General of the 
forces raising in Kentuck}', and in the middle of September arrived with a 
force of 2,700 men at Fort Wayne, where a force of Indians had been 
besieging the place since the beginning of the war. They retreated on the 
approach of the relieving force. Gen. Harrison sending out several detach- 
ments in pursuit. These detachments failed to overtake the savages, but 
destroyed the important village of 0-nox-see, on the Elkhart River, Little 
Turtle's town on the Eel River, and a Miami village near the forks of the 
Wabash. In the latter part of September, Gen. HaiTison was invested with 
the command of the Northwestern arm}^, and assigning the duty of operat- 
ing against the Indians on the Wabash and Illinois Rivers to a force of 2,000 
troops stationed at Vincennes, he began preparations for his campaign 
against Detroit. The force at Vincennes, under the command of Gen. Hop- 
kins, set out early in November for the purpose of penetrating the Indian 
country as far as the Prophet's town, which had been rebuilt. This village and 
a large one in the near vicinity belonging to the Kickapoos were destroyed 
and a detachment sent out to destroy one seven miles out on Wild Cat 
Creek. Here the detachment met with a repulse. The whole force then 
prepared to attack the savages, but were delayed by stress of weather for a 
day or two, and when they reached the point, though naturally easy of 
defense, the Indians were found to have deserted the place. The lack of 
clothing and the severit}- of the weather made the further pursuit of the 
savages impracticable, and the expedition returned to Vincennes in safety. 

In pursuance of his plans against Detroit, Gen. Harrison had established 
a depot of supplies at the rapids of the Maumee, with the intention of mov- 
ing thence a choice detachment of his army, and, while making a demon- 
stration against Detroit, to cross the straits on the ice and actuall}' invest 
Maiden, the British stronghold in Canada. Before attempting this, how- 
ever, it became necessary to break up the Miami villages on the Mississinewa 
River, and thus cripple anj- attack that might be attempted from this quarter. 
Although the Miamis professed to be neutral, their participation in the at- 
tacks upon Forts Wayne and Harrison made it probable that a favorable 



28 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

opportunity would render them susceptible to the influence of the hostile 
tribes. A detachment of 600 troops proceeded from Daj'ton, Ohio, in the 
middle of December, and a few da^'S later surprised an Indian town occu- 
pied by a number of the Delawares and Miamis, and advancing down the 
river destroyed three other villages, when the expedition returned and 
encamped on the site of the first village. On the following morning, about 
a half-hour before day, while the officers were holding a council of war, the 
savages made a determined attack upon the camp. In this engagement, 
which lasted about an hour, the troops suffered a loss of eight killed and 
forty-two wounded. The Indians, who numbered about 300 and were under 
the command of Little Thunder, a nephew of Little Turtle, suffered a much 
heavier loss, and were forced to make a hasty retreat, leaving the whites in 
possession of the ground and of a large number of prisoners captured in 
the surprise of the first village. The want of provision and forage, the 
severity of the cold, and the rumor that Tecumseh was at the principal vil- 
lage further down the Mississinewa River, deterred the troops from making 
any further advance, and a retreat toward Grreenville was begun and accom- 
plished without serious annoyance from the savages. In the following sum- 
mer, Perry's victor}' on the lake paved the way for Harrison's victor}' over 
the Indians and British in the battle of the Thames River, on the 6th of 
October, which ended the hostilities in the Northwest. On the 22d of July, 
1814, Harrison concluded a treaty at Greenville, Ohio, by which the Indians 
buried the tomahawk, whether the war ceased with the British or not, but 
this proviso was put out of the question on the 24th of December by the 
treaty of Ghent. With the return of peace, further treaties were negotiated 
with the various Indian tribes, and the survey of the lands thus madd secure 
was rapidly pushed forward. 

PUBLIC LANDS. 

The public lands of the General Government were all surveyed upon the 
same general system. To this end, " meridian lines " running due north 
from the mouth of some river are first established. These are intersected 
at right angles by " base lines" running east and west. The " first principal 
meridian " is a line running due north from the mouth of the Miami, and is, 
in fact, the east line of the State of Indiana. The " second principal merid- 
ian " is a line running due north from the mouth of Little Blue River, eighty- 
nine miles west of the former. The only base line running through this State 
crosses it from east to west in latitude 38° 30', leaving the Ohio twentj'-five 
miles above Louisville, and striking the Wabash four miles above the mouth 
of the White River. From this base line the Congressional townships of 
six miles square are numbered north and south, and from the second prin- 
cipal meridian all the ranges of townships are numbered east and west, 
except the counties of Switzerland, Dearborn, and parts of Franklin, Union, 
Waj'ne and Randolph. This part of the State was survej'ed in townships 
from a base line of fifteen miles north of the former, and in ranges west of 
the first principal meridian. The " Clark Grant " in Clark County and the 



THE OLD NORTHWEST. 29 

old French lands in Knox County are also exceptions to the regularit}- of 
the general survej' of the State. Townships are subdivided into thirty-six 
etjual parts, or thirt^'-six square miles, containing G40 acres each, called 
sections. These sections are subdivided into halves, of 320 acres, and 
quarters, of 160 acres each, which lust arc again subdivided into halves, of 
eighty acres, and quarters, of forty acres each. "Fractions " are parts of 
sections intersected by streams, or confirmed claims or reservations, and 
are of various sizes. The sections of a township are designated by numbers, 
beginning with the northeast corner and following in regular order to the 
west side, the second tier of sections beginning on the west side of the town- 
ship and proceeding east. That portion of the State in the southeast corner, 
which was included in the Ohio survey, was disposed of at the Cincinnati 
land office. The rest of the public lands in this State were principally dis- 
posed of at offices estal)lished at Jeffersonville, Vincennes, Crawfordsville, 
Indianapolis, Fort AVa^-ne and Winamac. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE. 

The restoration of peace with Great Britain, and the pacifica- 
tion of the Indians in 1815, brought a great increase of population 
to the Territor}', so that in December of this year the General Assem- 
bl}- of the TeiTitory adopted a memorial to Congress asking the admission 
of Indiana into the Union as a State. Under an enabling act of Congress, 
a convention to form a constitution was elected, and held its sessions from 
the 10th to the 29th of June, 181G, and, on the 11th of December follo<Ving, 
the State was formall}' admitted to the Union by a joint resolution of Con- 
gress. 

Until the close of the Territorial government, more than three-fourths of 
the State was in possession of the Indians, or had been so recently pur- 
chased as not to have been surve3'ed and exposed to sale. The maps of the 
State, even as late as 1818, represented the Indian boundar3'as starting from 
a point in the northern part of Jackson County and running northeast to 
the Ohio line, near Fort Recovery, and northwest to the Wabash, a few 
miles above Terre Haute. Vincennes was then by far the most considera- 
ble town in the new State. The Indian trade was then large ; there was 
generall}' one or more companies of United States troops at Fort Knox at 
that place ; the business at the land office and the bank, and the inclination 
of the French to settle in a village rather than on a farm, brought together 
a population of nearly two thousand. 

Corydon, the seat of government, had a good stone court house built by 
the Speaker of the Territorial Legislature, who. it is said, was often called 
from the hammer and trowel to the chair. The other buildings there, not 
exceedmg one hundred in number, were either cabins or of hewn logs. The 
sites of New Albany and Madison presented here and there a few comfortable 
houses, and perhaps a hundred cabins. Jetfersonville and Lawrenceburg 
had been longer settled, but except the then fine residence of Gov. Posey at 



30 THE OLD NORTHWEST. 

the former place there was no other good building in either, and Charleston, 
Salem Vevay, Rising Sun and Brookville were then talked of as havmg 
macrnificent prospects for the future. There were very few large farms in 
the'^State in 181G. The range of wild grass, the mast and roots were so 
abundant in the woods that hogs, cattle and horses required but little other 
food and that was in general corn alone. It is probable that a single corn- 
field' of from five to twenty acres constituted at least seven-eighths of the 
farms then cultivated in the State. 

DEVELOPMENT OF STATE AND FORMATION OF COUNTIES. 

In 1828 the General Government purchased the " ten-mile strip " along 
the northern end of the State, and, in 1832, extinguished the remaining 
claims of the Indians, save the numerous reservations in the northern part. 
In 1835 the greater part of the natives were removed west of the Missis- 
sippi and by 1840 all save a few had emigrated from the special reserva- 
tions' \s the State was thus left free for settlement, the Surveyor pioneered 
the advancing civilization, and counties were rapidly organized in response 
to the -rowing demand of the increasing population. The tide of immigra- 
tion came principally from the South at first, and later from the East, the 
organization of counties giving a pretty clear indication of the nature of 
this development. At the organization of the State government, fifteen 
counties had been formed, and others were organized as follows : 181 ^ 
Daviess, Pike, Jennings, Sullivan; 1818, Crawford, Dubois, Lawrence, 
Monroe, Randolph, Ripley, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Vigo; 1819, Bayette, 
Floyd, Owen; 1820, Scott, Martin; 1821, Bartholomew, Greene, Henry, 
Parke' Union ; 1822, Decatur, Marion, Morgan, Putnam, Rush, Shelby ; 
1823 'Hamilton, Johnson, Madison, Montgomery; 1824, Allen, Hendricks. 
Vermillion ; 1825, Clav ; 1826, Delaware, Fountain, Tippecanoe ; 1828, Car- 
roll Hancock. Warren ; 1829, Cass ; 1830, Boone, Clinton, Elkhart, St Jo- 
seph • 1831, Grant ; 1832, La Grange, La Porte ; 1834, Huntington, White ; 
1835 'Miami, Wabash; 1836, Adams, Brown, DeKalb, Fulton, Kosciusko, 
Marshall, Noble, Porter ; 1837, Blackford, Lake, Steuben, Wells, Jay ; 183b, 
Jasper ; 1840, Benton ; 1842, Whitley ; 1844, Howard, Ohio, Tipton ; 1850, 
Starke, 1859, Newton. 



PART II. 

HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY 



GEOLOGY AND SETTLEMENT. 



BV WEfeTON A. (iOoDSPBRD. 



NATURAL ADVANTAGES. 

PERHAPS no other county in Indiana has a greater diversity of nat- 
ural features than Warren. On the north and west are alhivial 
plains, as rich and productive as any on the globe, while bordering the 
Wabash and the various smaller streams that traverse the county, are vast 
beds of the finest building sandstone and the choicest block coal. Sand, 
gravel, marl, limestone, ironstone, potters clay, mineral springs, cas- 
cades, valleys, hills, prairie, woodland and numerous views of pictinresque 
grandeur combine to render the county one of the best in the State for 
the abode of civilized man. An occasional discovery of virgin gold, sil- 
ver, load or copper detracts nothing from the general interest felt in 
the county. There is scarcely a section of land that cannot be rendered 
fit for almost unlimited [U'oduction. Even over the summits of the 
bluffs, below which lie the rich deposits of stone and coal, is found a 
mixed soil which yields a satisfactory return to the agriculturist. The 
" bai'rens " in the valley of the Wabash, though too cold for the cereals, 
are excellent for certain garden productions. 

DB.\IXAGE. 

The entire county is within the valley of the "Wabash, which river 
forms the southeastern boundary. Big Pine Creek, the most imjiortant 
intersecting stream, enters the county in Adams Township from the 
north, thence Hows southwesterly across Pine Township, thence south- 
easterly through Liberty, emptying into the AV abash at Attica. Little 
Pine Creek tlows south through Medina and the eastern part of Warren. 
Kickapoo Creek rises in Medina, flows across southeastern Adams and 
across western Warren, with a general course of south southwest. Mud 
Pine Creek drains all of western Pine Township and eastern Prairie, 
and joins Big Pine Creek near the northern line of Liberty. Rock 
Creek rises in Liberty and flows south-southeast, forming the boundary be- 
tween Washington and Pike Townships. Redwood Creek rises in Jordan, 
crosses Steuben and Pike and reaches the Wabash with a southeast course. 
Opossum Run has its source io Steuben, thence it flows southeast acros.s 



32 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Kent and Mound, into the Wabash. Jordan Creek drains southern Prai- 
rie and Northern Jordan, and flows southwest into Vermillion River in 
Illinois. Gopher Creek drains western Kent and the greater portion of 
Mound, and joins the "Wabash in Vermillion County. A few smaller 
streams, such as Dry Creek, Fall Branch, Little Creek, Coal Run, Hall's 
Branch, Salt's Run, West Kickapoo Creek and Chesapeake Run have 
been properly christened. 

THE LANDSCAPE. 

Warren County has many natural scenes to delight the eye. Several 
bhififs along the Wabash, towering up like huge domes far abore the 
water, command a view of over twenty miles along the valley and re- 
veal the sinuous curves of the historical old river and the beautiful 
natural scener}' along its banks. One may look down the river from 
above Independence and see live or six natural horizons of forestry until 
the view is terminated by a long belt of heavy timber over twenty miles 
away. But the most beautiful and picturesque views are along Big and 
Little Pine Creeks. Perpendicular embankments of sandstone, from which 
cascades as airy and bewitching as a bride's vail, leap from forty to eighty 
feet to the rocks below, and rise in mimic clouds of spray like a miniature 
Niagara, kindle in the beholder the highest emotion of grandeur. Nat- 
ural gi'oups of whitH pine, that most commanding of all trees seen at a 
distance, occur at intervals along the bluffs which skirt the valleys and 
stand like faithful sentinels over the vale below, through which the brook 
runs laughing aloud on its way to deeper bays and swifter currents. 
Even the prairies in early years, with their islands of groves, were the 
grandest sights to those whose view from infancy had been hemmed in 
by heavy bodies of timber. The eye greeted the boundless vista of 
green velvet until sky and prairie met in the far distance as it did the 
immensity of the starry spaces or the sublime expanse of the ocean. All 
this and much more is in Warren County. Many people in other coun- 
ties and States wovild travel miles to enjoy the beauties which too many 
of the citizens of Warren do not appreciate. Wai'ren has three or four 
great natural pleasure resorts. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

The following is taken from the report of John Collet, State Geolo- 
gist: 

" The topographical features of Warren County are agreeably varied. 
The western and northern parts, embracing more than half its area, pre- 
sent a broad stretch of Grand Prairie. The surface is undulating, or 
gently rolling, and offers ample facilities for drainage, without any or 
but little waste lands; while from the tops of any of the slight knolls or 
prairie ridges the eye is delighted with miles of corn-fields, or leagues of 
blue grass pasture and meadow land, diversified with island groves or 
their partings of timber. Adjoining the prairie region to the south and 
east is a wide belt of high rolling or hilly land, that descends gently to 
the abrupt bluffs which the Wabash and the creeks that flow into it have 
cut down through the underlying coal measures, cc>nglomerate sand rocks, 
and deep into the subcarboniferous formation. The soil of this belt is 
mostly yellowish clay, the decomposition of Silurian, Devonian and sub- 
carboniferous lime rocks, imported by rivers anciently flowing at this 
level. It is rich in tree food, and was originally clothed in a dense for- 
est of oak, hickory, ash, walnut, poplar, beech, maple and other large 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 38 

trees, beech and sugar trees i)redominating on the reddish clay soils, 
and oak trees on drift clays or sandy soils. The bluflfs along the Wabash 
River and the principal creeks are from eighty to 150 feet in height, 
and are of romantic boldness. The tojis at several stations are crowned 
with pines and cedars, and the sides are generally ciu'tained with living 
walls of conglomerate or subcarboniferous sand rocks. 

SURFACE GEOLOGY. 

" The surface deposits of this connty comprise two members of the 
Quaternary, or more recent of the geological formation, viz. : Aluvium, 
new or ancient, and the Bowlder drift. The alluvial bottoms owe their 
origin to causes now in action. They are formed of sedimentary sands 
and clays, torn away and transported by streams at high water stage, 
and thrown upon the Hood plain by overflow. The soil is sandy, largely 
intermixed with decayed leaves and other vegetable matter, and is in 
eflfect a ricli garden -mold. 

"At an elevation of sixty to ninety feet near the channel of the river, 
are found wide areas of the more ancient alluvial formation, as the 
Mouod Prairie, in the southern portion of the county, and the " Barrens " 
south of Williamsport and southwest of Independence. The soil of this 
formation is generally a warm, black loam, but sometimes sand or colder 
clays predominate. It is underlaid by gravel, sand or the rounded frag- 
ments of sandstone; and from the wide range of the deposit, extending 
miles on either side of the river, and from the great depth and unifonn- 
i:y of the material, we may date back the age of these terraces to the time 
when they served as Hood plains of the Wabash, then a mighty river 
miles in width, which poured, in a broad channel vexed with numerous is- 
lands of conglomerate sand rock, the surplus waters of Lake Erie to the 
sea. 

•' Still higher, reaching up to the most elevated point in the county, 
and full 'JOG feet above the bed of the Wabash River, are found the 
oldest alluvium terraces and banks of modilied drift gravels and sand, as 
at Walnut Grove, in Prairie TowDship. These signalize the infancy 
of the river when, an insigniticant and currentless stream with uncertain 
course, the Wabash, traversing all the region for thirty to forty miles 
on either side, sometimes flowing ground through Illinois, sought by 
the line of least resistance the easiest pathway to the mouth of the val 
ley of the continent. 

THE BOWLDERS. 

'' The Bowlder drift next succeeds in age. This formation is well de- 
veloped in the west and northern parts of the county, and in fact under- 
lies all the Grand Prairie district. It contsists of tenacious gray and 
blue clays, obscurely laminated, and holding a considerable j^roportion 
of worn and polished pebbles and bowlders. Some of the latter are 
specimens of the Devonian and Silurian rocks in Northern Indiana and 
Illinois, but a larger proportion are metamorphic or transition rocks from 
the neighborhood of Lake Superior, or from still more arctic regions. 
The bowldere and coarse gravel are scatteretl from near the top down to 
within tive to twenty feet of the bottom of the drift; for these clays were 
in a soft and oozy condition, and the heavy granite would naturally sink 
some distance. As a consequence, where bowlders are found on the sur- 
face, we may safely conclude that erosivo action had carried away the 



34 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

liner matrix, leaving bare the heavy rocks. These in return, by their 
number, are a measure of the amount of denudation. Partings of quick- 
sands and thin layers of stony fragments from neighboring strata are 
found located at large intervals through this formation, showing that for 
short spaces during the drift period the great ice- bearing str-eam from 
the North was obstructed or overpowered by currents from the east or 
from the west, thus mingling with the northern drift fragmentary mate- 
rials from Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. Near the base of the drift, and 
resting on a broken and irregular floor of coal measure rocks, is gener- 
ally found a bed of potter's clay, intermixed with quicksand and black 
muck. A marked bed of the latter was found in sinking the West Leb- 
anon shaft. From the soil here discovered was taken a large number 
of roots of trees, shrubs and plants of pre-glacial age. 

SANDSTONE. 

"Conglomerate sand rock, resting on subcarboniferous groups of rock, 
containing coal plants and dark pyritous clay, is of irregular formation. 
Upon exposure to the air, it decomposes, washes away, and gives origin 
to caves, cascades and rock houses, so common in Kentucky. It is often 
accompanied by a thin seam of coal. In Warren County, no coal was 
found more than two inches thick and a single band of black slate at 
Munson's old mill on Little Pine. 

" In the northwestern portion of the county, outliers of conglomerate 
rock are found capping the highest tables, as at Black Rock and near 
Green Hill; also at Point of Rocks, below Rainsville, and Island Rock, 
in Mud Pine. It extends to the west with a slight dip to the west bank 
of Pine Creek, where the dip suddenly increases at the rate of twenty to 
thirty Eeet per mile. Southerly along the line of strike. Pine Creek flows 
in a deep valley, generally walled by bold mural escarpments or over- 
hanging cliffs of massive sand rock, crowned with evei'green pines, 
cedars and juniper trees, combining scenery at once grand, wild and 
beautiful. The valley is from 150 to 200 feet deep, and the narrow mar- 
gin of alluvial soil was originally covered with a tangled mass of thorny 
brush, briers and vines. These features made Pine Creek a strong line 
of defense in Indian warfare, well suited to their strategy, and in the 
campaign of 1811, the confederate tribes planned to fight here with Gen. 
Harrison. The gallant General, by a quick march to the left flank, 
crossed higher up to the open prairie, and ended the w^ar by the brilliant 
victory of Tippecanoe. The conglomerate is well developed at Williams- 
port, on the Kickapoo, and in the bluffs near the mouth of Red Wood. 
This formation consists of massive, variously colored sandstone, and 
rarely presents the typical character from which the name is derived, but 
near the mouth of Kickapoo, at Black Rock and at Thompson's quarry, 
near Green Hill, specimens are found full of pebbles. These stones are 
easily quarried, freely cut, but harden upon exposui'e, making choice 
material for building piurposes. 

COAL, 

" The coal measures occur next in order of time. They lie directly 
upon the conglomerate and in outcrop occupy the regions south and 
west of that deposit, in area more than one-half of the county. The out- 
crop of coal may be traced from near the Ohio River in Dubois and 
Pike Counties to the middle of Warren County. Good, choice semi- block 



HISTORY OF WARIIEN COUNTY. 35 

coal is found in the lower stream on Possum Run. at Steely's farm, at 
Adamson's and J. Brii^j^s', from two to three and one half feet thick. On 
Fall Creek, all the banks furnish choice block coal, free from sulphur, 
well suited for smelting iron and with an average of three feet iu thick- 
ness. The dark, bituminous limestone roof is almost invariably pres- 
ent, ranging from one to foiu* feet, ' sometimes changing to a calcareous 
shale. It is well developed at Main's mill on Red Wood, where huge 
blocks are laid bare in the bottom of the creek. Here the stone is high 
colored, homogeneous and compact. Specimens have been dres.sed by 
workmen. Locally, it is known as black marble. Fat coking coal, con- 
taining much sulphur, outcrops on Mud Pine, at Briscoe's and at Wil- 
son's bank, at the head of Fall Creek. The product at this point meets 
a ready market. The seam ranges from six to eighteen inches in thick- 
ness. The roof of this coal seam generally consists of pyritous slate, 
lean iron stones and concretions of argillite, of no economic importance 
as far as visible in the outcrop. Good coking coal is found at Briscoe's 
Tinkler's Mines, neai* West Lebanon. Block coal is found at Hooper's 
and Barringer's, on Possum Run, and nearly as good at Lupold's. on 
Fall C'reek. The lower stratiun is generally crowded with leaves, fruits 
and trunks of carboniferous plants, in a remarkable state of preservation. 
Near the railway station, Fall Branch plunges from the summit of an 
overhanging mass of rock down sixty feet to the valley, and has thence 
cut a narrow outlet to the river, aftbrding a first rate section of the con- 
glomerate sand rock, in massive strata, from twenty to forty feet thick. 
Here a choice cpiarry is worked by the Hon. B. F. Gregory's heirs. As 
mentioned in the general outlines, it is probable that in the early ages. 
Wabash or Pine Creek, at a high level, Howed through this gap and 
thence south. At that time, was formed the valley and terrace j^lains 
aloiig the railroad, widening southward to Rock Creek. 

"A chalybeate spring is found on Dr. Boyer's land. The head being 
at an elevation; the water falls in spray or drops and in the winter time 
forms fairy gi'ottoes of ice and frost. Near by is a sulphur sjn'ing. 
Prof. Cox, State Geologist, analyzed the water of the Boyer Spring as 
follows-. Sulphate of protoxide of iron, carbonate of protoxide of iron, 
bicarbonate of lime, chloride of sodium (common salt), sulphate of 
soda (Glauber salts), sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts), and free car- 
bonic acid gas. Black Rock, near the eastern line of the county, on the 
Wabash River, is a notable and romantic feature in river scenery. A 
bold, precipitous cliff overhanging rises 140 feet above the bed of the 
river. The top is composed of red, brown or black conglomerate sand 
rock, highly ferruginous and in part ])obbly. At the base of the sand 
rock and where it joins uj)on the underlying carbonaceous and pyritous 
shales, are ' Pot Rock Houses.' Some of these of no great height have been 
tumbled back under the cliff, to a distance of thirty or forty feet, by the 
force of the ancient river flowing at this level." 

THE MOUND-BUILDERS. 

It is a well known and conceded fact that all of Indiana and all 
her neighboring States were once inhabited by a semi -barbarous peojde. 
known as the Mound-Builders. Some authorities maintain that they 
were the ancestors of the Indian tribes, and that the lapse of several 
thousand years will account for the divergence in habit and osseous 



36 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

structure. Others insist that they were a distinct race of people and 
that the lapse of the probable time between the lives of the two races 
will not accoimt for such divergence. All agree that the Mound- Bui Id- 
er.s were an agricultural people. They were idolatrous and immolated 
the lower animals and even human beings to secure the favor of thoir 
Deity. They cultivated the soil with rude stone implements, wove a 
rude cloth from bark and reeds, and erected huge stone and earthen 
structures of various forms and uses. Three kinds of mounds are found 
in Warren County — sepulchral, sacrificial and memorial. Within the 
first class are found the crumbling skeletons of this people, besides var- 
ious trinkets or ornaments. Within the second are baked clay altars 
upon which are heaps of ashes, charcoal, and verv often burnt fragments 
of human bones. The sacrifices to the Deity were offered on these altars. 
The third class contain nothing; they seem to have been erected, like the 
Bunker Hill monument, to commemorate some important tribal event. 
Mounds are foimd in Medina, Pine, Prairie, Adams, Liberty, Mound, 
and possibly other townships. Mound Township received its name from 
this circumstance. 

THE INDIANS. 

For several hundred years prior to the appearance of the white race, 
all the United States was inhabited by this people. Who they were or 
how they came here is unknown. As far back as definite accounts can 
be had, the Miamis occupied the following tract of country: From De- 
troit south to the Ohio River, thence down the same to the mouth of the 
Wabash, thence up the same to about the boundary between Vermillion 
and Warren Counties, thence north to the southern extremity of Lake 
Michigan, thence east to Detroit. This fact comes from various reliable 
sources, the most noteworthy being from Mish-e-ken-o-quah. or Little 
Turtle, a Miami Indian of great intelligence and renown, who lived in 
Northern Indiana during the latter part of the eighteenth century and 
the first of the nineteenth. Warren County was thus on the boundary 
between the Miamis and the Kickapoos of Illinois. This was the condi- 
tion of things previous to about one hundred years ago. But from 17S() 
to the war of 1812, so great was the rush of white settlers into Eastern 
Ohio that the Indians resident there were compelled to abandon their an- 
cient home and seek a new one farther west, and thus numerous other 
tribes began to invade the domain of the Miamis. The Pottawatomies 
soon occupied almost all of Indiana north of the Wabash, while the 
Miamis retired mostly south of that river. Thus Warren County was 
so situated that Miamis, Pottawatomies and Kickapoos were found 
within its borders by the French traders who began to come up the 
Wabash from Vincennes in pirogues loaded with whisky and trinkets to 
trade with the Indians as early, probably, as the beginning of the pres- 
ent century, and certainly before the war of 1812. The Wabash had 
been the highway of travel for Frenchmen and missionaries between De- 
troit and the French settlements at Vincennes and at several places in 
Illnois since the latter part of the seventeenth century, and it is not un- 
likely that temporary trading posts were established in Warren County 
at very early periods. 

ZACHARIAH CICOTT. 

This man was a French Canadian, who at the age of about sixteen 
years came down the Wabash to Vincennes, where he lived for a number 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 37 

of years and then began the business of convoying boats or pirogues 
loaded with fancy articles and whisky up the river to trade with the In- 
dians for their furs. Nothing is known of these voyagers except what 
he himself told, and as the information comes from various mouths and 
recollections, it should be taken with some grain of allowance. If 
Cicott's statements were correct, he came to trade with the Pottawato- 
mies and Kickapoos at Independence, Warren County, as early as eight or 
ten years before the war of 1812. So profitable became his trade, es- 
pecially when he could get the Indians under the influence of whisky, 
that he became a comparatively wealthy man. Interesting stories, with- 
out limit in number, could be told regarding these trading voyages. 
Many times Cicott's life was in extreme danger, but he was watchful 
and brave, and managed to secure a confidential Indian, who speedily 
informed him of all plots involving danger to his person or interests. 
Mr. Cicott was a swarthy man of average size, was quick, wiry and very 
strong for his weight, and possessed considerable skill and bravery and 
an iron constitution. He married a squaw of the Pottawatomie tribe, by 
whom he had two children, John Battiece and Sophia. At Independ- 
ence were two or more natural springs of excellent water, which cir- 
cumstance had caiised that point to become a great place for the Indians 
to encamp. Cicott, in nearly all his voyages, found it profitable to stop 
there to trade, although he occasionally went up to Hackberry Island or 
stopped to trade with the Kickapoos at the mouth of Kickapoo Creek, 
there being quite a large encampment of the tribe there. He erected a 
rude building, probably before the war of 1812, and usually occupied it 
while trading. On one occasion,* just before the war of 1812 broke out, 
he found the Indians so savage and threatening that he thought it pru- 
dent not to unload his liquor from the pirogue, but moored clo.se to the 
bank, where he dealt out the liquid for the valuable furs which were 
handed from the bank to him. Finding that his liquor was sure to be 
consumed before all the furs had been secured, he instructed his com- 
panion to cautiously pour water into one end of the barrel while he dealt 
out the mixture from the other. In this shrewd way he got all their 
furs and had considerable liquor left. But the Indians becaiiie clamor- 
ous and violent and demanded more whisky, and were refused because 
they had no more furs and were without money. One savage looking 
fellow, half-frenzied with intoxication, dr«w a huge knife and shouted 
that he must have more whisky or he would murder the trader, and made 
preparations to put this threat into execution; but Cicott also drew his 
knife and swore that the Indian could have no more unless he were the 
better man. A collision seemed inevitable. Several hundred Indians 
were present, swarming like maddened bees on the bank, the most of 
whom were drunk and all were more or less infuriated at the loss of 
their furs and ready to wreak their revenge on the trader, who was care- 
ful to keep on his pirogue and out of tlieir reach. The old chief Pari.sh 
came forward and lx)Ught the remainder of the whisky, and taking the 
barrel on his shoulders, carried it to the top of the bluff, knocked in the 
head, and told the Indians who crowded around to help themselves, 
which they quickly did. Cicott saw that this was hi.s opportunity to es- 
cape, and quickly and cpiii'tly pulh'd out into the middle of the river 
and began to row rapidly down the stream, his departure being greatly 

*Cicott told this incident to Darid Mofflt, from whom it was obtained by tlie writer. 



38 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

/ 

favored by the approach of darkaess Aboufc a luilo dovvQ, he stoppai 
under the shade of the opposite shore to listen. He could distinctly 
hear the savage revelry behind him, and finally could hear his own name 
shouted from scores of throats, " Se-e-eott, Se-e-eott." He did not dare 
to return, and continued on down the river. 

CrCOTT AND THE HARRISON CAMPAIGN. 

A short time before the war of 1812, Cicott received a note from 
Gen. Harrison at Vincennes, directing him to go immediately to that 
point prepared to act as a scout for the army, which was on the eve of 
marching against the Indians. The trader had noticed that the Indians 
of Warren County were in a state of great excitement, and soon became 
aware that some great disturbance was on foot, as they were holding war 
and scalp dances and were arming themselves and ornamenting their 
persoiis with red and black paint and other horrid paraphernalia of sav- 
age warfare. The note was no sooner received than Cicott began mak- 
ing hun'ied preparations for his departure. He secretly packed every- 
thing of value that he could take in pirogues, and, unknown to the In- 
dians, left Independence at night, jpulliug rapidly down the Wabash. 
His confidential Indian Avas left on shore to drive about forty ponies 
around through Warren County on the way down to a place of safety. 
This the faithful fellow succeeded in doing, though all the cattle, sheep 
and hogs were killed. Upon his arrival at Vincennes, Cicott was se- 
lected as a scout for the army, which soon afterward passed northward 
to invade the Indian country. The plan of the Indians was to bring on 
an encounter in the ravines and timber, where their mode of warfare 
would be greatly favored, one of the places being on Big Pine Creek, 
eight or ten miles from its mouth; but Harrison was too prudent and 
experienced to be caught in that manner, and in his march sought the 
open country but kept near the timber, occasionally passing through de- 
tached portions of woodland. His army entered the county in the south- 
western part of Mound Township, thence passing northeastward through 
Kent about a mile east of State Line City, thence on through Steuben 
and southwestern Jordan, and possibly northwestern Pike, thence on diag- 
onally on through the center of Liberty, crossing Big Pine Creek about 
a mile and a half northeast of Carbondale, at a place known as the 
" Army Ford, " thence on through Adams and Medina Townships and 
into northern Tippecanoe County, where, on the 7th of November, 1811, 
the Indians were subdued in the bloody battle of Tippecanoe. Judge 
Isaac Naylor, Cicott and several others who afterward lived in the coun- 
ty, were with this army on its march out and at the battle, and after- 
ward, when the county was settling up, went over the route or trail of the 
army and identified its camping places and related many interesting an- 
ecdotes. The army encamped in Warren County first in Kent Town- 
ship, in a detached grove, where two of the men died and were buried. 
The spot is used now as the Gopher Hill Cemetery. Much of the route 
of the army lay along an old Indian trail, and as it was afterward trav- 
eled considerably, it was worn so deep that it can yet be traced in the 
county some ten or twelve miles. In the door yard of G. H. Lucas, who 
lives about a mile east of State Line City, the trail is at least a foot deep 
and five or six yards wide. The army also encamped on the east bank 
of Big Pine Creek immediately after crossing the stream. A few traces 
of this encampment were yet visible when the county was first settled. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 39 

CICOTT AITER THE WAR. 

After the war of 1812 had terminated, probably about the year 
181 G. Cicott resumed his voyages up the AVabash to trade with the In- 
dians. The followinpj year* he erected the hewed- lo<( house which is yet 
standing, though on the verge of falling down from neglect and decay. 
It stands on the bank of thf> river a few rods east of the town of Inde- 
pendence, and is surrounded by about four acres of land which were 
cleared by Cicott and used by his family for a garden. A few old apple 
trees planted by the family are yet standing. At the Indian treaty of 
St. Mary's. Ohio, on the 2d of October, 1818, a section of land on Flint 
River. Mich., was reserved for Perig.u Pottawatomie chief, but at the treaty 
with the Pottawatomies at Chicago on the 20th of August, 1821, the 
claim of Perig was transferred to John Battiece. son of Zachariah Cicott, 
by a Pottawatomie woman, though the section thus reserved was not the 
same, bub was to be located by the President the United States, who, at 
the request of the Cicotts, established it at Independence. The Cicott 
reserve was located on St^ctions 18, 14, 28 and 24, Township 22 north. 
Range 7 west. Upon reflection, it would hardly seem that Cicott would 
go to the trouble and expense of erecting his large hewed-log house on 
land which did not belong to himself or some member of his family; and 
therefore the writer concludes that Cicott's recollection of the time when 
the building was construtced, or Mr. Jacob Hanes' recollection of what 
Cicott told him regarding the date, is at fault, and the log house was not 
really erected until after the section was reserved to John Battiece 
Cicott. or probably aboiat the year 1822. Here Zachariah Cicott lived 
until his death, about the year 1850, continuing to trade with the In- 
dians as long as they remained in the county. John B. Cicott could not 
sell the reservation without authority from the President of the United 
States, but this was finally gained through John Tipton, Indian Agent, 
who certified (when the laad passed from J. B. Cicott to his father, 
Zachariah Cicott, in about 1830) that J. B. Cicott was receiving a val- 
uable and siifficient consideration. The recorded consideration for the 
transfer is 81,000, though David Moffit informed the writer that as a 
matter of fact the consideration was an Indian pony almost thin enough 
to waiTaut being followed by the crows, and a saddle which looked as 
if a thunderbolt had fallen on it. Mr. Motlit is no doubt con-ect, us it 
would not take much ingenuity to have the pony and saddle valued at 
$1,000. In March, 1830, Cicott mortgaged the reservation to Menard and 
Valle, French traders of St. Genevieve, for §8.0(K), which amount was diae 
them for merchandise obtained by Cicott for the Indian trade. The 
mortgage also covered the following jiersonal property: Two large two 
horse wagons, one small wagon, two yokes of work oxen, eighteen stock cattle, 
twelve horses, 100 hogs, one cherry bureau, two butt rifle guns, eleven head 
of sheep, four promissory notes of SIS-") each and Cicott's Indian book ac- 
count, t This mortgage was afterward largely watisfied by the transfer 
to Menard and Valle of numerous town lots in Independence, which was 
laid out by Cicott in 1882. In his latter years, Cicott was partially par- 
alyzed, the disorder seizing his tongue and preventing speech, which 
made him an object of general sympathy. At last, in 1850. he died at 

•From the recollection of Jacob IIane», Sr., of Inil»'|Hjndence, who ulitained the facta from Cicott. 

tThp Indiana were hotter to pay when trnntpd than lli« whites, and thia fact led Cicott and all other 
traders to keep rnnnliiK aci-niinta with them. Ills old account liotik would be an iuteretting object if It could 
l)e (uurid. In l«:j(), he was the wraltliicHt reoldrnl <>l the county. 



40 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY 

an age of over eighty years, and now lies buried in tbe cemetery at In- 
dependence, near the spot made historic by his own energy and daring. 

THE CHATTERLIE EESERVATION. 

At the treaty of St. Mary's, in Ohio, in 1818, a section of land was 
granted to or reserved for Mary Ghatterlie, a daughter of Neibust, a 
Pottawatomie chief, and was located on Sections 1 and 2, Township 21 
north. Range 8 west, on Section 36, Township 22 north, Range 2 west, 
and on Section 6, Township 21 north, Range 7 west. 

In the early settlement of the county, Amos Griffith became the 
husband of Mary, and in about 1830 a consiaerable portion of the res- 
ervation was sold to John Seaman, the consent of the President of the 
United States having been obtained upon the certificate of A. Finch, of 
La Fayette, and S. B. Clark, of Warren County, who had been appointed 
by the Indian Agent, John Tipton, for that purpose. The remainder of 
the reservation was soon afterward disposed of. 

THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

During the spring of 1832, all the Wabash Valley was thrown into 
a fever of consternation by the reports that the Indians of the Sac and 
Fox nations on Rock River, Illinois, led by the implacable old chief. 
Black Hawk, had taken up the hatchet and were sweeping eastward, mur- 
dering and torturing the whites without limit or discrimination. 
Fugitives on horses and on foot scoiu'ed the country with wildly exag- 
gerated accounts, confirming the reports that fifteen persons had been 
cruelly murdered at the Hickory Creek settlement in Illinois, and about 
the 18th of May the report spread like wildfire down the western side 
of the Wabash that a large body of hostile Indians had killed two men 
within fifteen miles of La Fayette. About half the settlers in Warren 
County west of the river hurriedly packed their handiest valuables and 
fled across the river, where rude forts and block-houses were quickly 
prepared and guarded. Companies of militia were immediately organ- 
ized to scour the country for signs of danger and to check the advance 
of the Indians upon the villages and neighborhoods where the women, 
children, helpless and cowards had assembled. A small company of about 
twenty-five men was formed in Warren County. Col. James Gregory 
was elected Captain, and the men, thoroughly armed and provisioned, 
started northwestward on a scouting expedition. A few families in the 
county did not leave their farms nor neglect their daily work; still fewer, 
in isolated places, knew nothing of the reports until the alarm was over, 
when they had their scare. The company went as far as the Hickory 
Creek settlement in Illinois, remaining in that vicinity for a few days, 
when they returned, the apprehension of danger having been quieted. 
While the alarm was highest, a man riding along Mud Pine Creek in 
Warren County saw two Indians skulking through the bushes off some 
distance to one side, and surmising that they were endeavoring to cut him 
off and murder him, he put whip to his horse in a paroxysm of fear, and 
fled as if pursued by the Furies. The animal that bore him was a splen- 
did one, and he was soon far beyond ihe clutches of the savages, though 
he still continued to ply whip and spur. The faithful animal was 
nearly ruined. He told all he met that the Indians were on Mud Pine 
Creek and had chased him some distance, but his own skill and the 



HISTORV OF WARREN COUNTY'. 41 

fleetness of his horse had baffled them, but that they would soon b» down 
in Adams and Medina Townships, scalping and niurclt'ring. The few 
families remaining in the neighborhood gathered together to defend 
themselves and their pro])erty. Several nien mounted their horses to go 
on a reconnoitering expedition, Daniel Moffit, mounted on a borrowed 
gray mai-e, being among the number. Away they went, but Mr. Moffit 
soon discovered that his mare was uncertain, for whenever he attempted 
to go too fast, she would stop suddenly, and kick as if her hind legs 
were a perpetual motion. AVhip or spur increased the power and ra- 
pidity of the kicks, while the report of a ritle caused her to buck fu- 
riously as well. ^Ir. Moffit, though a brave man, became very uneasy. 
Suppose a band of Indians should charge upon them, that old mare 
would stand like a post and kick like a pile driver till the air would be 
tilled with hoofs and sod. But would that stop the Indians":* Mr. 
Moffit sorrowfully thought to himself that it would not. He begged his 
companions to go slower and to do nothing that would rouse the old 
mare. Accordingly, they all struck a moderate gait and were soon on 
the ground where the two Indians had been seen. In a short Lime they 
discovered the Indians in a small grove where they had killed and 
dressed a deer and were resting and eating after their chase. Upon l)e- 
ing questioned, it became clear they had been following the wounded 
deer when seen by the man who had roused the neighborhood with his 
fears and were perfectly friendly to the whites. The horsemen returned 
home, old mare and all. 

SETTLE.MEXT BY THE WHITES. 

Of course, Zachariah Cicott was the firat white man to reside perma- 
nently within the present limits of Warren County. Pi-obably no others 
appeared until about the year 1S22. at which time a very few came in, 
and dnriug the succeeding two or three years the settlement was quite 
slow. Amongst those who came into the southwestern part of the coun- 
ty prior to June, 1827, were Samuel Watkins, "William Jolly, Thomas Cun- 
ningham, Jo.seph Thomas, John X. Lew in, Nicholas DeLoug, Lewis 
Evans, John Black, Humphrey Becket, Benjamin Becket, William 
Becket, John Ferrell, Elias Oxford, Sylvester Stone, Elisha Miles, Hiram 
Miles, James Holmes, James McCune, Robert Mills, Enoch Stran, 
Jacob Fen-ell, and others; while farther northeast were J, C. Watson, 
Thomas Kitchen. Luther Til lot.son. James Kitchen, Nelson DeMoss, Peter 
High, Amos Clark, "William Hall. Samuel Clem, Henry Coons, Adam 
Coons, Augustus "Watson, "William Kent, Nathaniel Buttertield, Holder 
Sisson, James Shaw, Lemuel Boyd, Benjamin Cheneweth, John Jones, 
James Forbner and Joseph King. Near the center portion of the county 
were Ransom Wilkinson, Seth Shippy, James Oxford, William Harri- 
son, Nathan Billings, Samuel Harrison, Uriah Dunn, George Billings, 
Marcus Shii)py, John Fields, Jr., James Gilbert, Christopher Pitzer, 
David Dickinson, William Harrington, Mathias Redding, John Han- 
kins, John Fields. James Fipps, Jjimes B. Harrison, Thomas B. Clark, 
Jonathan Shippy, Daniel and Robert Benjamin, Jonathan Pitzer, John 
Dickinson, Thomas Doan, Joan Seaman, Daniel Clark, Nimrod Harrison, 
David Fleming. Andrew Fleming, William Pugh, Peter Fleming, Ly- 
man Judd, Marshal Billings, Jacob Hal.^tead, and farther east were David 
White, Constantine Messmore. Zachariali Cicott, Thomas Ilorron, Solo- 
mon Pitzer, P'rancis Boggs, M. Hunt, Daniel Tevebaugh, John Teve- 



42 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY, 



baugli,' Adam White, James McCord, John and Enoch Farmer, Joseph 
Cox and others, while farther north, along Big and Little Pine CrReks. 
were James Bidwell, Archibald Davis, Samuel B. Clark, Edward Mace, 
Sanmel Green, Isaac Rains, John Anderson, John Jackson, Jeremiah 
Davis, John Gradner and several others, whose names cannot be learned 
with certainty. In 1827, the county was organized, and during the suc- 
ceeding five or six years the settlement was very rapid. The tirst tracts 
of land entered in the county were as follows: 



PURCHASER. 



Wm. & Jonas Seaman 

John Blind 

Benjamin Laudon 

James Barnes 

James Barnes 

James Barnes 

John Black 

John Black 

Thomas Cunningham. 
Thomas Cunningham. 

Thomiis Wright 

Samuel Watkins 

Samuel Green 

William Newell 

Silas Hooker 

James McCvme 

Unknown 

Lewis Colleyer 

Lewis Evans 

Enoch Farmer 



« 



2 

14 
29 
33 
33 
9 i 33 
9 I 33 
9 38 



Acres. 



80 
40 

80 
80 
80 
80 
80 
80 
80 
80 

80 

80 

41.86 
80 
40 
80 

274.80 
80 
70 
80 



w. i s. e. i. 
n. w. i s. 6 J. 

e. i s. e. i. 

e. i n. e. i. 

e. i s. w. i. 

w. I s. w. h 

w. i n. 6. h 

e. i n. w. i. 

e. i s. e. i. 

w. i s. e. i. 
j e. i s. w. i & } 
( w. fr. s. e, i. f 

e. i s. e. i. 
n. e. i n. w. J. 

e. I s. w. i. 
n. e. i s. w. J. 

w. * n. e. i. 
si. 

n. i s. w. i. 

s. e. fr. w. 4;. 

w. i s. e. i. 



rUTE OF Entry. 



December 16. 
September 11, 
September 15, 
November 15, 
November 15, 
November 15, 
November 15, 
November 15, 
November 15, 
November 15, 



1820. 
1822. 
1822. 
1S22. 
1822. 
1822. 
1822. 
1822. 
1822. 
1822. 



November 18, 1822. 

September 20, 1823. 
November 9, 1823. 
January 22, 1824. 
February 25, 1824. 
May 29, '1824. 
August 9, 1824. 
August 28, 1824. 
December 27, 1824. 
December 81, 1824. 



In 1825, the following men entered land: Thomas Bowyer, Town- 
ship 23, Range 6; William H. Mace, Township 23, Range 6; James 
Bidwell, Township 23, Range 6; John S. Reid, Township 23, Range 
6; John Cox, Township 22, Range 7; John McCord, Township 22, 
Range 7; Jonathan Cox, Township 22, Range 7; Samuel B. Clark, 
Township 22, Range 7; Nancy Maudlin, Township 22, Range 8; Henry 
Coons, Township 20, Range 9 ; Thomas Lewis, Township 20, Range 9 ; 
Lewis Evans, Township 20, Range 9; Benedict Morris, Township 20, 
Range 9. In 1826, the following men entered land: Isaac Shelby, 
Township 22, Range 6; John Stanley, Township 23, Range 6; Jeremiah 
Davis, Township 23, Range 6; Samuel B. Clark, Township 23, Range 
6; John Rhode, Township 22, Range 7; David White, Township 22, 
Range 7; Samuel Ensley, Township 22, Range 7; Henry W^etchell, 
Township 23, Range 7; William Kendall, Township 22, Range 8; Will- 
iam Worthington, Township 23, Range 8; Levi Osborn. Township 23, 
Range 8; Abel Oxford, Township 20, Range 9; Joseph Thomes, Town- 
ship 20, Range 9; William Henderson, Township 20, Range 9; Joseph 
Foster, Township 20, Range 9; William White, Township 21, Range 9. 

After this, the settlement was more rapid. A great many families came 
in — some from neighboring older counties and some direct from Ohio, 
Pennsylvania, and other States east. The early settlers sought the tim- 
ber for four reasons: First, because, as they had been reared in a tim- 



HISTORY OF AVARREN COUMV. 43 

bered country they knew nothing of the prairie, and thought the soil 
■was too poor for the production of forests, and consecjuently too p()or to 
be cultivated: secondly, they thought it impossible to survive the cold 
winters in such an exposed situatit)n; thirdly, they preferred to remain 
where wood was abundant; fourthly, they concluded to locate near some 
water-courses which were then the great commercial highway. It is 
therefore seen that the very earliest settlers preferred the timljered land, 
and selected their farms on streams where there was a good mill site and 
where never-failing springs of good water issued from the ground. 
Some of the settlers had learned the value of prairie land, and they res- 
olutely pushed out on the broad expanse despite the scoft's of those who pre- 
tended to be wiser. Many of the earliest settlers squatted upon their farms, 
being too poor to pay the entry price until after the harvest of the tirst 
or second ci'op. Others had barely sufficient to enter their lauds. 
Others still had considerable means, and found that settling up a new 
country was not so hard after all. Still others were obliged to retiu'n 
whence they came. Money was very scarce, and people were often en- 
forced to resort to barter in order to eftect exchanges. The compai'ative 
demand and supply regnlated the price of all articled. A yard of calico 
was worth so many pounds of butter: a deer skin was worth so much 
sugar or coffee, and an a\ was worth so many bushels of potatoes. The 
tanneries supplied leather, which was obtained and made for whole fam- 
ilies at once into shoes and boots. Sheep were early introduced, and 
those that were not killed by wolves supplied wool, which was taken, 
very often, by the backwoods mother, and washed, rolled, carded, spun, 
woven into cloth, dressed, cut and made into suits without once leaving 
the house where it had been clip]ied from the sheep. Everybody had 
ox teatns. Young men went courting with ox teams, and many young 
couples went gayly oft" to some old '' Squire " to get married, driving a 
span of fast young cattle. If they were fortunate enough to own a 
horse, they would both mount the animal, the girl on behind, and away 
they would go, followed by a shower of old shoes, horseshoes and rice. 
The firfct marriage in the county was after this fashion. It occurred on 
the 1st of January, 182'!^, between Noble Owens and Catharine Coons, 
Nathaniel Buttertield, Associate Judge, performing the ceremony. The 
second marriage was June 19, 182S, between James Pei-rin and Cassan- 
dra Clarke. Lemuel Boyd, Justice of the Peace. The third was Novem- 
ber 80, 1828, between Jonathan Pitzer and Nancy Bivens, by Squire 
Dunn. On this occasion the evening was passed in an old-tashioued 
backwoods dance. It mitst have been a sight to have seen them whirl- 
ing around the room of the little log cabin, shaking their feet to some 
familiar tune on an old fiddle, 

" As the lidfUor fouchcd the string, 
boine youuKsler cut tlK- pi^'eon wing." 

The Scotch, Virginia and other varieties of reel were indulged in; 
old men took the Hoor under the inspiiation, and uulimbered themselves 
in a manner to elicit rounds of api)lause from boys of less skill and ex- 
perience. 

There were no "stuck-up" people in the new counby; all were 
friendly, for all were poor. The latch string hung out for everybodv; 
this hospitality was so universal that every settler seemed to keep tavern. 

3 



44 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

It would not do to tarn ti'avelers away, for the cabins were so few that 
the night would probably have to be passed in the woods. The only 
question was, can they put up with what we have ? Travelers in the 
backwoods usually could and did. 

OLD TIME CUSTOMS. 

The first thing for the family to do was to ei'ect the little log cabin; 
and while this was being done by the men, often assisted by the neigh- 
bors, who came for that purpose often four or five miles, the families 
were oblio-ed to live in the wagon, or in a tent of boughs, bark and 
blankets, or in the cabin of some near neighbor. The cabin, such as it 
was, often without floor or permanent roof, and destitute of door or 
windows, was very often ready for occupancy at night of the day it was 
begun. Blankets served for doors, greased paper for windows, while 
the floor was, perhaps, the bare earth. The next few days were passed in 
getting comfortable. The chinks must be daubed with mud; the chimaey 
and fire-place must be made serviceable and reliable; puncheon floors 
and doors must be split out, and the latter hung on wooden hinges, with 
a huge wooden latch on the inside provided with a string which extended 
outside through a small hole in the door. To draw in the string was to 
prevent entrance, and hence the old saying that "the latch-string is out" 
is tantamount to an invitation to all in need of hospitality to enter the 
humble cabin home. After the family had been made comfortable, act- 
ive work was begun to clear a spot of ground for the first crop. The 
men would cut down trees all day and far into favorable nights, while 
the women would often pile and burn the brash. Mrs. William Robb 
said she did that many a time and enjoyed it. Her husband, William 
Robb, said he would rather live in a log cabin on the frontier with the 
family he loved and with all the surrounding hardships and privations than 
to live in a palace amid the gilt and pride of to-day. Many of the old settlers 
think likewise. Those were active, happy times for them— the sunshine in 
their long lives, and now, when the twilight of age comes swiftly on, it 
is happiness to see the old times again, even in a momentary vision. 
How nice it was some crisp, bright moonlight night in winter, when the 
snow lay thick upon the ground, to close the house and all take a brisk walk 
through the sharp air a mile or two to the house of a neighbor to spend 
the lono- evening! There is inspiration in the thought of old times. We 
see the pioneers\uilding their log cabins and cutting down the great 
trees; we hear the echoing axes and the thunder of falling timber; we see 
the blazing brush and the sky is filled with the glare of burning heaps of 
logs, and the sun is darkened with blinding smoke; we hear the sturdy 
pioneers shouting to their oxen as they roll the logs or tarn the soil for 
the expected crop; we hear the sound of mauls as the rails for the little 
fields are split; we see men and women planting corn with hoes and 
weeding pumpkins and potatoes among the roots and stamps. The au- 
tumn comes and the corn is husked and the potatoes dug. The evening 
comes and we hear the ding-dong of the cow-bells — for the cows have re- 
turned from the prairie and are standing down by the bars, with dis- 
tended sides, waiting to be milked. The chores are done and night has 
thrown her curtain upon the earth, and the long-drawn mournful howl of 
the wolf and the weird hootings of the owl are heard down by the swamp. 
Now the scene is changed. The crops are gathered, the corn is cribbed, 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 45 

the potatoes are biu'ied, the <;reat yellow pumpkins are covered with hay 
and vines to protect them from the frost, the prairie hay is cut and 
stacked and great heaps of lotjs have been hauled into the door-yard for 
winter use. The boys and girls have bright new suits of home-made 
linsey, or the faded old ones have been patched; and each with a new 
pair of cow-hide shoes (which must last a year), is getting ready for the 
winter school in the new log schoolhouse, with a great open tire-place 
and windows of greased paper, and long benches hewed out of split logs. 
There is the old schoolmaster. What an important personage he is! 
How stafely he looks, as, with whip in hand, he marches up and down 
the room, hearing the little ones saying their A B C's and showing the 
older ones how to cipher. Occasionally he touches up some of the boys 
who are caught whispering to the girls. How they jump and scratch! 
for their pants are thin, and the whip is hickory, well seasoned in the 
hot embei-s of the glowing tire. There is the school standing in a lono- 
row with folded arms, ready to spell — yes, ready to spell every word in 
the old spelling book. How hungry rhe scholars are at noon, and what 
dinners they have! Johnny-cake, venison, and sometimes a big piece of 
pumpkin pie, and once in a great while a slice of wheat bread with but- 
ter and a little sugar sprinkled on the butter. Now they are at home, 
gathered around the blazing fire-place. What tires! How they roared 
and snapped those cold winter nights! There sits father, smoking his 
wooden pipe, and mother with her knitting, while the girls are making 
the old spinning-wheel hum as they spin into yarn the rolls which have 
been carded by hand, and there are the boys working their sums, crack- 
ing hickory nuts or whittling puzzles out of little wooden blocks, while 
the great tire throws out a cheering heat and gleam, and comfort per- 
vades the whole house. Now it is the fall of the year. The poison of 
the uudrained swamps has made all to shake and shiver with the ao-ue, or 
lay for weeks burning with fever, without well ones enough to wait on 
the sick. There comes the old doctor, picking his way among the loc^s 
and swamps, on horseback, with blazed trees for his guide and an old 
Indian trail for his road. What doses of medicine he doles out! Cal- 
omel, jalap, ipecac, Dover's powders, Peruvian bark, pink and senna 
and snake root, and pills as big as peas. How the patient is vomited, 
purged and bled, and how, after weeks of shaking and burning fever, he 
pulls through, a mere skeleton, a yellow, bilious-looking wreck. 

EARLY MILLS, FACTORIES. ETC. 

Warren County was well supplied with early mills, owing to the ease 
with which the water powers along the creeks were made available. 
However, the settlers, prior to 182S were obliged to go south into Fountain 
County. Henry Stump started a saw mill on Big Pine Creek in 1828; 
Isaac Rains started one soon afterward at what afterward became Kains- 
ville. He conducted a small corn cracker. Francis Boggs also began 
sawing about the same tinie northeast of Williamsport, on Bier Pine Creek. 
Peter Cristuian's mill was started later on the same creek. Enoch 
Farmer started the tirst saw mill on Kickapoo Creek. Isaac Rains started 
a saw mill lower down on Big I'ine Creek, afterward known as the 
Brier Mill, as early as 1828. A small grist mill or corn-cracker was 
conducted at the same place. The Cristman Mill was afterward owned 
by Mr. Dick. William Rhodes built a saw mill on Big Pine Creek, as 



46 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

early as 1833, about two miles northeast of Rainsville. A corn-cracker 
was also located there, and afterward an excellent grist mill. AVilliam 
Fincher, Isaac Waymire, William Boggs, Jonathan Cos, Levi Douthert 
and Frederick Waymire built early saw mills on Kickapoo Creek. Isaac 
Waymire also started a small flouring mill. S. and O. Munson built a 
saw' and grist mill on Little Pine Creek as early as 183L Christopher 
Henry built a saw mill on the same creek, and a Mr. Burshren a grist 
mill. Henry Stewart and John Talbert liuilt saw mills on the same 
creek early. Stewart conducted a small carding mill, as did Brier also, 
on Bio- Pine Creek. These old factories were well patronized. 

WILD ANIMALS. 

A few bears have been killed in the county, two or three of them 
beino- sti'agglers, in comparatively late years. Eai'ly in the 'SOs and in 
the month of October, Wesley Gray and others were hunting by moon- 
lio-ht one night, when the dogs started a bear not far from Rainsville. 
The large animal started northward at a rapid rate, closely -pur-sued by 
the doo-3 and followed by Mr. Gray, who was on horseback, and who could 
scarcely keep up with it, owing to the swamps and woods. But finally 
he reached the fierce animal near the northern boundary of the county, 
just as it was in the act of killing one of his dogs. It had seized the 
dog in its deadly embrace and was crushing the unfortunate animal to 
death by repeated hugs. Mr. Gray jumped from his horse, which was 
very restless, and threw his rifle to his ■ shoulder just as the bear, with 
mouth open and gleaming teeth, displayed in the moonlight, released 
the doc»- and made a dash at him. He tired as the animal reared up, and 
a half ounce of lead went crashing into its body near the heart. The 
maddened animal gave a spasmodic bound, fell over on the leaves, and 
after a few feeble kicks was dead. The Grays and some of their neigh- 
bors ate bear steak for breakfast the following morning. 

Wolves were very numerous, especially in very early years, and some- 
times in winter, when I'endered desperate by hunger, they would enter 
door and stable-yards and attack domestic animals, and sometimes would 
pursue and attack man himself. This, however, was only when they 
were half starved and desperate. A settler in Liberty Township once 
pursued a large wolf, chasing it on horseback. He ran over it once, but 
the horse was severely bitten by the wolf, and would avoid the beast upon 
subsequent charges. At last it was broiight to bay, and the settler, hav- 
imy no o-un, took oflf his stirrup, intending, if possible, to brain the ani- 
mal by one blow. He advanced upon it, and it, in turn, rendered furi- 
ous by the long chase, advanced iipon him, showing two rows of teeth 
that a crocodile might have envied, and that snapped together like a 
steel trap. When close enough, he struck it upon the head with the 
heavy iron stirrup, stretching it upon the ground, and finishing the work 
by x'epeated blows upon the head. Cattle in ths woods, becoming mired 
down in the swamps at night, often furnished a feast for a ravenous pack of 
wolves. Ordinarily the wolves were not dangerous to man. Sheep con- 
stantly fell victims to their rapacity. The County Commissioners offered 
a heavy bounty, which had the effect of largely ridding the county of the 
nocturnal marauders They continued, however, to do serious damage 
to sheep folds long after the county was quite well populated. Finally, 
some time in the early part of the '40s, it was resolved to organize a 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 47 

gi-au(l circular bunt in onler to exterminate as many of the animals as 
possible. Tlie time came, and the night before a large pole was erected on 
the big mound at Walnut Grove, from the top of which four wagon covers 
sewed together were spread to the breeze. Eighty acres at this j)lace 
were staked oft', the Hag pole being the center, and this tract of lan(l was 
to be the center where the game was to be driven, and upon which none 
of the hunters were to advance without orders from the Captains. Bright 
and early the next morning, the settlers started from Benton County, 
Vermillion County, 111., aiul Tippecanoe County on the east, and 
the ^^'abasll River on the south, and as they moved along they were 
joined by hundreds, until the great circular line was almost .solid. They 
made loud and constant noise to scare up all game. The big Hag could 
be seen for ten miles, and steadily toward it the line of excited and anx- 
ious men advanced. Animals could be seen running in front of the line, 
and at lust opposite lines could see each other. The circle of men at this 
time was complete, .and the fun began. Herds of deer, led by some tine 
old stag, woiild dash madly round and round the circle, and were met 
everywhere by volleys of rifles. Sometimes, when made desperate by 
the noise and by fear, they would dash at the line, and, jumping over the 
heads of the hunters, or breaking through the line, would go wildly off" 
at full speed and escape. Notwithstanding the care which had been 
used, nearly all the game ezcept deer had managed to escape through the 
lines during the march. A few wolves were hemmed in and shot, and a 
few foxes were seen and, perhaps, a few killed. Several herds of deer 
also had managed to escape during the advance; but there were about 
300 in the cii'cle when the lines reached the limit of march. Many of 
these escaped by breaking through the lines or leaping over the heads 
of the hunters. Many mpn were so excited that they scarcely knew what 
they did, and the line was sometimes very irregular and broken, thus 
admitting the escape of the animals. About IGO deer were killed: also 
six or eight wolves. Jt had been expected that not less than twenty-tive 
wolves would be hemmed in and killed, so that the hunt, as a whole, 
did not come xip to the expectations. Fortunately no man was injured by a 
stray bullet. This was the most extensive hunt ever in the county. 
Diivid Moftit was one of the most successful hunters and trappers ever 
in the county. He enjoys the sport even at this day, and for a man who 
has seen fom'suore of years, is remarkably clear mentally, and strong and 
active physically. 

VIGIL.\NT COMPANIES. 

In comparatively early years, when through all this Western country 
the lack of law and measures to bring criminals to justice led to the 
formation of organized bands of horse-thieves and counterfeiters, lied 
wood Point became a notorious resort for their depredations; and at 
times large numbers of horses and (juantities of jewelry, merchandise, 
etc., stolen farther east and across the \\" abash, were secreted in the ra- 
vines and heavy woods until such property could be safely disposed of by 
the thieves. So far as ku<)wu, no bogus coin or counterfeit paper money 
was ever manufactured in the county, although, many yeai's ago. the 
necessary im{)lements for such manufactiue were found concealed in the 
ravine at Redwood Point. Reports were once circulated that a man had 
been murdered not many miles from West Lebanon — an inoflonsive ped- 
dler, supposed to have had in his possession a considerable quantity of 



48 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

money and jewelry — after wbieh his body was said to have been thrown 
into a certain well, anei the reports pretended to point out several of the 
guilty parties. One dark night, a company of Vigilants called upon the 
alleged guilty persons who lived near by. and inforrtied them that they 
were wanted, and accordingly conducted them to the well, around which 
they were stationed well guarded, while the water was thoroughly 
dragged for the body of the missing peddler. No such body was found, 
and the suspected parties were conducted home, no doubt greatly to 
their relief. In consequence of the resort made of the county ravines 
and woods by criminals and the mysterious disappearance of horses, cat- 
tle, goods, etc., various companies for the detection and arrest of the ras- 
cals were organized and continued to be so until the present. In 1853, 
two companies for catching horse-thieves and other criminals were or- 
ganized in the county, the Milford Regulators, with a membership of 
thirty-live, in the eastern part of the county, and the Grand Prairie 
Rangers, with about the same membership in the northern part. These 
companies were thoroughly organized, with Captains and Lieutenants, 
and were instrumental in breaking up organized bands of law-breakers. 
These were the tirst companies of the kind in the county The Warren 
Regulators were organized in 1859. Among the members were J. L. 
Dick, J. M. Fleming. Adam Troxel, H. L. Caltou, Daniel Meyers, Solo- 
mon Dick, Josiah Clawson, John Stephenson, John Young, John Big- 
ham, J. C. Adams, George Nelson and Austin Heigh. The Grand Prairie 
Rangers were organized in 1861, for the same purpose, some of the 
members being Wesley Clark, J. R. Marshall, Andrew Brier, Isaac 
Christman, W. H. H. Reed, M. A. Osboru, Elias Thompson, John Mel- 
lott, Thomas J. Cheneweth and Isaac Cheneweth. The Warren De- 
tectives were organized in 1865, in Liberty and Washington Townships, 
and the Pine Creek Hangers, the same year, in Southern Liberty and 
Southern Prairie and Pine. In 1865, also, Warreu Township organized 
the Warren County Minute Men. The State Line Detective Company 
was formed in 1866 in Kf>nt, Mound and Steuben Townships. Soon 
after this, the Liberty Police Rangers, the Warren County Minute Men, 
the Pine Village Detectives, the Liberty Guards, the Rainsville Detect- 
ives, the West Lebanon Detectives, the Jordan Raugers, the Kickapoo 
Guards, and similar companies, were formed, the object being to bring 
criminals, especially horse-thieves, to justice. Such a general organiza- 
tion has had a salutary effect upon the commission of crime. 

m'olure wokkingmen's institute. 

The object of this association, which was organized in 1857, was "to 
procure and sustain a library of useful books, to improve ourselve.s in 
reading, discussions and lectures, and to acquire useful and practical 
knowledge." The members were composed of those only " who labor with 
their hands and earn their living by the sweat of their brows." The 
fund to secure the library was left by the McClure bequest. The mem- 
bers were G. H. Norduft, J. M. Norduft, P. W. Lewis, Robert Pearson, 
Peter Mahn, M. P. Woods, G. R Livingood, Samuel Ducket, Levi Mil- 
ler, A. Suhler, E. A. Boardmar, J. F. Reiff, Joseph Jones, John Moore, 
John Cox, Henry Wright, A.. S. Jones. H. P. Downey. James Park, Alvin 
Heicrh and H. B. Thomas. The organization amounted to but little. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTV. 49 

THE COUNTY LIBRARY. 

An early enactment of the Lej^islature provided that ten per centum 
of the ])roceeds of the sale of county lots should be a library fund, and a 
short time before 1840. a small library was purchased, and added to af- 
terward as the fund accumulated. Slany of the books may yet be seen 
in the county. In 1855, the State distributed to the townships what 
became known as township libraries, then considered a most important 
means of disseminatinor knowledge to poor pereons. In ISOS. the town- 
ship libraries amounted to 2.1U*J volumes, some of which, owing to neg- 
lect, were in poor condition, 

RAILRO.\DS. 

The Wabash Eailroad was fully completed through the county in 
1857, but trains ran over portions of the county the year before. In 
1809. the citizens of Mound Township were called upon to vote for or 
against a tax to aid the Indianapolis, Crawfordsville <& Danville Railroad, 
with this result — for, 14(^; against, 1,()*J0 The vote to aid the Northern 
Indiana and Southern Railroad was also unfavorable al)out the same 
time. The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railroad was built 
across Mound Township, and the coal branch of the Chicago, Danville 
& Vincennes Railroad was graded across Mound, Kent and Steuben 
Townships, but never tinished. The coming year. 1883, or at any rate 1884, 
will see the Chicago &, Great Southern Railroad constructed across the 
county from north to south. Warren Counly will then be well sup- 
plied with transportation facilities. 

MOUND TOWNSHIP, 1836. 

At the Presidential election, November. 183'). in Mound Township, 
at the town of Baltimore, .the following settlers polled their votes: 
Joseph Foster, John Wilcox, Cannon Rosshand, Edmund McGinnis, 
Silas Hall, Joseph Steeley, Hiram Hoagland, Charles W. Loney, Hariy 
Johnston, G. W. Dickson, Daniel Hoover. Henry Henderson, J. D. 
Loney, Stephen Osborn, Abraham Henderson. Mark Kinuinson. Harris 
Gammon. William Taylor, Sr., Jesse Wright. W. H. Taylor. G. W. 
Alexander. Tarpley Taylor, Shelby Ballot, ^^'il Ham Carey. Aaron Woods, 
George ^V. Hobbs, George Dickson. James Parrin. Thomas Johnston, 
William Lawi^nce, Peter Dickson, AN'illiam Calhoun. Stephen Ames, 
Lewis Evans, Solomon Long, Nelson De Moss. Barnabas Dawson, J. R. 
Clark, James Rose, G. W. Moore, John Sheets. Henry Dickson, William 
Lee, Thomas Kitchen, Thomas Lewis, William Wilmetb, Jesse Dickson. 
Henry Garrish, W. Y, Taylor, John Starr. Sylvester Stone, Joel Rose, 
J. D. Taylor, Daniel Starry, Jr., John McConnell, Z. Story, Joseph 
Story, William Henderson, Jacob Stingley. William Henderson, Samuel 
Osborn, Isaac Sturtzer, Thomas Cunningham, Samuel Rosebaugh, T. D. 
Taylor, Sauford Payne, John Taylor, John Killer, S. H. Gan-ison. Dan- 
iel Beck, John Henderson. Alexander Stewart, B. H. Becket. J. C. Taylor, 
Daniel Henepin, James Black. Nicholas Hizer. George Murjjhey, Dan- 
iel Riner, David Lockwood, Ju.shua Lawrence, John Clem, James 
M. Clarke, David Atridge, J. M. Clem. Thomas Miser, William H. Dill, 
Squire Lee, David White, Jonathan Bart, John Hummer, Daniel Stoiy, 
Daniel Miller, Michael Clem, Lawrence Kinnisou, Samuel Starry, 
JeflVey Wilson, James Bullington, Alfred Beckett, William Scroggins, 
G. P. Saunders, Levi Murdock, J. B. King, John Black. John Osborn, 



50 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Egbert Beckett, George Mosier, Robert Crawford. James Kitcbeu. David 
Clem, Gr. W. Beckett, Amos Clark, James Johnson, John Benjamin, Ja- 
cob Rush, Jesse Houchin, Enoch Ballot, James M. Oren and Hezekiah 
Ballot. Total, 119. 

PIKE TOWNSHIP, 1836. 

At the Presidential election, November. 1836, held in Pike Town- 
ship, at Lebanon, the following men polled their votes: Jesse Morris, 
James Hickenbottom, Jacob Piatt, Elisha A. Wood, Jacob Uline. C. L. 
Moore, John Stuart. Thomas Lyon, Peter Miller, Benjamin Bodrick, 
Oren Cronkhite, Nehemiah Brodrick, Samuel Peet. J. H. Simpson. Abel 
Cook, Benjamin Smauley, Caleb Train, Ephraim Norton, John Fleming, 
Hugh Jackson, John Clinton, Robert Lyon, Hiram Hyatt, Josiah Biggs, 
Sr. , James Wason, Chancey Adkins, Jacob Myers, Alexander Marphet, 
M. L. Mitchell, Eleazur Purviance, T. P. Kinkmin, Daniel Garrison, 
Bernard Seals, Jacob Stingley, Silas Garrison, Alexander Starry, B. 
Payne, Abel Farshey, Cornelius B. Fleming, Samuel Nowls, John Nowls, 
James M. Smith, Jacob Baugh, Levi Fleming, John Wason. David 
Coon, Samuel Kratzer, Joab White, David French, J. H. Mclutosh, 
Samuel Adams, Daniel McGregor, James White, Samuel Woods. Josiah 
Biggs, John Mcintosh, James Piatt. Daniel D. Hall, Peter Fleming, 
Robert Ringle. William Smiley, J. H. Simpson, Joseph Ewing, Joshua 
Nixon, Eli Woodard, Nathan Harner, Right Glen, John Rosebraugh, 
John Musgrave and Nathaniel Butterfield; total, 70. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, 1836. 

The following vote was polled in Washington Township at the Pres- 
idential election in November, 1836: Cyrus Pearson, J. M. Rhodefer, 
J. R. Harris, T. R. Irwin, John Shearer, George Folger, C. M. Hughes, 
N. Sheffer, James Goodwine, Thomas Brown, John C. Irvin, John F. 
Irvin, H. S. Ludington, John Higginbotham, John Marshall, Jacob 
Wilkinson, Miller Watkins, James Stanford, Charles McAllister. J. K. 
Higginbotham, Henry Lowery, William Seai'ch, Joseph Cunningham, 
Thomas Goodwine, William Brown, James Todd,M. J. Lincoln. George 
Pugh, Francis Davis, J. J. Seaman, Hiram Wilkinson, John Spigard, 
William Bush, William Bunnell, Seth St. John, John Durkey. John 
Russell, Thomas O'Neill. Daniel Mace, James B. McDonald, William 
Robb, Aaron Taylor, Ichabod Norton, Abraham Howery, C. M. Thomas, 
John Johnson, James Goodwine, Jr., William Harrington, Moses Case, 
C. M. Woods, C. Rakestraw, J. L. Johnson, Daniel Biggs, Perrin Kent, 
Abram Hathaway, John Seaman, Roland Harris, J. D. Fleming, Free- 
man Marshall, Freeman Davis, John Bush, Samuel Pearson, James J. 
McAlilly, J. N. Wilson, N. F. Cunningham, William Bristow. John 
' Swank, John Wilkinson, Oliver Wallace, John Merical, James Birch, 
James Buckles, William Hough, Aaron Stevenson, Robert O'Neal, Rob- 
ert Clifton, William Fipps, Sf»th Wilkinson, Henry Buckley. Samuel 
Watkins, Mitchell Gill, J. W. Dickson, Elijah Osborn, Newbold Moore, 
William Barkshire, Sr., Jacob Houghman, Silas HaiTis, Robert 
Doughty, Eden Stovall, W. M. Haines, R. M. Kathers, Mason Tucker, 
Samuel Tucker, Eli Pritchet, Isaac Forman, David Fleming, Lawrence 
Russell, Peter Dump, Jacob Saum, Adam Troxall, Benjamin Landon, 
Dennis Sianter, John Shwisher, James Stewart, George Tucker. Henry 
Hall, David Forman, Clement Jones, John W. Skillmon, John White, 



HISTORY OF WAUKEN COUNTY. 51 

John Moore, W. C. Holmaii. Allen Brown, John Keester, Gidpon Bailey, 
William Barksliire. George Maines, Dempsey Scott, Reuben Biggs, R, 
A. Chandler, John Laiwlon, John Miller, Nathan Davidson. Thomas 
Doan, Samuel Campbell, Bartlett Clem, David Etnire, Henry Coates, 
Hiram Brawrick, William Farnsworth, E. F. Lucas, Isaac Bennett, 
Heniy Stump, George Pence, Thomas Thomas, James Rowland, Joshua 
Ray, Elijah Fleming, John Williams, C. Tapperry, Aaron Spurrier, 
"William Coldren, Je.sse Tumbleson, James H. Buell, Caleb Rhodes, 
Heniy High, John Kent, AVilliam Biggs, James Bell, John Rhodes, 
D. A. Rhodes, Thomas Rhodes, Obadiah Little, John Goings. -Abner 
Dooley, George Saum, Jonathan Rhodes, James McCoy, Henry Way- 
mire, Thomas Casad, William Cunningham, Robert Person, Josei)h S. 
Robb. J. W. Shannon, AV. A. Crawford. Asa Spencer, Orvil Crunkhite, 
Reuben Warbritton, T. D. Marshall. Sidney Cronkhite, George Will- 
iams, Augustus Watson, William Collard, David Shanklin, William 
Boss, Amos Griffith, J. W. Purviance, Jasper Nixon, Seymour Rhodes, 
Samuel Seelev, "William Campbell. Pierce Egglesou, Moses Dooley, 
Peter Forman, Joseph Spooner, Burrell Cameron, Constantino MoMahon, 
Horatio Thomas, Luther Tillotsou, Jacob Casad, Peter Hickman. Zebu- 
Ion Foster, William Swisher, William Wallace. Jacob Miller. Hosea 
Cronkhite, N. L. Coffinberiy, J. T. Cratson, Ellis Casad, John Rhodes, 
Jr., George Oglesby, Jacob Forman, Joseph Wilkin.son, J. K. Fleiuing, 
M. Simpson, William White, Silas Bennett, James Shannon, John Low- 
rev, George Shrawry, Charles Person, Cyrus Stanley, John Slutton, 
Thomas Rakestraw, John Crow, Elias Porter, Stephen Schoonover, 
Thomas Clifton, Wesley Waldrup, Richard Purzue, Benjamin Crow, 
"Wesley Clark, Michael Harness, Isaac Slanter, W. M. Pugh, Jesse 
Shari-er, Jesse Swisher, Fred Zimmerman, Thomas Clawson. Nich- 
olas Saum, "William Buckles, H. H. Crawford, John Baird, \\ illiam 
Billings. J. H. Norduft, G. H. Norduft, Jacob Halstead, David A\ ilburn, 
Oliver Swank, George Brier, Abraham Houser, Andrew Fleming. James 
Hopkins, David Crisman. Asa "Wortham, E. B. Tillot.son, John Swingler, 
James McCord,Constadt Han-is, Solomon Sharret, Jesse Doan, John Stuliie- 
beam, Francis Boggs, W. S. Simpson, Walter Pawley, Henry Keester, 
John Pritchet, Clement Hopkins, Jacob Miller, William Miller, 0. S. 
Hunter, C. Brown, Wilford Pugh, Abel Potter, Daniel Hutsoa. N. G. 
Crawford, Richard Pitman, Thomas Mon'is. Jackson Purquo, Isaac High, 
George Owens, W^. E. Williams, Jacob Etnire, F. C. Pain, Henry Jack- 
son, Thooias Brewster, Jacob Hanaway, Peter Chrisman, AV. R. Boyer, 
Samuel AVilliams, Thomas Martin, David Evans, Jarrett Davis. James 
Quick, Jeremiah Pritchet, Henry Alill)y, John Cox, Gilbert A'.tunatta, 
Robert Robb, Eli Stratton, Isaac Bunnell, Gibson Hurst, Charli'> Bark- 
shire, and "Unknown;" total, 290. 

WARREN TOWNSHIP, 1830. 

At the Presidential election, November. 1830, at the house of ilutthew 
Sriver, in AVaiTen Township, the following men cast their votes: Will- 
iam Benson, Benjamin Pike, Moses Clifton, Burnet Frost, Michael 
Coffett. David Begertow, Peter Mosmore, Isaac Jones. Andrew Davis, 
Philander Thomas, Jonathan Case, James Jacobs, Isaac Hinshaw, Jere- 
miah Canaw, John Hall, William Farmer, Moses Michels. Peter Mason, 
Zimri Holmes, John Carey, John Cox, John Campbell, Ephraim Pike, 



52 HISTORY OF WARREi!! COUNTY. 

John Stevenson, Henry Rittenour, John Tweed, Samuel Thomas, Samuel 
Murphey, Joseph Little, James Farrell, John Jackson, John McCoi'd, 
Edward Hemp, John Mitchell, Henry Jackson, Edward Maee, John B. 
J. Mace. Sylvanus Cos., William Young, Henry Jacobs, Adam Sriver, 
Joseph Talbert, Peter Sriver, Jacob Haines, Robert Brady, D. R. Parker, 
Frederick Waymire, Abraham Haines, Samuel Hanson, Job Tevobaugh, 
Matthew Sriver, Joseph Michler, Daniel Doty, John Debra, D. C. 
Sriver, Joseph Haines, Thomas Dunn, Nathan Jackson, Zachariah Ci- 
cott, Thomas Spray, William Farrell, Daniel Clifton, Robert Campbell, 
John Cassel, Rufus Wells, Hiram Farmer, Samuel Benefel, Stephen 
Cook, William Fincher, Thomas Kearns, Enoch Farmer, John W. 
Knapp, David Moffit, Daniel McCord, Levi Doutsil, James Smith, Ezra 
Gaskell, Louis Collier, John Newell, David Waymire, Edward Hemphill, 
Joshua P. Smith, Lemuel B. Pierce, Andrew Franklin, Leonard Eller, 
Job Carrell, Zedekiah Herley, John Sriver, Valentine Bone and William 
Railsback; total. 90. 

PINE TOWNSHIP, 1836. 

The following persons voted in Pine Township at the Presidential 
election, November, 1S36: Jesse Endicott, Henry Ruble, Isaac Ellis, 
Jacob Bert, James Gregory, Benjamin Longman, Allen Campbell, Jeffer- 
son Bartlett, Isaac Brier, Stephen Haneman, Isaac Templeton, John 
Huffman, John A. West, J. B. Harris, tieorge Brown, Madison Collins, 
Michael Creekpaum, Branson Sanders, Nathan Beeson, Gideon Cox, 
John Dinwiddie, Silas Hooker, Aaron Coffinbeny, Thomas A. Johnson, 
Manden Cook, John Oilar, Baldwin Heaton, James Thornton, Samuel 
Jolly, Isaac Rose, Calaway Sanders, John Mulkner, W^illiam Moore, G. 
L. Coffinberry, Jtjhn Lewis, Thomas Collins, Jesse Sergeant, George 
Sigler, John Cassel, John Jones, William Trullinger, William Lewis, 
James McConnell, Enoch Fenton, Daniel Brier, Martin Beaver, John 
Brier, David Lane, John Lane, Samuel Richards, Lewis Lewis, Will- 
iam Smith, Thomas Smith, David Dawson, John Orr, John Campbell, 
M. Milford, George Sergeant, Samuel Harris, Joseph Stump, John Melcher, 
John Welch, Joseph Welch, Ransom Brown, John Bartlett, Joseph Beeson, 
John Ray, James Richardson, Seymour Cobb, J. J. Wilson, Jacob Coffin - 
berry, Henry Beaver, Jesse Harlin, Harvey Bobbins, Reuben Mitchell, 
Thomas Bartlett, Abner Mitchell, Fred Fenton, James Brier, Harry 
Eggleston, William Hickman, Thomas Monell, Henry Manes, James 
Armstrong, Jacob Mills, Benjamin Freeman, Joseph Whitney, Silas Daw 
son, Benjamin Monell, William Carson, Henry Robertson, William Mo- 
nell, Hugh Monell, Sam lel Monell, John Hunter, John Jolly, Reeves 
Lewis, Ira Cobb, William Trueblood, Eli Carmon, Nathan Mendenhall 
Bazil Justice, Thomas Smith, Madison Lewis, Stephen Milton, Law- 
rence Rains, Thomas Pennell, James Rains, Stephen Rains. William 
Hooker, Sr., Samuel Freeman, James Jolly, David Horner, Enoch 
Evans, Henry Miller, Isaac Lewis, John Hodson, John Smith, William 
Gray, Nathan Ballou. Bazil West, Adam Glaze, A. B. Harris, Nathan 
Rains, Urim Sergeant, Jacob Mendenhall, William Smalley, Ebenezer 
Hooker, John Sergeant, William Rhodes, Jr., Carpenter Morey, L. L. 
Freeman, James Barnes, Joseph Osborn, Caleb Cobb, William Dickson, 
Joseph Clark, Thomas Taylor, Burrell Eggleston, James Musgrave, 
Jesse Rains, William Hooker, Edward Michel, Jeremiah Williams, Na- 
than Endicott, W^illiam Pringle, John Brown, Charles High, Jacob 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 53 

Dickson, La^vreuce Reem, Jonas Heaj]^, and Christopher Pt*i)i)or; total, 
155. 

MEDINA TOWNSHIP, 1 S/iP). 

The followiug ])ersons voted in Medina Township at the Presidential 
election, November, 188G: AV. B. Bailey, William Moore, John Ritten- 
our, Minor Rittenour, B. Iseley. John Peniwell, A. Davis. S. Benson. C. 
Henry. E. H. Bailey, G. Little, J. Allen, T. Benson, H. Nichols, I. 
Metsker. A. Stewart, A. Fisher, S. Davis, "W. German, T. Literal, 
J. Truitt. G. Wolf, I. Bowyer. D. Nichols, J. Stewart, R. G. Smith, J. 
D. Bailey. D. McConnell, J. Benson, James Benson. Philip Williams, 
William Bnrk, J. Burk. Moses Doty, J. Coughenour. William Burk, Jr., 
S. White, Eli Mendenhall, G. Argabricrht, A. More, C. Dawson, Daniel 
Smith. J. D. AVhite, J. W. Newell, G. W. Coffinbei-ry, J. Anderson. 
William Odell, H. C. Benson, J. Ward, William Newell, Orren Munson, 
L. Foster. William Mears, R. Doty, E. Jackson, J. Carswell, William 
Shockley, J. Campbell, W. Pease, S. Miinson. G. Reed, N. Lemons, 
Daniel Harp, T. M. Cahan, C. Benson, R. Odell, M. Thomas, G. Davis, 
T. Mitcham, T. Odell, J. Doty, J. Lindsay, J. Clark, J. Simpson, P. 
Brown. J. E. Thompson, I. Myrove, J. Crouch, William Dillman, C. 
Crouch, S. Bone, J. A. Franklin, C. Yredenburg, John Moore, John 
Mathers, J. Southard, T. Dawson, Ed Dawson, Ezra Dawson. E. Allen, 
M. Wagner, S. Green. R. Anderson, T. Johnson, J. B. Foster. G. John- 
son. N. F. Brown, John Macahan, J. McClatchy, J. Smiley. E. Moore, 
T. Bowyer, J. Harmon. P. Randle, J. Dillman, J. Bone, John Bone, 
R. Myers, J. Reed, E. Shockley, H. Bailev. L. Guthridge. W. Smiley, 
W. Carter, W. Doty. A. Bowyer, I. Bowyer, P. Woodtield, W. Cantrell, J. 
Dills, John Burk, John Gillom*, L. Williams, G. Burk, and M. Hemy; 
total, l'J5. 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 

BY WKSTON F. GOOI'SrEEI). 



CREATION OF THE CODNTY OF WARREN. 

THE territory comprising the present county of Warren, together 
with a large portion of the remainder of Northwestern Indiana, in- 
cluding the counties of Benton, Jasper and Newton, was formerly attached 
to th-^ county of Wabash; but during the legislative session of 1S25-20. 
when the act creating the county of Fountain was passed, the following 
proceeding, relative to what afterward became AVarren County, was made 
Section 7 of that enactment: 

Section 7. All tliat piirt of tlic fouiity of Waliasli \\\uis, nortli and we.st of tlio 
said county of Fountaiii sliall be and hiTcaftcr is attachi'd to tJK' said count}' for 
the purpose of civil and criminal jurisdiction. Approved neceinher ;}(>. 182"). 

No further change was made until the session of L8*J()-'J7, when the 

following enactment was passed: 

Jie it enactfd hij the Geurnd Annembly of the State of Indiana, That from and 
after the first day of March next all tliat part of the county of Wal)a.sh contained 
within till- following boundaries sliall furin an<l constitute a new county to be 
desi^mated the county of Warren, to wit; IJei^inninir at tlie northeast corner of Ver- 
million County, on the \Val)ash Hiver, thence west to the State line, tlience north 
to the line dividing Townships '..';J and 24 north, theuce east with said line to the 



04 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

western line of Tippecanoe County, thence south on the said Tvestern line of Tip- 
pecanoe County to the Wabash River, and thence with the meanders of said river 
to the place of beginning. 

Section 2. The said new county shall, from and after the said first day of 
March next, enjoy all the rights, privileges and jiu-isdictions which to se|)arate and 
independent counties properly appertain. 

Sec. 3. Daniel Sigler, of Putnam County, James Strange, of Park County, 
Thomas Lampsou. of "Montgomery County, James Paige, of Tippecanoe County, 
and Robert Wilson, of Vigo^County, are hereby appointed Commissioners for the 
purpose of fixing the permanent seat of justice of said new county agreeably to the 
provisions of an act entitled "An act iov fixing the seats of justice in all new 
counties hereafter lo be laid off." The Commissioners above named, or a majority 
of them, shall convene at the house of Enoch Farmer in said new county on the 
first Mondaj" in June next, and proceed to the discharge of the duties assigned them 
by law. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Fountain County to notify the 
Commissioners herein above named, either in person or by written notification, of 
their appointment on or before the 10th day of April next, and for such service the 
Board of Justices of the said new county shall allow him a reasonable compensa- 
tion, payable out of the County Treasury thereof. 

Sec. 5. The Circuit and other courts of the said new county of Warren shall 
be held at the house of Enoch Farmer, in said county, or at any other place therein 
the said courts may adjourn to until suitable accommodations can be had at tiie seat 
of justice of said county when the courts shall adjourn to meet there. 

Sec. 6. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the 
county seat of the said new county of Warren shall reserve ten per centum out of 
the proceeds thereof, and also ten per centum out of all donations to said county, 
and shall pay the same over to such person or persons as may be appointed accord 
ing to law to receive the same for the use of a county library. 

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the qualified voters of the said new county of 
Warren at the time of electing a Clerk, Recorder and Associate Judges for tlie said 
county to elect five Justices of the Peace within and for said county, who shall 
constitute a board for transacting as well the duties heretofore devolving on the 
Board of Commissioners as other regular county business. 

Sec. 8. The said new county of Warren is hereby attached to the county of 
Fountain until otherwise provided for all judicial purposes except what ma}' be 
within the jurisdiction of a Justice of the Peace. This act to take effect and he in 
force from and after the first day of ]March next. 

Approved January 19, 1827. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTY SEAT. 

In accordance with the provisions of the above enactment, the Lo- 
cating Commissioners named above, except Mr. Wilson, met, and after 
viewing the various eligible sites and taking into consideration the dona- 
tions of land, money, services, etc., finally located the county seat on the 
east fraction of the southwest quarter of Section 31, Township '2'1 north, 
Range 7 west; receiving from George Hollingsworth anci Enoch Farmer, 
in consideration of the location of the county seat upon such tract of 
land, certain obligations to donate to the county specified lands named 
within the papers, after the county seat had been permanently located 
on such land, and receiving, also, from certain citizens of vVarn^n and 
Fountain Counties, for the same consideration, two obligations, con- 
ditioned that certain sums of money would be paid the county of Warren 
when the stake for the county seat had been permanently fixed. This 
report of the Locating Commissioners was presented to the Board of 
Justices, in March, 182 ^, and formally accepted, and the Commissioners 
were ordered paid and discharged. Immediately after this, the county 
seat was laid off on the land above described, and was named Warrenton. 
The details will be found elsewhere in this volume. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 

The 23d of June, 1S27, was fixed as the date upon which an election 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY 



65 



of Clerk, Recorder, two Associate Judges and five Justices of the Peace, 

for tho transaction of county Imsinoss, should be held, and the county 
was divided into tivo election districts; the nece^ssary numl^er of In- 
spectors, Clerks and Jiulges of Election were appointed, and the election 
was advertised and ordered held }\v Luther Tillotson, Organizing Sheriflf. 
The following were the voters in the First District: John N. Lewin, 
Joseph Thomas, Nicholas DeLong, John Black, Lewis Evans Samuel 
"NVatkins. Humphrey Becket, Benjamin Becket, John Miles, ^Villiam 
Becket. John Ferrell, AVilliam ,lolly, Elias Oxford. Sylvester Stone, 
Thomas Cunningham, Elisha Miles. James Holmes. Hiram Miles. James 
McCune. Robert Mill. Enoch Stran, Jacob Ferrell and A\ illiam Henoersh; 
total, twenty-three. The voters in the Second ]^lection District were 
James C. Watson. Thomas Kitchen, Luther Tillotson. James Kitchen. 
Nelson De Moss, Peter High, Amos Clark. "William Hall, Samuel Clem, 
Henry Coons, Adam Coons, Augustus AVatson, "William Kent, Nathaniel But- 
tertieid, Hold^rSisson, James Shaw, Lemuel Boyd, Benjamin Cheneweth. 
John J ones," James Forbner and Joseph King; total, twenty-one. The voters 
in the Third District were Ransom "Wilkinson. Seth Shippy, James Ox- 
ford. William Harrison, Nathan Billings. Samuel Harrison. Uriah Dunn. 
George Billings, Marcus Shippy, John Fields, Jr.. James Gilbert. Chris- 
topher Pitzer, David Dickinson, Joseph Readine Jonathan Pitzer, 
Robert Benjamin. "William Harrington. Mathias Reading. John Han- 
kins, William Harrison, Jr., John Fields, James Fipps. James B. Har- 
rison, Thomas E. Clark, Jonathan Shippy, Daniel Benjamin, John 
Dickson. Thomas Doan. John Seaman. Daniel Clark, Nimrod Harrison. 
David Fleming, William Pugh, Andrew Fleming, Peter Fleming, Lyman 
Judd, Marshal Billings and Jacob Halstead; total, thirty-eight. The 
voters in the Fourth District were Constantine Messmore. Zechariah 
Cicott, Thomas Horren, Solomon Pitzer, Francis Boggs, Marshfield Hunt. 
Daniel Tevebaugh. Adam White, John Tevebaugh. James McCase, John 
Farmer, Enoch Farmer and Joseph Cox; total, tifteen. The voters in 
the Fifth District were James Bidwell. Daniel White. Archibald Davis. 
Samuel B. Clark, Samuel Green, Isaac Rains, John Anderson. John 
Jackson. Jeremiah Davis and John Gardner; total, eleven. Grand total. 
108. This election resulted as follows: 





ONE 


C»'E 


TWO ASSOCIATE 




FIVE JUSTICES 






CLERK. 


RECORDER 


JUDGES. 






OK THE PEACE. 






1 

e 

'a 

e 




_. 








t 








c 



= 


WHERE HELD. 


1 


.a 

"5 

e 
s 








1 

s 
cs 

u 


1 


t 


-2 


1 t 

" 5 


Tt 




o 




- 1 « 


_ 


e 


a 


^ 


— 


i 


= — 


^ 




m 




r- 1 — 




a 


a 


£u 


^ 


— 


a - 








£ 


= 2 


a 


— 


ji 


B 


>f 












a 




5 S 


1 


SE 


a 


= 


5 




% ^ 


H 


First District 


9« 




23 1....!.... 


11 


8 


28 








03 


Second District 


21 
1 


'87' 


18 .... 
1 ( 37 


11 
29 


"8* 


17 
13 


10 
5 


.... 


.... 


.... 11 

21 .... 




Third ni-tricl 




Foiirtli Di-^lrict 


13 


2 
11 


10 .... 
....ill 


11 
11 


2 

8 


18 


4 
3 


"4* 


i5 

.... 





1... 


Fifth District 




Total 


58 


50 


52 


48 


62 


29 


61 


45 


4 


15 


21 11 

i 


28 







56 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

This was really the organizing election of the county, and was the 
first in the county, of any description, after the passage of the act by the 
Legislature which brought Warren into existence. Soon after this, the 
officers elected took the oath of office, and entered upon the discharge of 
their respective duties. 

RE- LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT. 

On the 22d of January, 1829, the act was approved to re-locate the 
county seat of Warren County, the Commissioners being Ezekiel McCon- 
nell, of Montgomery County. Peyton Wilson, of Parke County, John 
Porter, of Vermillion County, S. M. George, of Tippecanoe County, and 
Jonathan Birch, of Fountain Coiinty. All the reasons why a re location 
was demanded cannot be stated. It was soon found that the site was 
not as good as farther west, and even at other points, and, besides, the 
donations did not prove as valuable as expected, or half as valuable as 
might have been obtained. Excellent donations were tendered the county 
by William Harrison and Thomas Gilbert, the first of whom had laid out 
Williamsport in November, 1828, and this induced the citizens to wish 
a re- location of the county seat where the county could receive much 
greater benefit, or a re-establishment of it at Warrenton if the proprie- 
tors of that town would come down, in a handsome manner, with satis- 
factory donations. These and other matters led to the passage of the 
act of re-location. This act provided that the Commissioners should 
meet on the second Monday of June next (1829), at the Clerk's office, ex- 
amine the various eligible sites in the county, and if, in their judgment, 
the donations of any other suitable place than Warrenton were suffi- 
ciently valuable, and if the sale of lots would probably be sufficiently 
large to defray the expense of erecting the necessary county buildings, 
then the Commissioners were to re-locate the seat of justice at that point; 
but nothing was to prevent the Commissioners from continuing the 
county seat at Warrenton, providing the donations were made sufficient- 
ly valuable by the proprietors of that town. The Commissioners met on 
the day fixed, and after receiving valuable offers of money and lands 
from the proprietors of Williamsport and others interested, established 
the seat permanently at Williamsport. The act of re-location provided 
that the lots in Williamsport should be numbered as nearly as possible as 
those in Warrenton, and that persons who had purchased lots in the lat- 
ter town should have the right to exchange them for lots similarly lo- 
cated in the new county seat, jorovided the exchange was made within 
twelve months after the re- location. It was also provided that the de- 
preciation in the value of buildings at Warrenton, owing to a change of 
the county seat, should be made good by the county. As soon as suit- 
able buildings could be prepared at Williamsport, the county officers 
were ordered to remove there. The pi'ovision in the enactment creating 
the county, regarding the reservation of 10 per centum of the proceeds 
of the sale of county lots for the establishment of a county library, was re- 
affirmed and made binding. William Harrison, Jr., proprietor of the 
county seat, deeded to the county eighty acres of land, where Williams- 
port had been laid out, reserving for his own use the greater portion of 
the original plat of 1828, consisting of four blocks of eight lots each, 
besides one- fifth of the lots that should be subsequently laid out from 
additions from the donation of eighty acres. The first addition was laid 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 57 

out southwest along the river's bank, in July. 1820, bv Thomas Gilbert. 
In August, 18*29, Isaac Rains, County Agent, laid out the celebrated 
"West Addition to Williainsport, from a portion of the Harrison donation. 
On the day of the public sale of lots, free whisky was furnished at the 
county's ex^iensel 

COUNTY BOUNDARY ALTERATION. 

On the 30th of January,l830. by legislative enactment, the southern 
tier of townships of the present Benton County was attached lo the 
county of WaiTen for civil and criminal jurisdiction. On the 8d of Feb- 
ruary, 1882. the Legislature enacted that a Commissioner from each of 
the counties of Warren and Vermillion should be appointed, to more 
fully establish the boundary between those two counties; but what was 
done cannot certainly be learned. In Jauuaiy, 1833, the following 
enactment was passed, and the boxindary thus fixed has endured until the 
present • 

Be it enacted, etc., XliJ^t the followini; shall form aud constitute the dividing 
line between the counties of Vermillion and Warren, to wit: Bei^innin;^ on the east 
bank of the Wabash River where the township line dividing the townships number 
19 and 20 intersects the same, thence west with said township line to the range line 
divi(hng Ranges 9 aud 10 west, thence north with said range line to the township 
line dividing Townships 19 and '-io north in Range 10 west, thence west with said 
township line to the line dividing the States of Indiana and Illinois. 

Approved January 15, 1833, 

FIRST SITTING OF THE CIRCUIT COURT. 

The Board of Justices of Warren County, on the first Monda}'^ in 
March, 1828, met and selected the following grand jury to serve at the 
May term, 1828, of the first Circuit Court of the county: Perrin Kent, 
Samuel Watkins, Amos Clark, Robert Hill, Enoch Strawn, Holder Sisson, 
Peter Fleming, Lewis Stephens, John Seamen, Daniel Benjamin, John 
Pugh, James McCord, John Case, of Warren Township, John Case, of 
Medina Township, John S. Reed, Edward Moore, John Jackson and 
James Bedwell. A writ was then issued directing the Sheriff to sum- 
mon this first grand jury to appear on the first day of the May term of 
the Circuit Court, at the house of Enoch Farmer, the place selected by 
the State Legislature for the sitting of that court. On that day, the 
jurors were all present, but as the Judges did not put in an appearance, 
court was adjourned until the following day, and as they were still ab- 
sent the court was adjourned " itntil court in course," which was on the 
25th day of September, 1828. On the first Monday in September, the 
following gi'and jury was selected: Jacob Clem, Nicholas DeLong 
Gabriel Read, Job Tevebaugh, Andrew Fleming, James Oxford, Henry 
Stump, Elisha Miles, James Johnson, Samuel Ferguson, Joseph King, 
John A. Lewin, John McCord, Lawrence Russell, John King. Josei)h 
Thomas. Daniel R. Parker and Jonathan Cox. On the 2r)th of Septem- 
ber, 1828, the first Circuit Court held in Warren County convened at the 
house of Enoch Farmer; present, John R. Porter, Presiding Judge, and 
Nathaniel Butterfield and Samuel B. Clark, Associate Judges. The 
grand jurors drawn were called, but only the following were ])re.sent: 
Gabriel Read, Henry Stump, James Oxford, John McCord. Lawrence 
Russell, Job Tevebaugh, Jonathan Cox, D. R, Parker, Nicholas DeLong, 
J. A. Lewin and Samuel Ferguson. As there was not a (juorum of 
grand jurors present, the court ordered those that had assembled dis- 
charged, and then called up the firet case before the Circuit Court of 



58 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Warren County: The State of Indiana vs. Elizabeth Connor, charged 
with breach of the peace, under a recognizance returned by Thomas 
Kearns. Justice of the Peace. The -court ordered the recognizance dis- 
chai'ged and the case dismissed. The second case was Lewis Dequindre 
and Timothy Dequindre vs. Zechariah Cicott, trespass on the case. The 
plaintiffs appeared by their attorney, A. Ingram, and the defendant ap- 
peared " m his own proper person." The latter, by agreement, confessed 
judgment to the amount of $539.69, whereupon, by further agreement, 
the plaintiffs agreed to wait one year for the payment of that sum, upon 
the condition that sufficient security be given. The court then ordered 
judgment in accordance with these agreements, and taxed the costs to 
the defendant. Appended to this order was the following: " April 1, 
1830, x-eceived this day the balance of the above judgment. A. Ingram, 
attorney for plaintiff." The thii'd case, John Glasspell vs. Enos Han- 
kins, domestic attachment, on appeal from Justice's court, the plaintiff 
appeared by Rogers, his attorney, and the defendant "in his own proper 
person." On motion, the case was continued at the cost of the defend- 
ant. The fourth was an application of Francis Boggs for a writ of ad 
quod damnum: whereupon it was "Ordered, That a writ of ad quod 
damnum be issued, to cause an inquest to be held at the place contem- 
plated by said Boggs for the erection of a mill dam, across Pine Creek, on 
the east fraction of the southeast quarter of Section 36, Township 22 
north. Range 8 west, on the third Monday in October next." The fifth 
case was a petition for divorce, Polly Broady vs. Azariah Broady. Law- 
yer Patterson appeared for the complainant. Evidence was introduced 
to prove that the defendant was not a resident of Indiana. The pen- 
dency of the suit was ordered published in the Western Register and the 
Terre Haute Advertiser, to the effect that if the defendant did not ap- 
pear at the next term of the court and answer the bill, the charges would 
be taken as confessed. The case was accordingly continued, and the 
court then adjourned " until the court in course." Thus the first term of 
Circuit Court in Warren County was at an end. At this term, a 
" scroll " was adopted as the seal of the court, until otherwise ordered. 

THE SECOND SESSION OF CIRCUIT COURT. 

This term began IMay 7, 1829, the Pi'esiding Judge not being present. 
Peter H. Patterson, Albert L. White, David Patton, Jacob Auglin and 
Theodore C. Caw were sworn in and admitted as counsellors at law. 
The case of John Glasspell vs. Enos Hankins was dismissed, on motion 
of the defendant, for want of a sufficient affidavit in the proceedings 
below. The divorce case, Broady vs. Broady, was dismissed on motion 
of the complainant, upon whom the cost was taxed. A petition for 
divorce was presented by Elizabeth Barnes vs. Elijah Barnes, the former 
appearing by her attorney, D. Patton. The defendant was absent, and 
the pendency of the case was ordered published. The grand jury re- 
turned the following "true bills:" The State vs. Seth Shippy, for an 
assault and battery; the State vs. John Dixon, for aiding and nssisting 
in assault and battery. The jury was then discharged. In the case 
John Conner vs. David White, domestic attachment, the following petit 
jury was called, sworn and given the case: William Russell, Samuel 
Enderly, Jonathan Cox, John Cox, David White, Constantiue McMahon, 
John E. Smith, Francis Boggs, John Jackson, Luther Tillotson, Law- 



d 



:-*%,. 
K?*.' 




^fT/oJff^^ 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 59 

rence Rains and Isaac Rains. The jiuy gave the ])laintiflf $194.62 J 
damages and the costs, amounting in all to S2S0. The case of Boggs, 
for a writ of ad quod dam)iitn was dismissed, and the costs assessed to 
Mr. Boggs. The second session of Circuit Court was thus at an end. 

SUBSEQUENT SESSIONS OF CIRCUIT COURT. 

At the October term, 1829, John R. Porter, President Judge, and 
Nathaniel Butterfield and Samuel B. Clark, Associate Judges, were pres- 
ent. At this term came up the case in chancery, Milton Gerard cs. 
Emily Gerard, et al. The case was ordered published and continued. 
Five cases were considered at this term, and two bills of indictment 
returned by the gi-and jury. On motion, the following seal was 
adopted: "A brass die, on the outer circle of which the letters ' WaiTen 
Circ. Courts.' with thirteen stars, all on the inner circle except two, one 
in the center and the other on the outer circle." The court, up to this 
period, had been held in the house of Enoch Farmer, in Warrenton; 
but in April, 1830, it convened at the house of "William Han-ison, at 
Williamsport. though no session was then held, owing to the absence of 
the President Judge and one Associate Judge. On the 7th of October, 
1830, the court convened at the court house, all the Judges being pres- 
ent Moses Cox, Edward A. Hannegan and Aaron Finch were admitted 
as attorneys. In the Gerard Chancery case, after the evidence was all 
in, it was " Ordei-ed, adjudged and ^decreed by the court now here, that 
the bill of the said com])lainant be taken as confessed;" whereupon cer- 
tain lands were orderd conveyed to the complainant. Fourteen cases 
were disposed of at the October term, 1830. The session of April, 1831, 
was held at the house of William Harrison. Peter Christman, upon 
petition, was given permission to construct a dam and mill on Pine Creek, 
on the northwest (|uarter of Section 22, Township 22 north, Range 8 
west. This was in response to his petition for a writ of ad quod dam- 
num, which had been issued the preceding October. Thomas J. Evans, 
Joseph Tatman and Isaac Pearson were admitted as attorneys. Twen+y- 
six cases were disponed of at this term of the court. A decree of divorce 
was granted Polly Broady. though the defendant was absent. This was 
the first decree of the kind granted in ^\'arren County. The last ses- 
sion held at the house of William Harrison was in April, 1831; after 
that the " coiu't house " was used. Actions during these years were 
case, trespass on the case, debt, assault and batterj' on appeal, aflray, 
adultery against Mathias Redding, domestic attachment, divorce, re- 
plevin, to convey land, sci. fa., on transcript, chancery cases, gaming, 
breach of peace, presentment, etc. E. A. Hannegan was Prosecuting 
Attorney in most of the State cases. Other attorneys admitted about 
this time were David Wallace, A. B. Patterson and R. A. Chandler. 
In 1833, many indictments for retailing lit|Uor and foreign and domestic 
groceries and merchandise were returned. Isaac Naylor and T. R. 
Brown were admitted to the bar, 1833; David Brier and Henry D. Lane 
were admitted in 1834; John Bryce, R. A. Lockwood were admitted in 
1836. 

FIRST PROBATE COURT. 

The first Court of Probate of A\'arren County was held at the house 
of Enoch Farmer, on the 2d day of November, 1829; present, William 
Willmeth, Judge-elect, who presented his commission, signed by Gov. 

4 



60 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

James B. Ray, and was sworn by James Cunningham to faithfully dis- 
charge the duties of that oflfice. About the first act of the Judge was to 
adopt a seal, of the "letters L. S.; W. P. C, with a scrawl aroand 
them. " Letters of administration, which had been issued by the Clerk 
in the preceding August to John Cox, for Jonathan Cox, deceased, were 
confirmed. Rebecca Dawson, widow of David Dawson, was appointed 
guardian of her children, the minor heirs of her deceased husband, and 
required to file her bond as such. Thus ended the first term of Probate 
Court. 

THE SECOND PROBATE COURT. 

This term was held at the hotise of Enoch Farmer the 4th of Janu- 
ary, 1830; but in the afternoon of the first day court adjourned, to meet 
at the home of William Harrison, in Williamsport. Samuel Ensley and 
Abram Ensley were appointed administraters of the estate of Thomas 
Haslett, deceased. At the March term, 1830, this order was revoked, 
and Elizabeth Haslett, widow of Thomas Haslett, was appointed admin- 
istratrix. In May, James Cunningham was appointed administrator of 
the estate of the late Joseph Thomas. No business was before the court 
in July. In September, Charity Cox, widow of Jonathan Cox, was 
selected as administratrix of the real estate of her deceased husband, 
and Israel Boswell was selected as administrator of the personal prop- 
erty. At the same time, a citation was issued against John Cox, requir- 
ing him to appear and show cause why settlement of the estate should 
not be made. Upon the application of Sally Shippy, widow of Jonathan 
Shippy, Lyman Judd was appointed administrator of the personal 
estate of Jonathan Shippy, deceased. In 1831, John B. King was made 
administrator of the estate of Phipps Waldo, deceased, and Abraham 
Stewart of the estate of William Williams. John Cox appeared, and 
stated that though he had made great exertions, he had been unable to 
settle the estate of Jonathan Cox, and he was granted two months of ad- 
ditional time. B. M. Hays was appointed administrator of the " goods, 
chattels, rights, credits, moneys and effects " of Jonathan Pitzer, de- 
ceased. John P. Hays and John Jones were appointed guardians of 
the minor heirs of Jonathan Pitzer. 

The following is a list of the early Justices of the Peace of Warren 
County, with the date of their commencement of service: Lemuel Boyd, 
1827; Thomas Kearns, 1827; Edward Mace, 1827; Thomas Cunning- 
ham, 1827; Samuel Merrill, 1828; Levi Cronkhite, 1828; Jonathan 
Shippy, 1828; Lawrence Rains, 1828; Benjamin Cheneweth, 1829; 
David McConnell, 1830; Thomas Robb, 1830; Benjamin Crow ,1831; 
William Newell, 1831; Eleazur Purviance, 1831; John Tweed, 1831; 
John Jones, 1831; Simon Snyder, 1831; James H. Buell, 1832; John B. 
King, 1832; Isaac Rains, 1832; William Harrington, 1833; Nicholas 
Shaffer, 1833; William Allen, 1833; Abraham Howrey, 1833; William 
Coldren, 1834; Bernard Seals, 1834; William Cunningham, 1835; 
Michael Creekpaum. 1835; David Lockwood, 1835; John Lyons, 1835; 
John Foster, 1835; Jacob Miller, 1835; John Clinton, 1835; Benjamin 
Crow, 1836; George Pence, 1836; Abraham Timmons, 1837; William 
Harrington, 1838; E. B TiUotson, 1838; N. Shafifer, 1838 ; Peter Schoon- 
over, 1838, John Campbell, 1838; Silas Hooker, 1838; M. H. Lewis, 
1838; Rufus Webb, 1838; J. C. Taylor, 1838; Courtland Harris, 1839; 
Sanford Payne, 1840; F. C. Webb, 1840; John Cowgill, 1840. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTV. 61 

CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS. 

On the 6th of November, 1827, the second day of the first session of 
the first Justices' Court, the county was divided into the following town- 
ships: Mound, bounded east by the Wabash River, south by the south 
line of the county, west by Illinois and north by the north line of Town- 
ship 20. Pike, bounded east by the AVabash, south by Mound Town- 
ship, west by Illinois and north by the north line of Township 21. 
Warren, bounded south by Pike Township, west by Illinois, north by the 
north line of Township 24, and east by the line dividing Sections 4 and 
5, Township 24 north, Range 7 west. Medina, bounded east by Tippe- 
canoe County, south by the Wabash, west by Warren Township and 
north by the north line of Township 24 north. The southern tier of 
townships of the present Benton County (Township 24 north) was then 
a part of Warren County. 

- TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY ALTERATIONS. 

At the March session of the Board of Justices, in 1830. Washington 
Township was created, with the following limits: Beginning on the 
Wabash River, at the mouth of Big Pine Creek; thence up said creek 
to the line dividing Townships 22 and 23 north; thence west on said 
line to the State line; thence south to the line dividing Townships 21 and 
22 north; thence east on the north line of Township 21 to Rock Creek; 
thence down said creek to its junction with the Wabash; thence up said 
river to the place of beginning. At the same time, the following territory 
was attached to Pike Township, being taken from Mound Township: 
Beginning on the Wabash, where the ,line dividing Sections 10 and 15, 
Township 20, Range 9 west, intersects the same; thence due west to 
King's Creek; thence up said creek to the north line of said Township 
20; thence east with said township line to the Wabash; thence down, 
said river to the place of beginning. This territory was taken from the 
northeastern corner of old Mound Township. At this time, also, Pine 
Township was created, with the following limits: Bounded east by the 
line dividing Ranges 7 and 8, south by the north line of Tovvnship 22 
north, west \)\ the State line and north by the north line of the county. 
The township then included the present Prairie and Pine Townships, 
and the southwestern portion of the present Benton County. At this 
time, also, all of old AN'aiTen Township remaining, lying east of the line 
dividing Ranges 7 and 8 west and in Township 23 north, was attached 
to Medina Township; and all of old Medina, in Township 22, was at- 
tached to Warren. It was also ordered that all the territory on the 
north attached to Warren County by an act approved January 30, 1830. 
and lying west of Big Pine Creek, should be attached to Pine Township; 
and all that j)ortion of such territory east of Big Pine Creek should be 
attached to Medina Township, the order to be in force after July 30, 
1830, at which tim*- the enactment of the Legislature took effect A 
little later, in March, 1830, all of Warren east of the line dividing Sec- 
tions 2 and 3, Range 7 west, was attached to Medina Township. 

In May, 1830, the following re arrangement of the township bound- 
aries took place: Mound, beginning on the Wabash River, at the Ver- 
million County line; thence west to the Illinois line; thence north to 
the line dividing Townships 20 and 21 north; thence east to King's 
Creek; thence down the same to the line between Sections 7 and 8, 



62 HISTORY OF WARREx\ COUNTY. 

Township 20, Range U; thencR east to the Wabash; thence down the 
same to the place of beginning. Pike, beginning at the northeast corner 
of Mound Township; thence west to King's Creek; thence up the same 
to the line dividing Townships 20 and 21; thence west to the State line; 
thence north to the line dividing Townships 21 and 22; thence east to 
Rock Creek; thence down the same to the Wabash; thence down the 
same to the place of beginning. Washington, beginning on the Wabash, 
at the mouth of Rock Creek; thence up said creek to the line dividing 
Townships 21 and 22; thence west to the State line; thence north to the 
line between Townships 22 and 23; thence east to Pine Creek; thence 
down the same to the Wabash River; thence down the same to the place 
of beginning. Warren, beginning at the mouth of Pine Creek; thence 
up said creek to the line between Townships 22 and 23; thence east to 
the line between Sections 2 and 3, Range 7; thence south to the Wabash; 
thence to the place of beginning. Medina, beginning on the Wabash, 
where the eastern boundary of Warren Township intersects the same; 
thence north to the line dividing Townships 22 and 23; thence west to 
the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8; thence north to the county line; thence 
east to the northeast corner of the county: thence south to the Wabash; 
thence to the place of beginning. Pine, beginning at the northwest cor- 
ner of Medina Township; thence south to the line between Townships 
22 and 23; thence west to the State line; thence north to the northwest 
corner of Warren County; thence east to the place of beginning. All 
the attached territory on the north, west of Big Pine Creek, was attached 
to Pine Township; and all of such territory east of such creek was at 
tached to Medina Township. A few months later, all of Medina Town- 
ship in Township 22, Range 7, was attached to Warren Township, and 
the eastern boundary of Warren was made the line dividing Ranges 6 
and 7, and its northern boundary was made the line dividing Townships 
22 and 23, from the east side of Range 7 to Pine Creek. 

In March, 1834, all of Pine Township, south and west of Redwood 
Creek, was created as Steuben Township. In January, 1835, all of the 
county in Township 22, Range 6, was attached to Warren Township; 
and in May all the attached territory on the north of Warren County 
(Benton County, etc.\ was created as Madison Township, and the elec- 
tion of a Justice of the Peace was ordered. In March, 1843, Liberty 
Township was created a'- follows: Beginning on Big Pine Creek, where 
the line between Townships 22 and 23 crosses the same; thence west to 
the State line; thence south to the line between Townships 21 and 22; 
thence east to the southeast corner of Congressional Township 22, 
Range 8 west; thence north to Big Pine Creek; thence up the same to 
the place of beginning. In December, 1843, all of Township 22, Range 
8 east, of Big Pine Creek, was severed from Warren and attached to 
Liberty. In 1848, Adams Township* was created, with about the same 
limits it has at present. In March, 1850, Jordan Township was created 
as it is at present, from the western part of Liberty. Numerous small 
changes were made in the boundaries of the townships from time to time 
— so numerous that they cannot be followed in these pages. The last 
township created was Kent, in Septembei', 18G4, from the northern part 
of Mound, the creation to take effect April, 1865. This gave the county 
of Warren about its present shape. 

* The full iiHUie of tliis township, as created, was " J. Q. Adams; " but the tendency, during the past 
score of years, has been to drop the initials, and to call the township simply " Adams." 



IIISTOIIV OF WAUUKN (OUNTV. 63 

MISCELI.ANEOl'S ACTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS. 

The first act of importance was the division of the county into town- 
ships and Commissioners' districts, and the ajipointmentof the necessary 
local officers. Elections were ordered held, and a "scroll " was adopted, 
as a temporary seal for the County Board. The viewing and establish- 
ing of county and State roads was immediately commenced, and as time 
progressed county aft'airs greatly multiplied. The county seat (piestion, 
the taxes and finances, the local administration of justice, the erection 
of )>ublic buildings, the regulation of various licences, the establishment 
of roads and the general welfare of the county soon engrossed the atten- 
tion of the Commissioners and the county at large as well. Constant 
alterations in the boundaries of the townships and of road districts were 
necessary, to meet the demand, as the centers of population shifted. 
Early in the thirties, the county jail and county court house were built. 
John Seaman was Census Taker in 1830. In May, 1881, a public pound 
was built at Williamsport, the first in the county. A set of standard 
weights and measures was purchased, and kept at the county seat, that 
commercial people might have the advantage of a uniform system of the 
estimate of quantity. Circuit Court sat in hous'>s owned by Harrison 
and Price. A bounty of -SI was offered for wolf scalps. In 1842, Ben- 
jamin Crow put a new roof on the court house for $\2o. Horse-thieves 
were too numerous and daring to suit the settled condition of things, and 
numerous associations for apprehending them were formed, receiving 
the approval of the County Board. The court house was used for pub- 
lic Jectures and religious services. Ferries at various points on the Wa- 
bash, and on Pine and other Creeks, were established very early. Young 
men were selected, upon application, to represent the county in the In- 
diana Lniversity. Various wooden bridges were built across the streams 
of the county at the public expense. One over Big Pine Creek, near 
Brier's Mill," built in 1858, cost about .S1,000. About 1850, the ques- 
tion of granting license for the sale of intoxicating liquors was submit- 
ted to the townships for settlement at the polls. Pike Township cast 
thirty-five votes against the license, and only two for it, while Washing- 
ton cast sixty for it and twenty-four against it. The result in other 
townships is not known. In 1852, th** Commissioners ordered paid to 
William Kent the sum of S800, to assist in the survey of the Lake Erie. 
Wabash & St. Louis Kailroad. provided the county might be credited 
with that amount of stock if the road was completed. By June. 1855, 
the engine had entered La Fayette. During the war of 18(31-05, vast 
sums were paid out for bounty and relief. The (juestion of aiding the 
Northern Indiana & Southern Railway, by a coiuity tax, was submitted 
to the citizens in ISO'.), with the result of 140 votes for the tax and 1,01)0 
against it. Mound Township voted upon the (juestion of aiding the In- 
dianapolis, Crawfordsville & Danville Railroad, to the amount of about 
$5,000, in 18^)5.1, but rejected the aid by a vote of twenty-four to forty- 
four. Kent Township voted upon the (|uestiou of aiding the Evansville, 
Terre Haute iS: Chicago Railway, witli what result is not known. Early 
in 1871, a reward of S400 was ofHered for the arrest and conviction of 
the person or persons making the unsuccessful attempt to rifle the 
County Treasury', April 10, 1870. and again December 18, 1870. No 
discoveries were made. In 1871, Charles Seldon, of Cincinnati, was or- 
dered })aid S1,5(K) for the right to use his system of keeping the county 



64 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

accounts. The amount expended for county iron bridges, during the 
year ending June, 1875, was $20,856.51. 

COUKT HOUSES. 

The first building in which the Board of Justices met, or. in other 
words, the first " court house," if the term is not too dignified to be ap- 
plicable, was a hewed-log structure standing ^at Warrenton, the first 
county seat, and owned by Enoch Farmer, who, with others, had made 
such munificent offers of money, lots, lands, services and donations as 
to induce the Locating Commissioners appointed by the State Legisla- 
ture to establish the seat of justice of the new county of Warren, to fix 
such seat of justice on lands owaed by Mr. Farmer. This building was 
nothing better than a rude building in which the family of Mr. Farmer 
resided, and was used for general court and county purposes until the 
removal of the county seat to Williamsport, when all public transactions 
of the county officials were conducted in a memorable old hewed-log 
building owned by William Harrison, the proprietor c^f the town of Will- 
iamsport. This house of Mr. Harrison's was first used in July, 1829, and 
continued to be used uutil the autumn of 1830, at which time a building 
owned by Samuel Ul^lery, Bolly B. UUery, J. C. Irvin, Malinda Beard 
and Eliza C. Finch was rentdl for county purposes, but, owing to some 
unforeseen circumstances, was not occupied until the following March. 
Within a year from this time, the first steps toward the erection of a re- 
spectable court house were taken. John Merical was employed to clear 
the public square of timber, etc., for |10. For some reason, the Ullery 
building was used only once or twice, the courts and Commissioners re- 
occupying the Harrison building. But in 1831, the County Board felt 
too poor to order the erection of a court house, and the subject was post- 
poned. County business had been conducted by the issuance of county 
orders, which had accumulated since 1827. The orders had sold at 
about 95 cents on the dollar, and had depreciated even lower than this. 
There was no money in the country. What little was brought in was in- 
vested in land, until three-fourths of the settlers were scarcely able to pay 
their taxes. The orders circulated like money, and were receivable at 
the County Treasury for taxes, public labor, etc. County otticers were 
obliged to take them as a consideration of their services. The very low 
assessments of taxes were met with long delinquent lists. Money could 
not be obtained; time alone could remedy matters. Tue enormous immi- 
gration into the county during the years 1831 and 1832 soon served to 
redeem the county orders, replenish its empty treasury, and inspire the 
Commissioners to order the erection ©f a court house. Specifications were 
prepared and placed on public exhibition in May, 1832, and bids were 
solicited from contractors. The building was to be of brick, forty feet 
square and twenty -three feet high. Arrangements were completed in July, 
1832, whereby E. W. Jones and Seth Flowers contracted to build the 
house. They were to receive $300 on the l^t of September, and the bal- 
ance was to be paid in installments as the work progressed. The court 
house was to be ready for occupancy August, 1833. 

Among the donations to the county at the time of the re-location of 
the county seat, was one of 50,000 bricks from Thomas Gilbert, who had 
agreed to furnish them at the time of the erection of the first court 
house. Mr. Gilbert was now called upon to redeem his promise, but 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 65 

postponed doinf^ so until at last the County Board ordered the County 
Agent to contract for such quantity of brick with any res])onsible party. 
This was in May, 1888. Suit was begun against Mr. Gilbert to recover 
damages for his failure to comply with his agi-eement, and a judgment 
was recovered and steps were taken to satisfy the judgment by a sale of 
his property; but at last the judgment was compromised, upon what 
terms cannot be stated. These and other matters postponed the comple- 
tion of the building until about June, 1884. Disinterested committees 
were appointed to investigate and report on the work, and a deficiency 
of 5^04.60 was returned, which was accepted by Mr. Jones, the contract. 
or. The cost of the building was about §2,000. B. H. Magee was paid 
$120 to paint it. It was found necessary, in 1885, to strengthen the 
house, provide it with certain floors, stairways, etc.; but the county 
officers were compelled to look elsewhere for room. Among other build- 
ings, they occupied one owned by James Cunningham. In June, 1845, 
the Board contracted with Richard Treadway to build a structure on 
the south side of the s([uare, which was to contain two rooms for county 
offices. This was done, and Mr. Treadway was paid $868.50 for the job. 
Three years later, he was paid $627 for building brick fireproof safes for 
the county records. In 1853, a second building, for Clerk's and Re- 
corder's offices, was erected; James Jones taking the contract for §1,050. 
These buildings were used until the erection of the present court house. 

THE NEW COURT HOUSE. 

In 1870, a' committee appointed to examine the condition of the old 
court house reported it unsafe, and about the same time B. F. Gregory 
and others made certain tenders of land and other property, provided the 
Commissioners would immediately erect anew court house. Considerable 
opposition was encountered at the time, although specifications were pre- 
pared and bids from contractors were called for. Mr. G. R. Randall, 
architect, of Chicago, was employed. Sessions of court were held in 
store rooms and elsewhere. Still, a majority of the Commissioners de- 
feated any fmiher progress of the work at that time. The (piestiou was 
renewed early in 1871, B. F. Gregory leading the movement, and bids 
were again called for from contractors. After an examination of such 
bids, in March, J871, the contract was awarded to Hays «fe Evans, of 
Bloomington, 111., for §48,400. Mr. Randall was given the superin- 
tendency of the work, his compensation to be 2.V per cent on the cost of 
the building. There was considerable money in the County Treasury at 
this time, but not enough to complete the work, and accordingly §10.000 
worth of ccunty bonds were issued. The old court house was sold to 
Cyrus Romine for §825. The new house, a tine brick structure, with 
native stone trimmings, was accepted in December, 1872, and the con- 
tractors were paid in full for their labor. This house is yet in use, and, 
doubtless, will last many years to come. 

JAILS. 

The county was jn-ovided with a jail before a court house was V)uilt. 
As early as the summer of 1880, the contract to erect such a building 
was advertised. The contract was awarded to Benjamin Crow, for §560, 
and work was commenced without delay. The building, a heavy, hewetl- 
log structure, well protected with stone, was accejited in November, 1831, 



66 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY, 

with a deduction of $20. This jail answered the purpose until 1848, at 
which time Richard Treadway was employed to construct a new one, 
which he did, completing the work in the fall of 1849. The contract 
price was $2,500, but Mr. Treadway, claiming that he had lost $500 by 
the job, asked the Commissioners to reimburse him, which they partly 
did to the amount of $200. This old jail is yet used by the county. 

POPULATION AND NAME OF THE COUNTY. 

In 1830, the total population of the county was 2,861; in 1840, 
5,656; in 1850, 7,387; in 1860, 10,057; in 1870, 10,204; in 1880, 
11,497. The county was named in honor of Gen. Joseph Warren, who 
was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. 

THE FIRST COUNTY PAUPER. 

t The first assistance furnished by the county of Warren to her indigent 
and poor was in 1831, when Levi Murdock was paid $20, upon the 
order of the Commissi onei's, for keeping John Campbell, a transient 
pauper, five months. After this, orders of a similar nature are found 
with great frequency. Each township had Overseers of the Pour, whose 
duty was to see that the helpless of his township were provided with 
the necessaries if life, and given a Christian burial upon their death. 
The bills of expense, when properly authenticated, were paid by the 
County Board. Occasionally, in more than one township of Warren 
County, the township officers would order poor persons to " depart the 
township forthwith," that they might not become a " township charge." 
But that barbarous custom soon gave place to one of broader charity and 
humanity. The custom of "farming out" the paupers to the lowest bid- 
ders took the place of all others, and was continued many years. Some- 
times the poor fell into cruel hands, and received rough treatment and 
fare from the " farmers" who had taken the charge solely to make 
money. Generally, however, the humanity of the early settlers provided 
the county poor with comfortable homes, in 1833, Seymour Cobb was 
paid quite a sum for furnishing Elizabeth Bell, a pauper, with comfort- 
able clothing and a home. James I'oreman, a pauper, was buried at 
county expense in 1837. Thomas Thomas built the coffin. The annual 
county expense for the poor, during these years, ranged from about $20 
to $70; but about 1837, the figures began to grow. The following is one 
of the early bills paid by the County Board: 

November the 20th, A. D. 1838. 
Board of Commissioners of Warren County, Dr. to Isaac High for keeping 
Eliphalet Lovelett, a poor boy, four months, $'37; nursing by Jerusha Ford for 
three months, f30; board for the nurse thirteen weeks, $13 ; doctor bill paid to Dr. 
J. H. Buell, $15; total debits, $85. Credits — One chest and one fiddle, $4; one 
coat and one pair of pants, $7; total credits. $11. Whole amount due, $74. 

Personally appeared before us, James S. Crawford and Ephraim Norton, Over- 
seers of the Poor in Steuben Township, Warren County, the said Isaac High, and 
being by us sworn, says that the above amount is just and unpaid this 1st day of 
September, 1845. his 

Isaac X High. 
mark. 
We, the Overseers of the Poor of Steuben Township, Warren County, Ind., 
after examining several disinterested witnesses under oath^ allow the above amount 
to be legal and just this 1st day of September, 1845. 

James S. Crawford, } /i,..^„..«.„ ^f ,7,. p„.^ 
Ephraim Norton, f ^>^erseers oj the roor. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 67 

This was the largest pauper bill paicVup to November, 1S38. Provis- 
ion was made for a period, in each township, for the care of pani)ers at 
township ex])ense, instead of at county expense, but to what extent can- 
not be stated, as the township r(»cords have been destroyed. As early 
as 1840, physicians in the county contracted by the year to doctor the 
poor of townships, and finally of the entire county. The pauper ex- 
pense of the county for the year ending June, 1848, was S387.2(). and 
for the year ending June, 1848. was $495.43; for 1849, it was $398. (J6; 
for 1850, $878.14. 

POOR FARM.' 

In December. 1853, a farm of 120 acres, being the west half of the 
northeast (jiaarter of Section 29 and the southwe.st (juartor of the south- 
east (juarter of Section 20, Township 22 north. Range 8 west, was pur- 
chased of a Mrs. Brown for $2,000, to be used as a County Poor Farm. 
Upon the farm was an ordinary dwelling, which was fitted up for the re- 
ception of the public poor. Buildings were erected, barns built, and 
James Quick was employed to take charge of the farm and the paupers. 
These arrangements were not completed until the autumn of 1854. For 
some reason unknown, the contract with Quick was canceled and Keuben 
R. Ranson Wcis appointed Superintendent of the Poor Farm. The Commis- 
sioners directed the paupers scattered in private families throughout the 
county to be taken to the poor house, but only about half were thus provided 
for, as many preferred to remain in private families, or in their own 
families, provided their necessary expense was borne by the county. In 
March, 1855, Dr. J C. Book contracted to doctor the paupers in the 
poor house six months for $37.50. The poor expense for the year end- 
ing June, 1856, was $1,720.72. This included some expense in fitting 
the farm. Owing to unexpected expense, in this and other directions, 
the Commissioners, in 1856-57, borrowed $2,000. C. R. Rogers con- 
tracted, for $100, to doctor the poor during the year 1856. E. A. San- 
ders became County Physician in 1857. Ranson remained Superintend- 
ent until 1859, when he was succeeded by Daniel J. Dotv. In 1859, 
the paupers cost $2,000.16; in 1862, $2,640.52; in 1863, $2,310.82; in 
1864, $3,479.15; in 1866, $3,819.58; in 1867, $5,004.83; in 1870, 
$5,700.86; in 1874, $3,714.98; in 1878, $7,535.90, and in 1882, 
$5,468.65. John Berry became Superintendent in 1864, and Andrew 
Cole in 1865. In 1869, Alexander Mehafly took chai-ge, and in 1870, J. 
S. Rowland. Rowland and David Moore tr>ok the farm together in 
1871 and 1872, and Howland, in 1873, rented it for three consecutive 
years, but Alexander Mehafiy was employed in 1875. Howland went in 
again in 1876, continuing until 1879, when Mehafify again took charge, 
remaining until his death, in 1882, since which time his son tldward has 
been Superintendent. In 1869, a fine farm, of about 440 acres, lying 
near the center of Liberty Township, was purchased of Thomas J. 
Cheneweth, to be used as a Poor Farm. The old one had become too 
small to meet the demands of the poor, and the buildings were often 
overflowing and still others reijuiring home and shelter. The farm was 
no sooner purchased than arrangements were made to erect thereon a 
county asylum of suitable dimensions. Jacob Holtz was employed to do 
the cellar and foundation stone work for $3 per perch, and the cut stone 
work for 65 cents per linear foot. Bids were called for from contractors 
for the contemplated building and that of James R. Shatell, of $10,282, 



68 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

was finally accepted. The old farm of 120 acres was sold to Samuel 
Warrenfeits for $1,000 down, $1,400 on the 1st of March, 1872, $1,200 
on the 1st of March, 1873, and 11,200 on the 1st of March, 1874. The 
present fne brick building is a credit to the county. The number of 
paupers in the asylum at one time has exceeded forty. Warren County 
deserves great praise for the care she has taken of her poor. 

WARREN 'COUNTY FAIR. 

In 1853, the farmei's of Warren and Fountain Counties organized an 
agricultural society, and on the 6th and 7th of September lield the first 
fair, at Independence, Warren County. J. J. Schermerhorn was Presi- 
dent of the society. There was quite a large display of live stock, 
grains, vegetables and fancy articles, and between three and four hun- 
dred men and women were present. The following year the fair was 
held at Attica, many of the farmers of Warren County participating; 
but after that as it continued to be held in Fountain County, and as the 
farmers of Warren gradually dropped out from participating in it, the 
further consideration of that society will be omitted. In 1856, the 
farmers in the northern part of the county organized the Grand Prairie 
Agricultural Society, and held the first fair in the autumn of that year 
on ground just east of Pine Village, that was rented of Ichabod Boyer. 
George Wagner was the fii-st Px'esident, and Thomas Atkinson first 
Treasurer, and a premium list of about $600 was offered. The rent of 
the ground was mostly paid in fences, etc., built by the society. After 
two or three years, the society bought ten acres south of Pine Village, 
using the same for a fair ground a few years, when the land was sold 
and the proceeds used toward buying thirty acres for a new ground, near 
the village. Some years the fair was very successful, nearly $1,000 
being paid in premiums. A fair was held at Pine Village for nine con- 
secutive years, the last being in 1864, after which time the society went 
down, to rise no more in the old place. West Lebanon, however, came 
to the front soon afterward, and effected an organization which has en- 
dured until the present. James Crawford and Hudson Wood headed the 
movement. A large subscription was raised, amounting, it is said, to 
$6,000, and a strong organization of the leading citizens of the county 
was perfected, under the euphonious designation, " The Warren County 
Agricultural Joint Stock Association." After a time, thirty acres of 
woodland, about half a mile northwest of West Lebanon, were purchased 
for $2, 550, which amount was furnished by the County Commissioners 
from the county treasury, upon the solicitation of numerous citizens. 
It was largely due to James Goodwine and William Crow that this 
amount was secured from the county. But the ground needed great im- 
provement before it could be used, and work was begun in 1875. Now 
there is no better county fair ground in the Stata. It is stated that more 
than $16,000 have been spent upon the ground. There are more than 
two hundred excellent stalls for stock. A floral hall, an agricultural 
hall, a large, tine amphitheater for spectators, and various other build- 
ings for the use and convenience of officers and citizens have been erected. 
A tine stream of water courses through the ground, over which the race track 
has been built, at great expense. The entire ground is clothed with fine 
native timber, and surrounded with a tight board fence, which is painted 
white, as are also all the buildings. The county may well be proud of its 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 69 

fair ground. James Goodwine was first President of the new orj^aniza- 
tion; William Crow, Vice President; George T. Bell, Secretary; John C. 
Lincoln, Treasurer. The highest receipts for any one year were about 
S3, 500, and the lowest about S2.()00. Much of this is paid out annually 
in premiums. In 1872, an eftbrt was made at Pine Village to reorganize 
the old agricultural society, but the attempt was soon abandoned. 

OLD settlers' association. 

The Warren County Historical IMoneer Association was organized at 
Williamsport in July, 187G, at which time the following first officers 
were elected: Bolivar Robb, President; Robinson Fletcher, Vice Pres- 
ident; H. C. Johnson, Secretary. The first regular meeting was held at 
the county seat in August of the same year. There was a largo assem- 
blage of old men and women present, besides many of their descendants, 
and many more curious spectators. Rev. Jewell, of Danville, III, was 
the orator of the day. A most enjoyable occasion was passed in talking 
of old times. The second annual meeting was held in August, 1877, 
at West Lebanon, Rev. Hargrave officiating as orator. The thii-d was 
held at Williamsport, the orator being Judge Gregory, of La Fayette. 
The fourth meeting was held in 1879, at Pine Village, H. S. Lingual 
being the speaker. The fifth was held at Independence, in 1880, the 
speaker being Rev. Colbreath Hall. The sixth was hold at Carbondale 
in 1881, Judge Davidson, of Covington, delivering the oration. The 
seventh and last was held at West Lebanon in 1882, the orator of the 
day being Col. John Lee, of Crawfordsvillo. The meetings have been 
greatly enjoyed by young and old. Bolivar Robb has been President of 
the association every year but one. The great error the association is 
making is not placing on z-ecord the corrected stories of the old 
settlers. They meet, have a good time, but their experiences, trials, 
labors in making the county what it is, are thoughtlessly permitted to 
pass into forgotfulness. A competent Secretary should be ap|)ointed for 
each annual meeting, Avho should be required to put on record all such 
items. He should be paid for such service, and then the work would be 
done. The crowd would furnish the money. 

COUNTY statistics OF 1840. 

Number of persons in agriculture, 094; in commerce, 24; in manufact- 
ure and trade, 185; learned professions or engineers, 25; military pen- 
sioners, 2; blind, 2; insane or idiotic, 0; number of primarj' or _common 
schools, 8; number of scholars, 185; number over twenty years who can 
read and write, 465; total population, 5,050; bushels of coal, 25,420; 
men employed, 11; capital, SI. 500; horses and mules, 3,288; neat cattle, 
7,93(5; sheep, 9,515; swine, 15,851; value of poultry, $4,275; bushels 
of wheat, 32,198; bushels of barley, 150; bushels of oats, 89,955; bush- 
els of rye, 1,447; bushels of buckwheat, 422; bushels of corn, 414,040; 
pound'j of wool, 18,550; j)ounds of wax, 225; bushels of potatoes, 
15.543; tons of hay, 2,277; tons of hemp and flax, 17; pounds of 
tobacco, 830; pounds of sugar, 8,200; cords of wood sold, 1,550; value 
of dairy products, §10,300; value of orchard products, SI 50; value of 
home-made goods, $21,301; retail dry goods, grocery and other stores, 8; 
capital, §25,000; value of brick and lime, §800; men employed, 0; cap- 
ital, §3(K1; tanneries, 0; sides of sole leather tanned, 1,500; sides of 



70 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



upper leather tanned, 2,100; men employed, 7; capital, 13,050; value 
of manufactured articles, $2,000; distilleries, 1; gallons produced, 
2,800; men employed, 2; capital invested, $300; value of wagons and 
carnages manufactured, $1,350; men employed. 5; capital, $700; flour- 
ing mills, 1; barrels of flour manufactured, 300; grist mills, 4; saw 
mills, 19; value of manufactures, $7,100; men employed, 27; capital, 
$17,700; number of wooden houses built, 19; capital in all manufact- 
ures, $30,193. 

COUNTY POLITICS. 

It did not take long to develop a political antagonism in the adminis- 
tration of county affairs. The settlers had come from older localities, 
where the political waves had run high, and they could not forget their 
old exciting habits so easily. The following vote of August, 1827, dis- 
plays a decided political division: 







REPEESENTA- 




i W 






TIVE. 




1^ 








tij 


m'=^ 


.a-S 


0-^ 
O bo 


"c4 


^.^ ■ .^ 






WHERE HELD. 


S 


Robinso 
(Democr 

Beard 
(Wh 


.2 9 


lan Birc 
(Democr 

d Harri 
(Wh 




m Becke 
(Wh 

s Boggs 
(Wh 


11 














3 i P 




CS 










1 

1-5 


o 

a 
■< 

17 


a 
.a 

19 


a 

w 

6 

8 


C3 
□ 
O 

5 

1 


a 


•a 
o 
W 

3 
6 


26 
3 


a 
"9' 




»-5 

28 




Samuel Watkins' (1)* 


13 

q 


30 


John Jones' (3) 

Sclioolhouse (3) 


9 


3'^ 




?1 


11 




18 


14 




1^^ 




82 


David White's (4) 


16 
10 

80 


5 

22 


16 
10 

66 


5 
1 

31 




13 


6 


1 
11 

41 


13 




91 


John Read's (5) 


! 


11 


Total 


6 


81 


29 


34 


28 


103 



The county was organized in good season, to take up the Presidential 
campaign of November, 1828, and although news of the outer world was 
hard to get, and when it did come was deficient, owing to the fact that 
the settlers had weightier matters on their minds to contend with, and 
took no pains to inform themselves; still, what -little came kindled con- 
siderable interest, and neighbors met to discuss political events which 
had transpired several months previously, and the news of which had 
just reached them. About this time, the parties opposed to the Demo- 
cratic organization were known as National Republicans, Whigs or Anti- 
Masons, and in 1828 the Democrats brought forward a very popular 
man. Gen. Jackson, who was confronted with John Quincy Adams, who 
had been placed in the Presidential chair in 1S24 by the House of Rep- 
resentatives. There was scarcely any excitement in the county over 
the contest, but the citizens met to enjoy the privilege of freemen in the 
exercise of the elective franchise. 

The electors in Medina Township at the November election, 1828, 
were as follows: Samuel Hart, Aaron Stevenson, Edward Mace, Joseph 
Moore, John E. Smith, John B. Mace, Edward Moore, John S. Reed, 
Freeman Fishback, Curtis Smith, John Jackson, Jeremiah Davis, John 
Morris, Zachariah Cicott, Mathew Sriver, Andrew Robb, D. R. Parker, 

* These numbers correspond with the districts of the first electiqp in the county given a few pages 
back. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 71 

Adam Sriver, Jesse Doutliward, Samuel B. Clark. Thomas Dawson, John 
Anderson. AViJliam Franklin. Thomas Boyer, Elisha Dawson and John 
McGhan; total, 26. The voters in Warren Township at the same elec- 
tion were William Harrington. Jonathan Cox, George Willard, Christo- 
pher Pillser, Job Tevebangh, Josei)h Cox, David Reeves, William Har 
rison, Moses Finch, A. Vi. Finch, Francis Boggs, Thomas Kearns, 
Jonathan Shippy, William Willmeth, William Harrison, Sr., John 
Whelkel, David White, Joseph Tulbert, William Price, Daniel Benja- 
min, Robert Benjamin. Adaiu \N'lute, John Seaman. Eben Smith, James 
Birch, Alois Smith, James Goodwin, James Quick, Jonathan Pillser, 
Daniel Clark, Abraham Tweed, William F. Becket, Hiram Clark, Sam- 
uel Rains. John McCord, Alexis Jackson, Enoch Farmer, James McCurd, 
Samuel Ensley, James Cunningham, John Pugh, John Cox, Hiram 
Farmer, William Anderson, A. S. Smith. Thomas Cunningham, Isaac 
Rains, Constantine McMeehan, Joseph A. Franklin. Daniel Mace, James 
Bedwell, Archibald Davis and Charles Dawsun; total, 53. The voters 
in Pike Township at Ihis election were Silas Garrison, John Gari'ison, 
David Fleming, Alexander Hanson. William Pugh, Thomas Garrison, 
Luther Tillotson, Lewis Stephens, John Fleming, Allen Wykotf. Marcus 
Shippy, Andrew Flemiijg, Levi Cronkhite, Seth Shippy, Holder Sisson, 
Peter Fleming, John High. James H. Simpson and John Jones: total, 
19. The voters in Mound Township were Daniel Miller, Nelson De- 
Moss, Enoch Straun. Gecrge Coonse, John King, Henry Coonse, Amos 
Clark, Ferguson Moorehead, Nicholas DeLong, William Hall. William 
Woods, Joir^eph Foster, William Henderson, John Ferrill, David Ganack, 
Humphrey Becket, Thomas Kitchen, Samuel Clum, Thomas Lewis, 
John Black, Noble Owens, Lewis Evans, Joseph Thomas, Elisha Miles, 
Benjamin Becket, Benjamin Cheneweth, Perrin Kent, William Jolly, 
Jennings Wilkiusion, Thomas Rittenhouse, Isaac Switser, Jacob Clem, 
Nathaniel Bntterfield, Sylvester Stone, David Coonse, James Watson, 
Augustus Watson, Ebenezer F. Lucas, John Ray, Abner Gan-ison and 
James Perrin. The result of this election, by tcrwnships, was as follows: 
Adams and Rush, National Re])ub]ican ticket — Mound, 10; Medina 16; 
Warren. 26; Pike, li); total, 77. Jackson and Calhoun, Democratic 
ticket — Mound, 26; Medina, 10; Warren, 27; Pike, none; total, 63. 

It will be seen from this that whatever may be said of the majority 
at that time in the county, it was certainly not Democratic. But the 
opposers of Democracy could scarcely boast of a uniform and settled 
policy or rule of action, except that of protective tarifl'; they were op- 
posed, generally, to Democratic principles; and all united, as they some- 
times do yet, after the fashion of "anything to beat Grant." It was 
this lack of definite policy, and the positions taken on the tarifl". that 
contributed mainly to the success of Jackson and the party of which he 
"was the chosen standard-bearer. His administration was so satisfactory 
that in November, 1832, he was re-elected. The following was the vote 
in Warren County: Clay and Sargent, Whig ticket — Warren Township, 
33; Washington, 151; Pike, 28; Mound, 3D; Medina, 34; Pine, 16; 
total, 301. Jackson and Yan Buren, Democratic ticket — Warren, 13; 
Washington, 81; Pike, 5; Mound, 79; Medina, 57; Pine, 32; total, 
267. 

The county still remained anti-Democrat In 1834, a coalition was 
formed between the various fragments, resulting in the formation of the 



72 HISTORY OF WARKEN COUNTY. 

Whig party, which began an active canvass for political supremacy. 
It vpas during this canvass — that of 1836 — that the first really distinct 
partisan lines were publicly di-awn in Warren County. Candidates for 
political honors were to be seen shaking hands with the dear people, and 
perambulating the coianty, offering to sacrifice themselves for the public 
good, very much after the fashion of the present day. The meetings 
were well attended, for the settlers not only received valuable instruction 
regarding political events of which they were very much in the dark, 
but they were highly entertained, likewise, by the rude sports which 
seemed an indispensable adjunct of such occasions, and without which 
it is doubtful whether a respectable assemblage, numerically, could have 
been secured. 

The vote of the county, by townships, at the November election, 
1836, was as follows: Harrison and Granger, Whig ticket — Warren, 56; 
Washington, 207; Medina, 85; Mound, 49; Pike, 50; Pine, 90; 
Steuben*: Madison, f 4; total, 541. Van Buren and Johnson, Demo- 
cratic ticket — Warren, 36; Washington, 89; Medina, 40; Mound, 69: 
Pike, 20; Pine, 63; Steuben; Madison, 12; total, 329. 

Again the county went anti -Democratic, by an increased proportion- 
ate majority. 

But the Presidential campaign of 1840 was destined to eclipse any 
going before it in Warren County, in interest and activity. Public 
meetings were held in various portions of the county, clubs were formed, 
and at last, just before the election, a large proportion of the citizens 
went informally, in wagons and on horseback, to the Tippecanoe battle 
ground, where a vast crowd assembled to do honor to " Tippecanoe and 
Tyler too." More than one canoe, or log cabin, was placed upon wheels 
and hauled around, and more than one barrel of " hard cider " (they 
called it by that name) was tapped to elevate the spirits of the enthusias- 
tic Whigs. The vote in Wan-en County was as follows: 

Harrison and Tvler, Whig — Washington, 248; Pine, 77; Mound, 67; 
Pike, 41; Warren,' 163; Steuben, 42; Medina, 102; total, 740. Van 
Buren and Johnson, Democrat — Washington, 104; Pine, 53; Mound, 63; 
Pike, 20; Warren, 73; Steuben, 3; Medina, 32; total, 348. 

It was about this time that the question of an increase of slave ter- 
ritory began to warmly interest many citizens of Warren County, and a 
limited abolition sentiment was manifested here and there, which was 
usiially laughed down by some ridiculous allusion Early in 1844, it 
was well known that the efforts of the Democracy would be directed, in 
the coming campaign, toward the election of a Pi'esident who favored 
the admission of Texas into the Union, and thereby an increase of slave 
territory; while the Whigs, on the contrary, took an opposite stand, op- 
posing the admission of Texas, in order to limit the domain of slavery, 
and they accordingly nominated Henry Clay, while the Democrats 
selected James K. Polk. These were the principal tickets, though not 
the only ones. The Liberty party placed in the field Birney and Morris, 
the platform differing, somewhat, from that of the Whigs, but resem- 
bling it in opposing an increase of slave territory. The vote in the 
county in November, 1844, was as follows: 

* No electiou held. f Benton County. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



78 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Whig. 
Clay and Fre- 
linghuysen. 


Dem. 

Polk and 

Dallas. 


Liberty. 

Birney and 

Morris. 


Mound 


60 

41 

62 

213 

36 

104 

172 

91 


79 
14 
16 

133 
11 
78 

104 
35 




Steuben 




Pike 


3 


Washington 


7 


Liberty 




Pine 

Warren 




Medina 








Total 


779 


470 


10 







In the Presidential campaign of 1848, the first extensive Free-Soil 
movement was made. The violent debates in Congress on questions 
growing ont of slavery, attracted universal attention and interest. In 
1840, David Wilmdt, of Pennsylvania, had introduced in Congress what 
became known as the Wilmot Proviso, which prohibited slavery in any 
territory which might be accjtiired from Mexico or elsewhere. Though 
the measure was defeated finally, some of the most eloquent and pas- 
sionate speeches in American history were delivert^d in Congress while 
it was pending. Neither did the excitement die out with the campaign 
of 1848, but continued until 1850. The interest in Warren County led 
to the partial organization of a Free-Soil party, which conducted a 
spirited campaign, many citizens who had formerly figured prominently 
in both old parties joining its ranks. The full vote in the county, No- 
vember, 1848, was as follows: 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Whig. 

Taylor and 

Fillmore. 


Dem. 
Cass and But- 
ler. 


Free Soil. 
Van Buren 
and Adams. 


Medina 


48 
52 
91 
109 
125 
86 
79 
61 
57 


24 
34 

80 
78 
51 
58 
30 
30 
75 


40 


Adams 


2 


Pine 


6 


Warren 


2 


Liberty 


5 


Washington 


12 


Pike 


1 


Steuben 




Mound 








Total 


708 


460 


68 







After this election, there was no abatementof interest throughout the 
country, nor any cessation of hostile activities in Congress, until the 
passage of the celebrated Omnibus Bill, introduced by Henry Clay, the 
"Great Pacificator," in 1850. The (juestion of the admission of Cali- 
fornia into the Union had come up, and had stirred to intense bitterness 
the sentiments of both parties in Congress, and in all portions of the 
country, and when Henry Clay came forward with his celebrated com- 
promise, which provided, among other things, for the admission of Cali- 
fornia into the Union as a free State, and for the return of fugitive slaves 
to their masters, both Clay and his compromise were hailed by all, ex- 
cept the abolitionists, with universal joy. The Free-Soil party was de- 
termined, and kept the South violently nettled. The party constantly 
grew in strength in Warren County. The vote of November, 1852, was 
as follows: 



74 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



TOWNSHIPS. 



Whig. 


Dem. 


Free Soil. 


Scott and 


Pierce and 


Hale and 


Graham. 


King. 


Julian. 


59 


70 




75 


61 




108 


20 




125 


93 


2 


92 


76 


5 


111 


63 




41 


18 


2 


48 


30 


37 


73 


40 




118 


81 


io 


850 


552 


56 



Mound 

Steuben 

Pike 

Washington 
Warren. ... 

Liberty 

Jordan 

Medina.. . . 
Adams .... 
Pine 

Total... 



But the excitement had not yet reached its climax. The Fugitive 
Slave law was intensely odious to all the North, except a few who were, 
by nature and tx'aining, slave-holders aud slave-catchers. Numerous out- 
breaks occurred, and abolitionists who had violated the law were con- 
cerned therein. In 1853, the straw which broke the camel's back was 
added. Stephen A. Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska bill, 
which supported the doctrine of " Squatter Sovereignty, " that each State, 
upon its admission into the Union, might decide by ballot whether 
slavery should be introduced and propagated within its borders. It was 
the repeal of the compromises of 1820 and of 1850, and its passage in 
1854 roused the North to a state of fury bordering on open rebellion. 
The "Kansas war" occurred, and the pitiful tragedy of John Brown, a 
few years later, kindled a flame that was not wholly quenched until Ap- 
pomattox was reached. The Republican party sprang into life, and con- 
ducted one of the most exciting campaigns in the history of the nation. 
The vote in Warren County in 1856 was as follows: 



TOWNSHIPS. 



Eep. 

Fremont and 

Dayton. 



Dem. 
Buchanan and 
Breckinridge. 



American. 

Fillmore and 

Donelson. 



Medina 

Adams 

Pine 

Prairie 

Warren 

Liberty 

Jordan 

Washington. 

Pike 

Steuben 

Mound 



117 
109 
104 

62 
127 
117 

78 
142 
113 
131 

67 



32 

48 
64 
40 

111 
69 
41 

136 
27 

124 
75 



14 

15 

4 

33 

6 

1 



Total 



1,167 



r67 



76 



The Democratic party, of which the Southern wing, having the ma- 
jority, held control, was content to remain in the Union as long as the 
institution of slavery was not interfered with, even though it was deprived 
of the executive head of the Government. It had been the custom of the 
South, for one or more generations preceding 1860, to threaten that, in 
case any serious danger menacing slavery should prove victorious, suffi- 
cient cause would have arisen to dissolve the Union. For a few years 
preceding 1860, the sentiment on both sides had become so bitter, and 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



75 



the North, and especially the Re})ublican party, had been so outspoken 
against slavery, that the South instinctively felt that the election of Mr. 
Lincoln meant serious interference with their favorite institution, if not 
the adoption of steps leading to its total and eventual abolition. The 
election of November, 1860, was scarcely over ere ordinances of seces- 
sion were passed, and preparations for war were made. During all this 
period, the excitement in "Warren County was very great. Unfortunate- 
ly, the vote of November, ISGO, cannot be given, as the election retui-ns 
have been misplaced or destroyed. Of course the county went strongly 
Republican. 

In 18G4, the contest was really upon the question of continuing the 
war. As the States in rebellion were out of the contest, the question 
was decided wholly by the Northern States. Lincoln's re-election de- 
veloped the fact that the country was in favor of continiiing the war, and 
the struggle for supremacy was vigorously renewed. The election in 
WaiTen County, November, J 804. resulted as follows: 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Rep. 

LiDColn and 

Johnson. 


Dem. 

McClellan and 

Pendleton. 


Mound (1) 


29 

80 
140 

89 
179 
121 
102 
126 
142 
118 

66 
181 


8 


Mounded) 


122 


Libert}' 


95 


Pine 


85 


Steuben 


46 


Pike 


35 


i\Iedina 


25 


Warren 


104 


Adams 


53 


Jordan 


16 


Prairie 


53 


Washington 


119 








Total 


1,373 


761 









The Presidential election of 1868 placed Gen. Grant at the head of 
the nation. The election returns in "Warren County, like those of 1860, 
seem to have been misplaced. In 1872, Grant came up for re-election. 
The Republicans who opposed him united with the mass of the Demo- 
cracy, and placed Horace Greeley in the field. The Straight, or Bom*- 
bon Democracy, nominated O'Conor. "WaiTen County voted as follows: 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Rep. 

Grant and 

Wilson. 


Lib. Rep. 

Greeley and 

Brown. 


BoiTR. Dem. 

O'Conor tfdd 

Adams. 


Washington 


174 

63 
175 

89 
110 
113 
201 

55 
167 
132 
145 

HO 


137 
74 
87 
17 

102 
23 
55 
22 
82 

112 
39 
79 




Kent 

Pike 


8 
2 


Jordan 




Pine 


1 


Medina . 




Steuben 


1 


Mound 




Lil)ert v 


1 


Warren 


2 


Adams 




Prairie 








Total 


1,504 


775 


15 







76 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



Soon after this election, the Greenback party was formed. Its origin 
was due to the hard times growing out of the depreciation of values at 
the close of the war. The party favored an abolition of National Banks, 
opposed refunding or re-issuing Government bonds except within certai n 
limitations, and declared against a return to specie payments. Three 
tickets were placed in the field in November, 1876, as will be seen from 
the following return for Warren County: 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Rep. 

Hayes and 

Wheeler. 


Dem. 
Tilden and 
Hendricks. 


Greenback. 

Cooper and 

Gary. 


Kent 


57 
133 
154 
164 
101 
163 

41 
132 
168 
133 
198 
148 


107 
77 
43 

101 
13 

139 
41 
34 

113 
35 
75 

113 


1 


Prairie 


2 


Adams .• 




Liberty 


14 


Jordan 


15 


Washington 


14 


Mound 


14 


Pike 


5 


Warren 


15 


Medina 


5 


Steuben 


3 


Pine 








Total 


1,590 


880 


88 







The rapid strides of the country in prosperity, the successful return 
to a specie basis in 1879, and the conciliatory policy of President Hayes' 
administration were the means of carrying the election of November, 
1880, for the Republican party. In the meantime, however, the Green- 
back party grew to respectable proportions, continuing to augment, even, 
for a time after the return to a specie basis. A general reform of the 
civil service was demanded, and many particular evils were pointed out. 
The question of specie resumption was dropped, the National Banks 
were assailed with renewed vigor, and a strong sentiment hostile to cor- 
porations was developed in all parts of the country. The election in 
Warren gave the following return: 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Rep. 

Garfield and 

Arthur. 


Dem. 

Hancock and 

English. 


Greenback. 

Weaver and 

Chambers. 


Medina 


154 
159 

83 
183 
245 

78 
136 
190 

48 
163 
309 
303 


25 

75 
28 

103 
40 
88 

119 

131 
44 
36 
87 

126 


4 


Prairie 


3 


Jordan 


20 


Liberty 


30 


Pike 


10 


Kent 


5 


Pine 


1 


Warren 


13 


Mound 


12 


Adams 


2 


Steuben 


16 


Washington 


18 






Total 


1,850 


901 


124 







Thus it will be seea that Warren County has been, from the first, 
either Whig or Republican, and that, too, by a majority which numerous 
disasters have been unable to overcome. It has frequently been the 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 77 

case that numbers ol other parties have been elected to iinjiortant posi- 
tions in the county, but this was clue to the forbearance of the Republi- 
can party, owing to the recognized prominence and worth of the candi- 
date. 

GRAVEL ROADS. 

In 1867, the Pine Creek Gravel Road Company was organized, with 
a stock of 1,200 shares, of S25 each, the road to extend from the county 
seat northward on the Chicago road to the county line. Thw company 
afterward became the Williamsp(U-t & Carb^ndale Gravel Road Com- 
pany, with a stock of about .^5.000. About three miles of the road was 
built, next to Williams])ort, and then further work was abandoned. S. 
B. Knour & Co. owned tifty-two shares and Kent & Kitchens forty 
shares when the project was tir^t undertaken. In 1869, the West Leb- 
anon tt AValnut Grove Gravel Road Company was formed, the stock 
amounting to $20,000, with shares of §25 each. The route was to ex- 
tend due north, or nearly so. from the old town of Iiebanon eight and 
one-half miles. The heaviest stock-holdei's were C. J. Tinkler, twenty 
shares, and A. C. ct F. Goodwine, twenty shares. A short portion of the 
road was completed. A company also organized to extend a road from 
Independence northward to the county line, and, like the others, was 
only partially completed. Sections of various public roads in the county 
have been graveled. The tendency now is to accomplish this excellent 
work at the pitblic expense, and not through the efforts of a company. 
AVaiTen County has abundant and excellent gi-avel beds. 

In 1850, the Independence & Oxford Plank Road Company was 
granted the right to put down plank on the Independence & Oxford pub- 
lic road. The company was large, and had a declared capital of over 
§20,000. Saw niills were erected, old ones were set at work and a num- 
ber of miles of plank were soon down, and travelers began to " ante up " 
to toll-keepers; but within a year the work was abandoned, as the sub- 
scribed stock could not be secured. Some of the old plank may yet be 
seen. 

CUTTER BAR MANX'FACTURING COMPANY. 

About eight years ago, there was organized at Williamsport the 
Reaper & Mower Cutter Bar Manufacturing Company, with announced 
capital stock of §300,000, the principal stockholders being Daniel and 
Edward Bowlers, Martin Schoonover, S. F. Messner, R. W. Smith, J. 
\V. Sutton, William Moffitt, R. W. Claypool, L. T. Miller and Alvin 
High. The company was formed to manufacture " Oxer's improvement 
in cutter bars and Oxer's im])rovement in harvest cutters," but nothing 
was accomi)lished, and the organization soon became a thing of the past, 
owing largely to the fact that the Inventions of Mr. Oxer were not re- 
ceived with as much favor as had been expected. 

MEDICAL SOCIETY. 

In May, 1875, the Warren County Medical Society was organized, 
"any graduate in medicine of a respectable medical school, or licentiate 
of any regularly organized medical society " being allowed to become a 
member. Among the incorporators were A. M. Porter, W. N. Sherman, 
Justin Ross, C. W. Osborn, J. G. Blanchard, J. De Hart, S. N. Osborn, 
and perhaps others. Many of the physicians in the county have since 
joined the society. Dr. Orin Aborn is President of the organization at 



78 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

this writing. The couuty physicians at present are, Orin Aborn, O. D. 
Benson, E. E. Birch, T. B. Campbell, Jacob De Hart, J. Fleming, S. C. 
Fenton, C. H. Hoffman, A. J. McAdams, A. V. Moore, J. W. McMullen, 
S. N. Osborn, C. W. Osborn, A. M. Porter, G. W. Biggie, Justin Ross, 
J. C. Stewart, J. C. Simpkins, R. J. Simpkins, T. H. Trent, W. B. 
Vick, B. H. Wieoff, James B. Webb and Walter R. Wilson. 

THE GRANGERS. 

In March, 1876. many of the farmers of Warren County, with head- 
quarters at Williamsport, organized the Warren County Co-operative 
Association, with a capital stock of $10,000. This movement was made 
by the Grangers, and was designed to effect the purchase of farm im- 
plements of all descriptions at much less than ordinary rates, by dealing 
directly with the manufacturers, and thus doing away with " middle 
men. " The organization was abandoned before any movement of note 
was made, but the Grangers — and there were many in the county — ac- 
complished a great deal of good, in a general manner, by example. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. 

Commissioners — The lirst Board of Justices, in 1827, consisted of 
Lemuel Boyd, Thomas Kearns, Thomas Cunningham and Edward Mace. 
Levi Cronkhite began in 182S; Samuel Merrill, 1828; Jonathan Shippy, 
1828; Laurence Rains, 1828; Benjamin Chenoweth, 1829; Daniel Mc- 
Connell, 1830. In November, 1830, the county management passed to 
three Commissioners — Josiah B. Magie, one year; Isaac Switzer, two 
years, and James Goodwine, three years. James McCord began in 1831 
Isaac Swit/er, 1832; James Goodwine, 1833; Luther Tillotson, 1833 
Seth St. John, 1834; James Goodwine, 1836; Samuel Watkins, 1836 
L. D. Osborn, 1837; Seth St. John, 1838; Nathaniel Buttertield, 1839 
Carpenter Morey, 1840; John Jones, 1841; Seth St. John. 1841; John 
E. Stufflebeam, 1842; David Shankland, 1843; Ozias Deyo, 1844; 
Elijah Thomas, 1846; E. B. Tillotson, 1847;" William Crow, 1848; 
Elijah Thomas, 1849; J. R. Johnson, 1851; Isaac Bowyer, 1852; Isaac 
Slauter, 1853; Sanford Pavne, 1854: Sidney Cronkhite, June, 1856; 
Thomas J. Chenenweth, 1856; C. V. White, 1857; Alfred Fisher, 1858; 
T. J. Chenenweth, 1859; Elisha Rogers, I860; David Moffitt, 1861; T. J. 
Chenenweth, 1862; Elisha Rodgers, 1863; David Moffitt, 1864; T. J. 
Chenenweth, 1865; William Haines, 1866; David Moffitt, 1867; L. R. 
Van Reed, 1868; Samuel W. Frame, 1869; D. A. Messner, 1870; Zimri 
Atkinson, 1870; Andrew Brier, 1871; S. M. Frame, 1872; Zimri 
Atkinson, 1873; Andrew Brier, 1874; S. M. Frame, 1875; Zimri Atkin- 
son, 1876; R. W. Alexander, 1877; S. M. Frame, 1878; Z. Atkinson, 
1879; R. W. Alexander, 1880; George T. Buell, 1881; James! Barr, 
1882. 

Clerks of the Circuit Court — James Cunningham, 1827-38; Thomas 
O'Neal, by appointment, April, 1838; William Robb, by appointment, 
1838; E. F. Lucas, 1838; William R. Boyer, 1841; H. R. Pomeroy, 
3856; William C. Smith, 1863; Fry Bryant, 1870; Henry C. Johnson, 
1879. 

Auditors — Prior to 1848, the business of this office was done by the 
Clerk or Treasurer. Walter B. Miller, 1848; Isaac S. Jones, 1852; 
James H. Bonebrake, 1860; WML Thomas, 1864; William Moffitt, 1868; 
George Adams, 1876; William Moffitt, 1881. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 79 

Recorders — James Cunninffh am, 1827; Thomas O'Neal, 1888; Henry 
J. Parker, 1844; William R. Boyer, 1845; Robert M. Allen, 1852; John 

B. Wright, 185C); William H. Thomas, 1860; George Adams, 1864; J. 
D. Livingood, 1872; Thomas J. Graves, 1880. 

Sherifts— William F. Beckett, 1827; John Seaman, 1820; William 
Robb, 1S88; Aaron Stevenson. 188'J; Nicholas Sheflfer, 1841; Isaac 
Templeton, 1S4<); John P. Pugh, 1847; W^illiara Robb, appointed 1840; 
George Oglesby, 1840; George W. Armstrong, 1851; C. V. White, 
1858; Abram S. Jones, 1857; George Miner, 1861; William L. Hamil- 
ton, 1862; Samuel Clark, 1862; Henry C. Dawson, 1865; H. M. Bill- 
ings, 1867; Asa J. Fisher, 1868; Mahlon J. Haines, 1872; M. H. Pear- 
son, 1876: Joseph L. Stumi), 1880-84. 

Treasurers— Enoch Farmer, 1828 (S1,000 bond); John C. Irvin, 
1831; James Todd, 1832; James H. Buell, 1884; William R. Bover, 
1838; B. F. Gregory, 1840; E. F. Lucas, 1842 ($15,000 bond); James 

C. McAlilly, 18.44 (died in office, 1852); Samuel J. McAlilly, 1852; 
Benjamin F. Gregory, 1852; James H. Buell. 1855; Lewis Haines, 
1857; Samuel F. Messner, 1850; George Kitchens, 1863 ($100,000 
bond); Alvin High, 1867; Cvrus Romine, 1S<1; Samuel Bittinger, 
1875; Phillip Gemmer, 1870. ^ 

Agents of three per cent fund — James H. Buell, 1831; Nicholas 
Shefler, 1882; B. F. Gregory, 1888; E. F. Lucas, 1830; Benjamin 
Crow. 1840. 

Siu'vevors — Perrin Kent, 1828; Ferdinand W^oodward, 1852; Isaac 
N. Tavlor. 1S62; Ferdinand W'oodward, 1866; Thomas J. Webb, 1872; 
John L. Trimble, 1874; Samuel Smith, 1878. 

Circuit Court Judges — John R. Porter, 1828; Isaac Naylor, 1838; 
William P. Bi-yant. 1853; John M. Cowan, 1*862; Thomas F. Davidson, 
1870; Joseph M. Rabb. 1882. 

Probate Judges — William Willmeth served in 1828; John B. King, 
1836; Edward Mace, 1840; Peter Schoonover, 1846. In 1852, the 
Common Pleas Court assumed jurisdiction of probate matters. 

Common Pleas Judges — This court was created in 1852. Daniel 
Mills served as Judge in 1853; William R. Bover, 1856; Isaac Navlor, 
1861; James Park, 1867; John M. La Rue. 1867. In 1873, the Com- 
mon Pleas Court was abolished, the Circuit Court assuming exclusive 
jurisdiction. 

School Commissioners or Superintendents — Daniel R. Parker, 1828; 
James J. McAlilly, 1831; James Todd, 1887; JohuR. Harris. 1887; Wesley 
Clark, 1840, resigned 1845; B. F. Gregory, 1845; J. R M. Bryant, J. H. 
Buell and E. S. Thomas, three "Examiners." appointed 1847; B. F. Greg- 
ory, 1848; James J. McAlilly, 1840; J. O. Wade, B. H. Boyd and San ford 
Payne. 1853; Amos Jones, J. O. Wade and Andrew M. Shepard, 1854; 
Delos Warren, J. O. Wade and Joseph Franklin. 1855-5(5; * * * 
William P. Rhodes, 1860; M. T. Case, 1866;*John L. Boyd, 1868; 
James W. McMullen, 1860; Henry Rittenour, 1871; C. M. Parks, first 
"County Superintendent," 1873; Alonzo Nebaker, 1875; John Bow- 
man, 1877; Alonzo Nebaker. 1881. 

Coronei-s— William Search, 1820; J. R. Coffin, 1832; Charles Mc- 
Alister, 1836; Samuel Campbell, 1840; * * * Josiah Tharp. 1S51; 
Aaron Lesley, 1853; John Cox, 1855; E. A. Sanders, 1863; Phillip W. 
Lewis, 1863; Isaiah P. Ross, 1872; John Jordan, 1874; P. W. Lewis, 
1881. 



80 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Associate Judges— Nathaniel Buttertield and Samuel B. Clark, 1828; 
Isaac Rains, 1831; James Crawford and David McConnell, 1833; Hugh 
M. King, 1834; Thomas Collins, 1836; Levi Jennings, 1840; William 
Coldren, 1840; Eleazur Purviance, 1845; Josiah Tharp, 1847; Silas 
Hooker, 1847; Peter Schoonover, 1851. The office was abolished in 
1852. 

County Agents — Luther Tillotson, 1827; Holder Sisson, 1828; Isaac 
Rains, 1828; J. J. McAlilly, 1829; Samuel B. Clark, 1830; Charles 
Barkshire, 1836; Lemuel W. Joiner, 1839; Benjamin Crow, 1846; Elisha 
Hitchens, 1848. There were many others, but their names cannot be 
learned with certainty. 

COUNTY FINANCES. 

The alteration, during the years since the organization of the county, 
in the receipts and expenditures necessary to carry on public affairs, 
affords a fruitful theme for contemplation. The county began without 
money by issuing " county orders," which passed about as currently as 
the paper money of that period. They bore no interest, were transferrable 
at will and were placed upon the market at a discount of from 1 to 8 
cents on the dollar. In their passage from hand to hand, a further de- 
preciation of value took place. The first order paid by the county of 
Warren was $28, early in 1828, to James Page, one of the Commission- 
ers to locate the county seat: No. 2 was for $32, to George Hollings- 
worth, for the same service; No. 3 was for $15, to Luther Tillotson, for 
services as Sheriff; No. 4 was for $12.62, to Holder Sisson, Deputy 
Sheriff; No. 5 was for 2.50, to Andrew Fleming, Deputy Sheriff. A total 
of twenty-eight orders was issued in 1828, aggregating 1377.3 1^. The 
cash receipts for the same period (the year 1828) were $185. 43|; orders 
received at the Treasury and canceled, $174.25, leaving a cash balance 
in the Treasury of $11.18|, with orders still in circulation, $203.06^. 
The tax assessed for this year (1828) was as follows: Poll tax, 37^ 
cents; horse, mule or ass, 'Sl^ cents; stallion, once the season rate; ox, 
1 2 i^ cents; silver or pinchbeck watch, 25 cents; gold watch, $1; brass 
clock, $1; pleasure carriage, $1.50; 100 aci'es of first-class land, 50 cents; 
100 acres of second class land, 40 cents; 100 acres of third class land, 
30 cents. A portion of the receipts was from the sale of town lots, and 
another considerable portion was from store and tavern licenses. A 
small expense had been incurred in 1827, and the total expense of the 
' county for the years 1827 and 1828 was $392.81^; truly a wonderful 
amount for the entire expense of Warren County for nearly a year and 
a half. During this entire period, $11.93f had been received for town 
lots; 75 cents had been paid for whisky,* furnished on the day of r.he 
sale of tho lots; county orders of $10.25 had been received as license to 
vend merchandise; and county ordei's of $164 had been received in pay- 
ment of county revenue. 

In 1829, county orders of $353 were issued, of which $196.93i worth 
were paid off. Up to January, 1830, fifty-six orders had beeu issued, 
amounting to $556,06^. Of these, $220. 68i worth had been liquidated, 

* A public sale of lots without whisky was a dull affair, and was scarcely ever seen. It was well- 
known to all that if whisky was free and abundant, the bidding was iiuich livelier and higher, and the 
seller would more than reap a return for the outlay in the greater number and higher price of the sales. 
Accordingly, on the record of all the early sales of county lots in Warren t'ounty, is found an order 
from the Board of Commissioners for from three to ten gallons of whisky. It loosened the tongue of 
the auctioneer, opened the hearts and pockets of the bidders, assembled Jarge crowds, and oiled the oc- 
casion with satisfactory success. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 81 

leaving the county debt at that time $335. 37|. This wa.s considered, 
at the time, a heavy indt'btednes.s, and perplexed the Commissioners to no 
small extent. In 1830, orders to the amount of 8342. IS | were issued, 
increasing the debt to $677.50.V; but S6'25. '.'5 worth were liquidated, 
leaving the debt, on the 1st of January, 1831, §51.()l.i. In 1831, orders 
to the amount of SI, 084 80| were issued, increasing the debt to SI. 136.- 
415; ^^^t during the same time, Sl,064.52.^ of orders were canceled, leav- 
ing the debt, on the Ist of January, 1832^ $71. 89^. By May, 1833, 256 
orders had been issued. 

On the 6th of November, 1837, there was on hand S416.22. During 
the year ending November 6, 1838, there was received $3,091.16; the 
expenses were $2,006.73, leaving a balance in the Treasury of $1,501.10. 
At last the county was on a firm financial foundation. At the begin- 
ning of the year ending June, 1843, there was on hand $954.23; received 
dm-ing the vear, $3,629.83; expenses, $3,659.50; balance on hand, 
$1,024.56. For-the year ending May 31, 1848, on hand, $2,897.75; 
receipts. $6,378.16; expenses, $6,786.67; on hand, end of year, $2,389,- 
24. Among the receipts were merchants' license, $62.47; peddlers, 
license, $lO; clock sellers' license, $13; grocery license, $45; ferry 
license, $19. Among the expenses were officers' salaries. $839.80; 
paupers' account, $495.43. For the year ending May, 1850, the receipts 
from merchants', grocers' and- peddlers' licenses were $154.87; an impor- 
tant force of revenue. The receipts in 1856 were $17,517.58. This sum 
included about $2,500 which remained in the Treasury from the previous 
year. The expense was $15,151.37; leaving a balance of $2,376.21. 
For the year ending May 31, 1859, the county receipts were $24,771.32; 
expenses, $24,561.40. For the year ending May 31, 1862, there was on 
hand at the beginning $3,438.07; receipts, $25,684.21; expenses, $19,- 
995.99; balance on hand, $9,126.29; officers' salaries, $2,713.54. For 
the year ending May 31, 1870. there was on hand at the commencement 
of the year, $24,377.29; receipts, $90,584.85; expenses, $82,580.63; 
balance on hand, $32,381.51: orders outstanding, $9,530.70; county 
officers' salaries during the year, $6,078.51; bridge expenses, $10,373.- 
68. Before the war, the county's financial condition was comparatively 
dormant; but the demands for bounty and relief became so great, that 
heavier assessments were levied, and the Treasurer's report showed much 
larger amounts collected and expended. For the year ending June, 
1874, the total receipts, including what was left over, were $91,804.88, 
and the expenditures were $6)4,9(57.35; the county officers cost $5,118.84; 
the geological survey of the county, $638.50; the poor, $3,714,98. and 
fox seal j)s, $154. 50. In June, 1878, the receipts were $42,045.59 on 
hand at the beginning of the year, and $107,778.84 collected, giving a 
total of $149,824.43; the expense was $99,726.52; the county officers 
cost $5,091.28 

The following is a full statement of the receipts and expenditures of 
Warren County, Incl. , for the year ending May 31, 1882: 



82 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



RECEIPTS. 



AMOUNT ON AMOUNT 

HAND JUNE 1,! RECEIVED 

1881. DURING YEAR, 



County Revenue 

Township Revenue , 

Road Revenue 

Special School Revenue 

Dog Revenue 

Common School Revenue 

Tuition Revenue 

Corporation Revenue 

Additional Special School Revenue. 

Redemptions 

Refunders — " Taxes Refunded " 

Estray Fund 

Docket Fees 

Three Per Cent Fund 

Railroad Tax 

Common School Principal 

Common School Interest 

Tow^n 22, Range 8, principal 

Range 8, principal 

Range 6, principal 

Range 7, principal 

Range 9, principal 

Range 10, principal 

Range 7, principal 

Range 9, principal 

Range 9, principal 

Range 10, principal 

Range 8, principal 

Range 10, principal 

Range 9, principal 



Town 21 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 20 
Town 20 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 21 
Town 21 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 21 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 20 
Town 20 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 21 
Town 21 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 23 
Town 22 
Town 22 
Town 23 
Town 21 
Damages 
Common School Rents 



Range 
Range 
Range 
Range 
Range 
Range 10, 
Range 7, 
Range 9, 
Range 9, 
Range 10, 
Range 8, 
Range 10, 
Range 9, 
Range 6, 

Range 10, rents 

Range 10, rents 

Range 10, surplus principal. 



nterest 
merest , 
nterest 
nterest , 
nterest 
nterest 
nterest 
nterest 
nterest 
nterest , 
nterest 
nterest , 
nterest . 
nterest , 



Totals. 



,563 41 
,510 93 
,087 59 
595 38 
923 79 
259 19 
,780 10 
172 59 



131 11 
"15*23' 



,192 75 
80 66 



470 77 
45 97 
68 11 

144 46 



500 00 



$24,060 57 
3,377 22 
9,583 36 
7,283 94 

917 83 

11,845 36 

8,664 80 

1,093 63 

1,358 67 

880 06 



17 00 

54 00 

56 78 

869 56 

2,511 75 

1,472 10 

461 10 

87 85 

753 38 



46 89 

60' 6i 



466 00 



,475 00 

46 82 

15 79 

147 33 

253 42 

103 56 

122 60 

184 49 

6 56 

134 50 

147 50 

38 70 

163 70 

827 29 



378 90 
300 00 



3,690 00 

2,118 75 

126 25 

67 46 
111 87 
305 30 

92 38 

32 53 
155 47 

15 96 
107 70 
283 13 

64 46 

856 69 

1,127 82 

55 04 



34 00 



437 63 

"46' 66 



148,922 20 [ $85,609 30 



$38,623 98 

6,888 15 

12,670 95 

13,879 32 

1,841 62 

17,104 55 

15,444 90 

1,266 22 

1,358 67 

1,011 17 



32 23 

54 00 

56 78 

3,062 31 

2,592 41 

1,472 10 

461 10 

87 85 

752 38 

470 77 

92 86 

68 11 

204 47 



500 00 
466 00 



3,690 00 

3,593 75 

173 07 

83 25 
259 20 
558 72 
195 94 
155 13 
339 96 

22 53 

343 30 

430 63 

103 16 

1,030 39 

1,955 11 

55 04 
378 90 
300 00 
437 63 

34 00 

40 00 



$134,531 50 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY, 



83 



EXPENDITURES. 



Amount Amount 

Overpaid Overpaid nurifie Year Treasury 
May 31, 1882 June 1, 1881. ^^"^S »ear. ireasury. 



Expended Balance in 



Count_y Revenue 

Township Revenue 

Road Revenue 

Special Seliool Revenue 

Doi^ Revenue 

Common School Revenue 

Tuition Revenue 

Corpi 'ration Revenue 

Additional Special School Revenue. 

Redemptions 

Refunders— " Taxes Refunded ". . . . 

Estray Fund 

Docket Fees , 

Three Per Cent Fund 

Railroad Tax 

Common School Principal 

Common .School Interest 

Town 22, Range 8, principal 



126,801 84 

I 4,199 58 

10,GG1 68 

' 9,(MI7 99 

791 52 

11.883 38 

11,079 66 

666 65 

636 13 

870 71 



$148 51 $148 51 



8, principal. 

6, principal. 

7, principal. 

9, principal. 



Town 21, Ranire 
Town 23, Range 
Town 22, Range 
Town 20, Ran^e 
Town 20, Range 10, principal. 

Town 23, Range 7, principal 

Town 22, Range 9, principal 

Town 21, Range 9, principal 

Town 21, Range 10, principal 

Town 23, Range 8, principal 

Town 22, Range 10, principal 

Town 23, Range 9, principal 

Town 22, Range 8, interest 

Town 21, Range 8, interest 

Town 23, Range 6, interest 

Town 22, Range 7, interest 

Town 20, Range 9, interest 

Town 20, Range 10, interest 

Town 23, Range 7, interest 

Town 22, Range 9, interest 

Town 21, Range 9, interest 

Town 21, Range 10, interest 

Town 23, Range 8, Interest 

Town 22. Range 10, interest 

Town 23, Range 9, interest 

Town 22, Range 6, interest 

Town 22, Range 10, rents 

Town 23, Range 10, rents 

Town 21, Range 10, surplus principal. 

Damages 

Common School Rents 



73 33 



474 00 

'225' 66 



15 23 
54 00 



2,192 75 
2,440 00 



460 00 

87 85 
679 05 
4.50 00 

91 94 



500 00 
940 00 



3,915 00 
3,150 00 



30 09 
24.5 96 
236 77 
164 97 
155 13 
305 55 



152 49 

259 18 

64 46 



1,261 08 



437 63 
34 (X) 



11,822 14 

2,688 57 

2,009 27 

4,871 33 

1,0.50 10 

5,221 17 

4,365 24 

599 57 

722 54 

140 46 



17 00 



56 78 

869 56 

152 41 

1,472 10 

1 10 



20 77 

92 

68 11 

204 47 



443 75 

173 07 

53 17 

13 24 

321 95 

30 97 



34 41 

22 52 

89 71 
171 45 

38 70 

1,020 39 

694 03 

55 04 
378 90 
300 00 



40 00 



Totals 

Deduct amounts overdrawn. 



$847 51 



$221 84 $94,922 27 $40,234 90 
847 51 



Balance in Treasury, provided all 

orders were redeemed ' 

Add outstanding orders 



Actual balance in Treasury. 



$39,387 39 
.3,125 36 



$42,512 75 



84 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



ITEMIZED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES OF COUNTY REVENUE. 



On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 
On account 



of assessing $ 1, 

of attorneys 

of bailiffs 

of books and stationery 1, 

of blind at blind asylum 

of bridges 5, 

of county officers' salaries 3, 

of criminals 

of Circuit Court 

of elections 

of equalization of assessments 

of fuel 

of inquests 

of insane 

of jurors 1 

of poor 5 

of poor farm 1 

of printing 

of public buildings 

of returning fines 

of roads and highways 

of County Superintendent's salary 1 

of teachers' institute 

of war — " tombstones for soldiers " 

of fox scalps 

of wolf scalps 

of special judges 

of insurance 

of ditch 



346 00 

30 00 

280 50 

369 10 

75 

283 58 

572 33 

479 85 

824 70 

98 40 

20 00 

288 85 

84 70 

318 59 

394 85 

468 65 

458 01 

509 35 

940 08 

17 00 

816 35 

,001 20 

50 00 

54 00 

153 00 

23 00 

70 00 

920 00 

30 00 



Total 126,801 84 



WiLLI.AM MOFPITT, AudUoT. 

Philip Gemmer, Treasurer. 



R. W. Alexander, 
George T. Bell, 
James I. Barr, 



Commissioners. 



recapitulation of taxes for the FISCAL YEAR 1882. 



Townships. 


o . 


III 


O 
ID ^ 

_3 o 
> 


Value of 
Improve- 
ments. 


Value of 
Personal 
Property. 




22S 

c« c« ? 




"p 


Washington... 
Pine 


$226,110 

350,175 

193,760 

461,455 

201,875 

271,225 

297,160 

487,545 

259,205 

424,100 

10,890 

529,485 

130,830 

8,885 

2,185 


$43,055 
52,085 
29,425 
81,6.50 
33,380 
43,630 
54,740 
71,425 
69,570 
41,700 
40,250 
61,850 
25,185 
7,215 
165 


$ 760 
640 


$480 
3,000 


$83,465 

160,350 

53,820 

120,560 

107,785 

103,455 

175,875 

146,985 

186,875 

107.025 

161,355 

124,195 

28,095 

66,345 

14,035 


$1,400 

"260 

1,280 

620 


$91,000 


$446,270 
566,250 
332,175 
770.905 
399,415 
421,605 
535,670 
705.955 
524,820 
580,415 
2.89,660 
715,.530 
215,980 
123,430 
39,720 


70 
171 




54,910 
98,355 
53,680 


70 




1,635 
620 

875 
1,090 


6,970 
1.455 
2,420 
6,805 


226 


Pike 


89 




122 








247 


Liberty 






225 


935 

150 

8,165 


8,235 

1,200 

54,270 






150 






6,240 
14,730 


126 


Williamsport.. 




152 




198 






'35,286 
12,240 


485 


'31,385 


81 




10,705 
3,685 


94 


State Line City 




7,410 


41 






Total 


3,849,885 


655,325 


29,260 


131,355 


1,640,220 


4,045 


357,710 


6,667,800 


2,062 







HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



85 



Townships. 



Washington.... 

Pine 

Mound 

Steuben 

Pike 

Medina 

AVarren 

Liberty 

Adaius 

Jordan 

Williani.sport ... 

Prairie 

Kent 

West Lebanon. 
Star Line (itv. 



If. ■< 



570 
765 
43:< 
,037 
.52:t 
.566 
766 
9.".9 
704 
7.')9 
42a 
9.'.7 
299 
19.1 
6.S 



8 89 23 

11.1 25 

66 42 

l.->4 OH 

79 S7 

.S4 .•!2 

107 12 

141 19 

104 94 

lie 08 

57 91 

14:i 10 

4.3 18 

24 68 

7 93 



8 748 84 
991 53 
566 38 
l,34.-> 61 
683 47 
7:$5 57 
980 50 

1.242 03 
914 52 
991 65 

, 539 31 

1.243 8.5 
386 00 
244 43 

83 97 



81,631 64 
2,152 94 
1,2.32 39 
2,9 -'2 34 
1,486 73 
1.597 63 
2,121 70 
2,695 83 
1,986 44 

' 2,157 42 
1,165 50 

I 2,702 39 
Ii36 78 
525 88 

' 179 85 



S 169 88 $1,175 28 



166 05 
231 12 

199 68 

200 80 

141 19 

787 05 
290 21 

"in 66 
323 90 



498 17 



683 47 

1,054 00 

964 14 

1,058 93 

824 55 

.•M8 24 

434 35 

1,073 30 

539 84 

232 09 

119 00 



81,25.5 46 
1,757 68 

638 17 
1,992 77 

976 71 
1,087 22 
1,8:J3 08 
2,214 89 
l,:i49 40 
1,296 74 



Total 9,030 99 1,3.33 30 11,697 66 25,395 46 2,734 54 ! 9,005 36 17,180 84 9,835 77 89,462 89 



2,184 84 
.593 88 



J o 
■<: o 

PI 



8 849 40 

232 11 

1,309 66 

.399 36 

1,084 50 

803 45 

917 75 

7S7 05 

495 82 

4:54 :« 

1,717 28 

215 93 

270 28 

218 83 



84,295 55 

7,974 98 

3,9.'« 22 

8,993 04 

5,033 01 

6,420 97 

7,576 25 

9,371 46 

7,4.'..S .'59 

1 6,455 64 

.5,775 Ul 

10,237 06 

I 3,-239 13 

, 1,862 63 

I 836 35 



Note. — Additional special school tax — Williaiusport, 81,523.84 ; West r>ebanon, S;no.l9 ; State Line 
City, S39.67. Corporation tax — Williamsport, 81,196.27 ; State Line City, 8119. Total delinquent tax, 
811,482.47. 



TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF WARREN COUNTY. 



BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED. 



WARRENTON. 

THE life of this defunct village was very short. It was laid out by 
the County Agent, Luther TilJotson. early in July,lS28, on a tract 
of land which had been donated to the county by a Mr. Hollingsworth, 
in consideration that the county seat should be located there. It ap- 
pears that Enoch Farmer had some interest in the land, or at least in 
land that had been donated by him to the county. Seven full blocks of 
eight lots each, and a public square of one and eight tenths acres, and 
four half blocks, each containing four lots, were laid out on the east 
fraction of the southwest quarter of Section 31, Township 22 north. 
Range 7 west. Perrin Kent was surveyor and was assisted by Luther 
Tillotson. John Whelchel. Francis Boggs and Job Tevebaugh. Enoch 
Farmer boarded the men and also assisted in the survey. It was in 
May, 1828, thai the Board of Justices ordered the survey and at 
the same time they ordered that on the 5th of A'.igust, 1828, a 
certain portion of the county lots should be sold at public auc- 
tion, one-fourth of the purchase money to be paid in advance and the 
remainder in three semi-annual installments. This sale took place as 
advertised, and free whisky was furnished for the occasion, at the coun- 
ty's expense, probably to loosen the tongue of the auctioneer or " crier " 
and the generosity of the buyers. Lots sold for from §10 to S2t), ac- 
cording to the location. The cash receipts of the sale were §11.1)3!|. 
Francis Boggs was j)aid 75 cents for whisky furnished. If any build- 
ings were erected in ^\'arrentoIl, such fact could not be learned. David 



86 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Moffit says there were none. In January, the act was approved re-locat- 
ing the county seat, which proved the death knell of Warreaton and 
stopped every improvement, if any had been commenced. The provis- 
ions of this act may be seen in another chapter. One was that men who 
had purchased lots should be permitted to transfer their claim to lots 
similarly situated in the new county seat. Several availed themselves of 
this provision. Farmer, Hollingsworth, and others who had donated 
land, money, or other property, or service in consideration of having the 
county seat located at Warrenton, were released from all such obliga- 
tions. 

WILLIAMSPOKT. 

In November, 1828, William Harrison, owner and proprietor, em- 
ployed Perrin Kent, surveyor, and laid out Williamsport on the south 
end of the east fraction of the northeast quarter of Section 11, Township 
21 north, Range 8 west. Four blocks of eight lots each were laid out, 
the streets extending back from the river being Water, Second and 
Third, while in the centei-, extending southeast and northwest, was 
Main, and on the northeast, Warren. The town is said to have been 
named for the owner, William Harrison, by annexing " port " to the 
given name in the possessive case — William's port, or Williamsport. 
The re-location of the county seat did not take place until June, 1829, 
and before this and after the news was received that a re- location had 
been ordered, but little improvement took place, owing to the uncertainty 
of the place to be selected by the Re-locating Commissioners. Harrison, 
Seaman, Gilbert, and perhaps others, made valuable donations to secure 
the county seat. William Harrison was no doubt the first resident of 
the town. About the time he laid out the first lots (November, 1828), 
he built a log dwelling on the bank of the river at the foot of Main 
street, where he began selling whisky and a few notions, paying a li- 
cense of %t) per annum. He also obtained a horse ferry-boat, which he 
began running acrc>ss the river to and from hi? "port," and which he 
conducted several years. Mr. Harrison donated $40 toward the payment 
of the Re-locating Commissioners^ which amount was paid in July, 
1829, but was refunded a few years later. The first addition was laid out by 
Thomas Gilbert, owner, in July, 1829, at which time four blocks of eight 
lots each and one half block of four lots, were laid out on the southwest 
side of the original plat along the Wabash River. The addition shows the 
same streets running back from the river as the original plat, but run- 
ning southwest are Washington and Jefferson streets. Perrin Kent was 
Surveyor. Early in August, 1829, Isaac Rains, County Agent, laid out 
the celebrated " West Addition " to Williamsport, on land that had been 
donated to the county by Mr Harrison. Twelve blocks of eight lots 
each, including a public square, were surveyed northwest of the original 
plat, and back farther from the river. This afterward became the busi- 
ness portion of the town, the stores and other business houses being 
mostly on the southeast side of the square and along Main street. Per- 
rin Kent was surveyor, and William Russell, John Seaman, William 
Search, James Watson, and John Regan assisted him. On the 6th of 
August, 1829, occurred the first public sale of lots in the new county 
seat. John Seaman was the " crier " of the sale. The following m^n 
were the purchasers: Sylvester Stone, Benjamin Cheneweth, Isaac 
Martin, Samuel Rogers, E. W. Jones, Henry Boston, Elijah Osborn, 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. ' 87 

"William Hanon, Jenuinprs, Lovi Cronkhitp, Samnol Connaway, 

JaiiH'H Curiningbam, "William Pugh and John ^larlott. Tht> total foot- 
inf]jp of the sale were SG85.8SL Onlv two or throe of these men lived in 
"Willi anisport. Other sales were ordered from time to time as the needs 
demanded. Thomas Gilbert laid ont a continuation of his South Addi- 
tion in June, 1831. and in October. ]831, Thomas B. Clark. County 
Agent, laid out the Northeast Addition. Soon afterward, a continuation 
of the AVest Addition was also laid out. In May. 1832, Thomas Gilbert 
had surveyed another addition, and in March, 1830, the County Agent 
added about sixty new lots from the donated lands. A puVilic sale of 
county lots occuiTed about once each year, and whisky was invariably 
furnished at the expense of the county, pursuant to an order from the 
County Board. 

Merchaids and Mechanics. — Isaac Martin sold the first dry goods 
in "WilliamsporL He was licensed to " vend foreign and domestic mer- 
chandise" in July, 1829, paying $10 for his license for one year. His 
stock of goods was worth about $000. At the same time, "William Har- 
rison renewed his license to retail spirituous liquors. Martin did not re- 
main more than two years, and might have left at the end of about a 
year. His stay was so short that but few remember him at all. It is 
j)Ossible that no other families located in town until the following year, 
and even then not more than half a dozen came in. If any others came 
in 1829, one must have been James Cunningham, who ofiSciated in a 
multiplicity of county transactions, and was a sort of sun around which 
lesser satellites revolved. William Search was probably the next resi- 
dent. Or it may be that he came about the time Cunningham came, as 
the office of the latter was a portion of the time, at least, in his house. 
HaiTison kept a tavern, and in addition to liquor sold from a small stock 
of groceries. Search also kept a boarding house. Cunningham quite 
early began to buy corn for shipment on fiat-boats down the river to New 
Orleans. He employed a considerable ])ortion of his time in this manner 
and employed a young man named Sanford C. Cox, who was one of the first 
school teachers in "W^illiamsport, to write on the county records. Cunning- 
ham constructed his own flat-boats, bought enough corn to load them and 
then sent them down the river to New Orleans, usually, where boat and cargo 
were sold. Dr. J. HBuell was the first resident physician, and became one 
of the county'h most promiuent and honored citizens. Thomas Gilbert, 
"William Han-ington, Cyrus Pem'son. Joel James, "William Covington, 
Thomas Eobb, Samuel Ullery, ""Wildcat" "Wilson and llussell were 
among the residents of the few earliest years. Thomas Gilbert began 
selling liquors and "foreign and domestic" groceries about the middle of 
the year 1831. His stock was worth less than $500. About the same 
time, Samuel "Ulleiy opened the same kind of an establishment. It was 
an almost every-day night to see Indians jiassing through the town and 
stci)j)ing at the liquor shops for whisky, tol)acco, etc. It was the com- 
monest sight to see deer feeding in herds near the town or cro])ping the 
twigs or grass near glades or clumps of bu.shes. The winter of 1831-32 
was very severe on all wild animals, as, early in the season, a deep 
snow came, which lay on the ground all winter. A heavy crust was 
formed on the surface, through which deer broke, but which sustained 
the weight of man. Hundreds of deer were killed on the bottoms and 
near the town, often with clubs, for they could not run. On more than 



88 HISTORY OF WARREN COUxNTY. 

one occasion the poor, half-starved creatures came timidly into stable- 
yards to feed with domestic cattle. 

During the winter of 1831-32, there were about twelve families re- 
siding in the county seat. The names of all cannot be given. After 
that, the population rapidly increased. In 1832. Samuel Hardestie 
opened a store of wet and dry groceries, and the following year Cyrus 
Pearson brought in an excellent stock of general merchandise. It may 
be that Harrison did not open his tavern until 1832 or 1833. (^-ourtlandt 
Lawson began with foreign and domestic groceries in 1834. Henry 
Lowrey was selling merchandise as early as 1833, his license being $10. 
Merchants, tavern-keepers, ferrymen, clock peddlers, etc., were obliged 
in those days to pay a license. Lawyers and doctors were placed in the 
same category. It was thought very sensibly then that pursuits that 
would furnish comfortable incomes should be placed on the same basis 
of taxation as land or personal property, and. accordingly almost every 
profession or pursuit was taxed what seemed a proportionate amount. 
Silver and gold watches, and other valuable jewelry or ornaments, were lev- 
ied upon to assist in paying public expenses. These various direct tax- 
atioufi were one of the most important sources of county revenue, that 
would have been difficult to supply had they been omitted. William 
H. Covington opened a store of general merchandise in 1834, and Jos- 
eph McMurter commenced selling liquor and groceries the following 
spring. Harrison was yet keeping tavern and C(mducting the horse 
ferry across the river. McDonald & Haynes began merchandising later 
in the year of 1835, as did C. M. Thomas, James Todd & Co., and, per- 
haps, others. John F. Irwin, John R. Harris, Berkshire & Joiner, J. L. 
Johnson, Hayes & Dickson, Milby & Boyer, and, perhaps, others, began 
business in some branch of merchandising during the year 1836. Of 
course, all mentioned above were not yet in business. Some had left the 
county never to return; others had engaged in different pursuits, while 
a few yet held forth at their old places of business. The town had 
grown quite rapidly up to this period, and now consisted of about twenty- 
live families. There were blacksmiths, carpenters and the usual number 
of mechanics, artisans and idlers. The town had a flourishing school, 
and various religious organizations had been represented by pioneer 
ministers. Lawyers and doctors had begun to cut quite a figure and the 
portly figure and imposing dignity of a Judge of the Circuit Court had 
became a periodical and expected sight. The old horse-ferry, which was 
operated by Israel Canby, was kept busy transferring teams of new set- 
tlers across the river. A few hogs were bought, and, after being packed, 
were shipped down the river, usually on flat-boats, but of ten on freight or 
keel-boats or barges. Grain had begun to find a steady market. Money 
was scarce. Merchants received but little, and were generally obliged to 
take some farm production for goods. The productions were then shipped 
to distant markets, and the proceeds were used in replenishing the 
supply of goods. Commercial transactions were effected by exchanges, 
and even balances were left for time to settle in the same manner. 
Wiliamsport w^as a thriving little town. 

Moses Cox opened a tavern in 1836, and Hiram Wilkinson a saloon 
at the same time. In 1837, Stephen Schoonover and Daniel Cristman 
were selling merchandise in the village. The date when the first post 
office was established at Williamsport cannot be definitely ascertained, 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 89 

but was prior to 1830, as at that time G. W, King was handling the 
mails of Uncle Sam. His duties were not burdensome, and not more 
than a dozen assistants or deputies were required. D. Jennings & Co. 
and William Robb & Co. began selling from a general stock in 1838. 
Hayne.s & Dickson. Samuel Harris, J. L. Johnson, McDonald & Haynes, 
Stephen Schoonover, Robert Pearson, Charles Berkshire, Henry Lowery 
and others were yet in business. Morris Watkins began making wagons 
about this time or soon afterward, and Francis M. Dowler conducted a 
cabinet shop, where many chairs were manufactured. Thomas Thomas 
was also in the cabinet business before this period. He made coffins for 
several paupei-s who had died, and was paid from the county funds. 
One of these paupers was James Foreman. Aaron Stephenson was man- 
ufactiu-ing chairs as early as 1837. In 1838, he was paid S18 for two 
dozen chairs for the court house. G. W. King, Schoonover «fc Berkshire, 
McAlilly & Joiner and Robert Pearson were selling goods in 1830 and 
1840. If the stock of goods exceeded 81,000 in value, the license was 
raised above §10. Pearson. Haynes & Dickson, McAlilly & Joiner and 
Schoonover & Berkshire paid each from S25 to §37 license. The heav- 
iest stock of good^3 then ran up to nearly $4,000. At this time (1840), 
the town had an estimated population of about 250. 

The principal business men early in the '40's were James Stewart,' G. 
W. 6l M. King, Haynes & Dickson, King & Treadway, Schoonover & 
Berkshire, McAlilly & Joiner, McDonald & Spears, Coblinson & Klean, 
Ebenezer King. J. L. Johnson, AVilliam Cessna, King & Dewalt, Stephen 
Cessna, and in 1848 Samuel F. and W. Messner, Dimmick & Allen, 
Kent & Hitchens and Cessna & Miller were also in business during the 
'40s. The town had grown from a population of about 250 in 1840, to 
about 350 in 1850. The gi-ain trade and the pork packing had grown 
to much larger proportions, as in 1847 the canal boats had begun to run 
on the other side of the river; but although the buyers lived in Will- 
iamsport and in many instances bought grain there, the warehouses were 
in Attica and other places on the canal, and the trade of Williamsport 
was much smaller in comparison than any place on the canal which had 
the great advantage of easy shipment. This was early seen by the citi- 
zens to be a serious drawback to the growth of the town, and as early as 
1848, the subject of having a side-cut canal was broached. The citizens 
were all anxious to have the side cut, but the cost would be enormous, 
and it was several years before all were worked up to the pitch of sub- 
stantial help. In 1840 or 1850, a subscription paper was started to raise 
the necessary funds to carry the scheme into effect, and William Kent 
headed the list with §1,000. and many others followed with amounts up 
in the hundreds, and the lists were circulated in the country and sub- 
scribed to liberally by the fanners in the vicinity of the county seat and 
by others in more distant portions of the county who would be benefited 
by the side cut at Williamsport. It took a year or more to raise the 
amount which an exjjerienced engineer had stated would be necessary to 
complete the work. The contract of digging the cut was given ^o a man 
named Barcus. The entire cost of construction was about S1(V()00; but 
when the work was finished and boats began to run up and down the cut 
to and from the warehouses, Williamsport received the greatest " boom" in 
all her history. Every branch of Imsiness was greatly augmented, and 
the builders of the cut were more than repaid for their outlay. This in- 



90 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

crease began in about 1851. Among the business'tirms eai'ly in the '50's 
were Haynes & Dickson, Warren, Hegar & Co., B. H. Boyd & Co.. Park 
& Clayi^ool, Kent & Kitchens, Allen & Bay, Cessna & Wanen, McAlilly 
& Son, Bnsh & Templeton, Hanley & Haynes, Cessna & Miller, Hayes & 
Landon, James Thomas, Stnrgeon & Landon and others, or the same under 
difi'erent combinations. In the spring of 1853, the town had six dry 
goods stores, one clothing store, one drug store, one hardware store, 
three grocery and provision stores, three large warehouses, a steam mill, 
a newspaper, and numerous mechanics and manufacturers. 

Under the activity and prosperity created by the side-cut canal, steps 
were taken in March, 1854, to incorporate the town. A petition signed 
by J. R. M. Bi-yant, Samuel Sturgeon and fifty-seven others was presented 
to the County Board, praying for the incorporation. The question was 
submitted to the voters as required by law, and carried by a majority of 
forty-two votes, there being a total of fifty-two votes polled on the 
qiTestion. The population of the town at the time the petition was 
being signed the 8th and 9th of February, 1854, was as follows, 
the figures after each name being the total number of persons, rela- 
tives or others, in the family: J. B. M. Bryant, 7; John W. Dick- 
son, 7; Samuel Sturgeon, 5; B. A. Chandler, 7; W. M. Haynes, 5; 
Isaac N. Dickson, 3; John Cox, 2; Bobert M. Allen, 6; James 
Thomas, 4; Peier Dimmick, 2; Archibald Shockley, 6; William Kent, 4; 
Elisha Kitchens, 9; B. F Boyd, 6; Stephen Cessna, 4; Francis Hall, 
6, Jacob Feld, 7; Leonard Rowland, 2; Washington Wynn, 2; Samuel 
Landon, 4; Lewis Haynes, 5; Jacob Farris, 5; Bobert Pearson, 7; G. 
H. Norduft, 10; Mrs. Bussell, 3; Enos Canutt, 8; Isaac Jones, 3; 
James Jones, 4; John Shafer, 4; K. J. Parker, G; William Hopkins, 5; 
Morris Watkins, 3; George Livingood, 5; B. F. Gregory, 5; H. E. 
Pomeroy, 4; Henry Begar, 7; Mrs. Schoonover, 6; Mrs. Stephens, 1; 
Mrs. Swingler, 3; Peter Mahn, 7; JohnShode, 5; Isaac Swartz, 3; John 
Long, 6; Jacob Ray, 3; T. W. Swigarfc, 2; Miles Jones, 3; J. G. 
Whitehead, 4; Dr. Fennimore, 7; Perry Shafer, 5; R. Robinson, 4; 
Daniel Bush, 6; William Blangea, 4; Mrs. Yeaman, 5; Cain Blangea, 
2; Francis Walls, 4; G. W. Clark, 2; John Kankins, 7; George Call, 
8; John Wynn, 4; Henry Conner, 3; Mrs. Littlewood, 4; Vincent 
Virgin, 4; Delos Warren, 4; Joseph Spencer, 6; Jonathan Walls, 6; 
Thomas Templeton, 14; Robert Hogue, 2; Mrs. Hughes, 5; Mrs. 
Fume, 1; Daniel Swartz, 45; Mrs. Johnson, 7; S. J. .McAlilly, 4; 
Isaac Covington, 1; James Whitaker, 3; James INIartin, 7; Mrs. Jackson, 
7; Christian Homan, 2; Mi's. Laslie, 9; Daniel Holycross, 5; Peter 
Struble, 12; Mrs. Moliere, 6; Mr. Dalglish, 4; Jacob Goodman, 4; J. 
W. Bash, 6; Mrs. Jones, 3; Mr. Eider, 5; John Howai-d, 4; Edward 
Maxwell, 15; Mr. Brelgn, 7; J. B. Wright, 7; Mr. Dickson, 5; Abra- 
ham Jones, 5; Calvin Slaughter, 6; Mr. Pearson, 6; total, 532. The 
section incorporated comprised about 116 acres of the oldest portion of 
the town; also Kent & Hitchens' Addition on the north. At this pe- 
riod Williamsport was familiarly known as the Side Cut City. It was 
very prosperous, its trade coming from as far north as the Kankakee 
Eiver, and from far over on the fertile prairies of Illinois. 

In June, .1853, the surveyors of the Lake Erie, Wabash & St. Louis 
Eailroad appeared and located the route of the proposed road through 
W^arren County. This had the effect of arousing great public interest, 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 91 

and added no little to the j^rowth of Williamsport. The Coiintv Com 
missioners donated about §500 conditionally toward assisting the survey 
and when a subscription of stock was called for, to commence the con 
struction, the citizens responded as liberally as their means warranfed 
Many thousands of dollars' worth of stock were taken in the county to 
be paid in o and 10 per centum monthly installments as the work pro- 
cessed. It was not until 1.S50 that re-ular trains becran runnincr across 
the county, and soon after this the old side cut canal bei^in to decline in 
usefulness. In a comparativly few yeju-s, its field of importance was 
wholly usurped by that more progressive means of eflfectincr commercial 
transactions— the railroad. 

It seems a matter of historic imi)ortance to notice somewhat in detail 
the development of trade and industry in the " Side Cut City " late in the 
40 6 and dunng nearly the whole of the '50's. The Wabash Cormner- 
ctal, established in 1848 by Enos Canutt, assisted much in placincr Will 
lamsport among the" list of important commercial centers of Western»In 
diana. The beneficial intluence of the canal as a means of augmenting 
commerce had already increased the poi)ulation and inspirited the re 
lations of supply and demand. The side-cut canal had just been built 
by popular and organized subscription of stock, giving Williamsport all 
the advantage of location on the great highway between the producer and 
the consumer. Enormous warehouses had been erected, mills and fac- 
tories had begun to roll their busy wheels, and retail merchants had 're- 
ceived wholesale patronage. All this gave great encouragement to the 
future of the county seat 

Late in the '40's, the packing and shipping of pork and the shipment 

1 "^o'^nnnT"'^'^ mammoth proportions. James Goodwine packed 

about d, 000 hogs annually for several years, shipping the same to mar 

ket via canal. He also bought considerable grain, as did Geoicro 

King and others. v^^wi^u 

Early in the T.O's, Kent & Kitchens, Haynes & Dickson and Cessna 
& VVarren built three large grain and pork warehouses, each about 40x80 
feet, and three stories in height. Here for a number of years these firms 
bought and shipped an average of more than 250,000 bushels of wheat 
oats and com. Scores of teams would stand for hours waitino- their 
turn to unload. Before the warehouses had been built or the sfde cut 
made, gram, althouirh bought extensively at Williamsport, was taken to 
Attica for storage in the warehouses there, to be shipped more readily on 
the canal. But in about 185'2, when the side-cut canal was completed 
and the location of Williamsport thus rendered as advantacreous for pur' 
poses of shipment as that of Attica or any other town o? point on the 
canal, the three large warehouses were built and the trade and activity of 
the county seat were multiplied many fold. Several of the firms owned 
canal boats. The three firms mentioned above and others becran to buv 
and pack pork. Slaughter yards were soon in full operation Some 
seasons about 11.000 hogs were cut up. salted down, and sent off to mar 
ket via canal. Often five or six canal l)oats could be seen at once load 
ingw:th pork or grain. The old Wahash Connnercial noticed that in 
the fall of 18o2, although the toll on the side-cut canal was only the 
fraction of one cent per hundred weight of pork or per bushel of .rrain 
a total toll of over SlOO was received in one week. In May 185'] V-ir' 
ren^ Kegar & Co shij)ped 11,000 bushels of corn at one time, and Kent 
.V Hitchens and Haynes & Dickson did almost as well. About this time 



92 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

the celebrated Jack Stinson appeared in the paper with the following 
characteristic letter: 

The harvest is great, the laborers are few in consequence of the canal; steam- 
boats and towns and cities now arising amidst the once dreary forest. Better pros- 
pect for fruit and crops was never witnessed in Warren County. I have lived in 
good old Warren when there were pre-emption rights on coon tracks. 
J. Stephenson, alias Jack Stinson, 

Christian Philosopher of the nineteenth centuiy. 

This was published in June, 1853; at the same time the paper said: 

Williamsport is the county seat of Warren, one of the best counties in the State, 
but as to churches and schoolhouses we are entirely behind the times. The popula- 
tion of our tow^n has almost doubled within the last twelve months. 

In two days in Novevuber, 1853, Warren, Recrar & Co. sold to Illinois 
customers $2,000 worth of goods; a portion of this sale was wholesale. 
It was a common thing during those days for three or four of the prin- 
cipal merchandising houses to retail $500 worth of goods daily. '.^fr. 
Hitchens says that he himself sold as high as $300 worth in one day, 
and at night felt completely worn out with the effort. The packing of 
hogs began about November and ended about March. Many of the hogs 
packed were purchased already slaughtered and dressed. During the 
winter of 1853-54, 7,300 were packed in Williamsport. In the spring 
of 1854, flour was worth $7.25; wheat, $1.25; corn 37 to 40 cents; oats, 
27 cents; salt, $3, and btitter, 15 cents. At this time there were seven dry 
goods stores, one drug store, one hardware store, two grocery stores, one bak- 
ery, two wagon factories, one plow factory, two saddlery stores, one steam 
saw, lath and stave mill, two tailors, four blacksmiths, two hotels, four 
lawyers and four doctors. At no time during the history of the county 
seat were the times more prosperous than during the first half of the 
decade of '50' s. The town enjoyed a trade over a tract of country ten 
times as extensive as at present. The population was not as dense then 
as now, but the trade was greater. 

Mills and Factories. — The saw-mill was built early in the '50's by 
the Nordufts, but after a few years it was destroyed by tire, though soon 
after another was built. Late in the '50's, Myers & Co. obtained the old 
Haynes & I>ickson warehouse and fitted it up with a first-class set of 
machinery for grinding grain. Within about two years, it was sold to 
the Jones Brothers. Mr. Haines at one time had an interest in the mill. 
It was finally burned to the ground in about 1865. Soon after this, the 
Jones Brothers erected a new mill near the depot, at a cost of not less than 
$18,000, but in a short time the brothers failed in business, with liabili- 
ties amounting to nearly $100,000. Many of whom they had obtained 
money on credit, paying as high as 20 per centum interest, suffered se- 
verely and lost all they had loaned. B. F. Gregory, S. F. Messner, 
Norduft & Kennard, and several others, some twenty or twenty-five years 
ago, erected a brick building, 30x40 feet, in which five looms and other nec- 
essary machinery for carding, spinning and weaving wool were placed. 
Flannels, blankets, jeans, satinets, yarns, etc., were furnished to the pa- 
trons of thu factory. Asa Fisher was for a time connected with the fac- 
tory. It was operated about four years. Bennett Hoxton carried on the 
same business afterward. Cyrus Sylvester built the foundry structure 
in about 1861, and did general repair work there for a few years. Syl- 
vester manufactured wagons about this time. The Nordufts for many- 
years have had an excellent steam saw-mill in the old town. During the 
'50's, Livingood & Wood manufactured plows and wagons on quite an 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 93 

extensive scale. It is said they built not less than eighty plows per an- 
num, besides about twenty wagons, and employed four or five regular as- 
sistants. The Dowler Chair Factory was fur many years an important in- 
dustrial feature of the town. Many of the old chairs may yet be seen in 
the dwellings of the older citizens. The packing of pork led to a 
strong demand for hogsheads or barrels, and hb a consequence, various 
excellent cooi)er shops were established, several of the most extensive 
being in the country in the vicinity of Williamsport. John Bush man- 
ufactured at Williamsport, and "William AVilson. Nathan Gallimore and 
Norton & Mcintosh in the country. The stocks of goods kept by the 
merchants did not exceed in value about §15,000. At the time of the 
heavy pork-packing in the '50's, the merchants conducting the same 
could do nothing with the offal, which was thrown away or given to 
those who were willing to take it for the lard which it contained. The 
back bones and valuable portions of the heads and feet were likewise 
thrown or given away. Now-a-days nothing is lost. Bones, hair, intes- 
tines, toe-nails, blood — all are utilized. How wonderful it all is, any- 
way! 

The New Toicn. — The completion of the ^V abash Railroad in 1856 
was the signal for the disuse of the canal and the river and the o-radual 
decadence of the "Old Town" of Williamsport William Kent laid out 
the first lots in the new town soon after the railroad was finished. 
Among the earliest residents of the new town were Robert Pearson, 
Charles Pitcher. William Fox and a man called H. D. Thomas. Kent & 
Kitchens erected the big warehouse, or rather broughi the material from 
the old town and after a short time bought as high as 212,000 bushels 
of grain. At one time, seventy-eight teams were waiting to unload. Other 
early resid'^nts were W. P. Muore, Joshua Cantrell, Parker, Mil- 
ton Whinery, R. Hunter, Levi Moore, and John Reif. Grain has been 
bought by "\V. P. IMoore, Phillip Gemmer, W. B. Brownley and Mr. 
Breckenridge. R. W. and E. P. Claypool began in 1870, and are vet 
in the business. They buy about 100,000 bushels of grain aunuaUv. 
The old warehouse built by Kent & Hitchens has been owned bv the 
railroad company for a number of years. Gradually the business inter- 
ests have been transferred to the new town. Dm-iug the last war. amonw 
the business men were Isaac S. Jones & Co., drugs; William M. Havne*s 
& Brother, general merchandise; F. M. Dowler, furniture; P. Dimmick, 
boots and shoes, Frank AN'einer. boots and shoes. C. F. Damrow. mer- 
chant tailor. R. M. Allen & Co.. general merchandise; John R. Moore 
stoves; Wolf & Waltz, furniture; Jones, ^Miller & Co., general merchan'- 
dise: Isaiah Whinery, jewelry: P. ]\Iahn & Son, bakery; E. A. Board- 
man, hottfj. The first brass band was organized during the war and 
was called out at all the military meetings and other public "-atherinrrs. 
At present, the business jjortion of the old town is almost wholly de- 
serted. The new has grown up at the expense of the old. 

The incorporation of the town in 185-4 died out in two vears, and re- 
mained dormant for some time, hut was finally revived, and has endured 
since, until the present. The municipal officers now are as follows: 
Trustees, John Hodgson. Charles H. Porch and Samuel Bittinger; Clerk 
T. R. Harbaugh; Treasurer, T. R. Harbaugh; Marshal. Jolm R. Hun- 
ter. The present poi^ulation of the town is about 1,000. It has a 
bonded debt of !?10,000, incurred in building the brick school structure 

Poslnuintern and Attonirys. — Among the Postmasters at the count-' 



94 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

seat have been G. W. King, 1834; Robert A. Chandler, 1840; * * * 
Lewis Haynes, 1853; H. J. Parker, 1855; Delos Warren, 1856; J. IVI. 
Rhodifer, 1857; B. S. Wheeler, 1862; Elisha Kitchens. 1873 to 1883. 
Among the lawyers who have practiced at the county seat, have been Da- 
vid W^allace, A. B. Patterson, Robert A. Chandler, Isaac Naylor, Joseph 
A. Wright, John R. Porter, James R. M. Bryant, Benjamin F. Gregory, 
J. H. Bnell, Lewis Wallace, W. C. W^ilson. J. J. Taylor, E. A. Saunders, 
S. C. Fisher, G.H. Aysworth, ,Jonathau Birch, J. H. Beckwith, T. C. 
W. Seele, II. T. McKee, G. A. May, V. A. Cobb, L M. Hall, R. F. Fah- 
nestock, J. M. Butler, Michael White, A. C. Durborow, G. O. Behm, 
H. M. Nourse, Levin Miller, W. P. Rhodes, Richard DeHart, Richard 
Nebeker, Levi Cronkhite, John Benson, D. B. Beers, Frank Gobon. Jesse 
Harper, James Park, Luke Riley, R. A. Vance, John B. Yeager, Charles 
McAdams, a man called McCobe and another called Bryant. 

Secret Organizations. — W^illiamsport Lodge, No. 38, A. , F. & A. M., 
received its first dispensation May 29, 1844, the first officers being R. A. 
Chandler, W. M. ; Levin Miller, S. W. ; James H. Buell, J. W. The 
organization seems to have about died out after a few years, for in May, 
1849, it received another dispensation to work, the following being the 
officers: R. A. Chandler, W. M.; J. H. Buell, S. W.; J. J. McAlilly, 
J. W. In May, 1850, the charter was received, the following being the 
officers at the time: R. A. Chandler, W. M. ; J. H. Buell, S. W.; J. J. 
McAlilly, J. W. ; William Hopkins, Secretary; Samuel M. Bush, 
Treasurer; John Ray, S. D. ; Isaac Lutz, J. D. ; Robert M. Allen, Tiler. 
From that day to this the lodge has enjoyed great prosperity. It has 
had a total of 188 members, and at present has forty. It is one of the 
best lodges in the State. In 1878, the members erected the brick busi- 
ness building in the second story of which is their fine hall. Every 
other Masonic Lodge in the county was founded upon eleiuents from this 
lodge. It is in excellent financial condition. Its present officers are G. 
W.^Barget, W. M. ; William Moffitt, S. W. ; Ellis Rouse, J. W\; Philip 
Gemmer. Treasurer; Justin Ross, Secretary; S. C. Fisher, S. D. ; G P. 
Swartz, J. D. ; William Hirliuger, Tiler; William Moffitt and William 
Waltz, Trustees; John H. Messner and William Waltz, Stewards. 

Warren Lodge, No. 57, I, O. O. F. , was organized in September, 
1848, with the following first officers: Thomas Templeton, N. G.; W. 
H. Thomas, V. G. ; S. J. McAlilly, Secretary; John Kent, Treasurer. After 
about ten years, tho lodge so ran down that it finally surrendered its 
charter in December, 1859, and was dead or inactive until May, 1866, 
when it was revived and re-chartered with the following first member- 
ship: A. S. Jones, Henry Held, G. R. Livingood, Jacob Held and M. 
P. Woods. The first officers of the re-organization were: W. H. Thomas, 
N. G.; G. R. Livingood, V. G. ; William Moffit, R. S. ; M. P. Woods, 
P. S. ; G. T. Richardson, Treasurer. Since 1866, the lodge has been 
prosperous. It owns a fine hall, has a large active membership, and is 
well fixed financially. The present officers are Jacob Hanes, N. G. ; A. 
V. Holmes, V. G. ; M. H. Pearson, R. S.» Henry Held, P. S. ; W^illiam 
Moffitt, Treasurer. 

Durino- the '40's, when the temperance wave was sweeping over all 
the West, among the organizations in the county was St. Jerome's Divis- 
ion of the Sons ol: Temperance, instituted at Williamsport. Many of 
the leading citizens belonged, among them being B. F. Gregory, Enos 
Canutt, Elisha Kitchens, J. K. Buell, J. J. McAlilly, R. A. Chandler, 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 95 

AVilliam Kent and others. Durincr the latter part of the '40's the ques- 
tion of licensing the sale of alcoholic beverages was submitted to the 
voters of the various townships, with the following results in Piko and 
Washington Townships: Pike, for license, 2; against license, 85; 
Washington, for license. tJO; against license, 24. The result in other 
townships cannot be stated. The temperance reform kejit steadily on 
its way, meeting constant opposition, as it does yet, from the liquor ele- 
ment. Early in the '50's temperance camp-meetings became popular, 
and were held at Williamsport, Lebanon, Milford, Indei)ondence and 
other places. No season passed without meetings of this character. The 
church organizations of the county entered heart and soul into the work. 
Temperance conventions to petition the Legislature for more stringent 
liquor laws were held in various poi'tions of the county. A very large one 
was held at the county seat in December, 1853. Elisha Kitchens, Enos 
Canutt, Colbreath Hall, B. F. Gregory and Jesse Harper serving as man- 
aging committee. The following season, the convention was held at 
Lebanon. In 1859, the Brown Lodge, No. 2, I. O. G. T. , was or'^^anized 
at Williamsport with the following incorporators: H. C. Johnson, 
Henry Held, Alvin High, J. C. Miller, Elisha Hitchens, G. H. Norduft, 
Thomas Bartleti. J. H. Bonebreak. P. W. Lewis, Jesse Harper, T. P. 
Hatch and T. M. Whinery. For a number of years, this lodge did good 
work. Various temperance organizations have since been held in the 
town. The present temperance literary society was organized in Novem- 
ber, 1881. It was started first by the young people, but finally in a big 
temperance revival conducted by Mrs. MalJuy from abroad, nearly all the 
temperance people of the town joined it. About 800 signed the pledge 
at this time, and the meetings continued for two weeks. The Women's 
Christian Temperance Union is another excellent organization. The 
leading ladies of the town belong to it. 

The Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 2045, was organized at Williams- 
port in February, 1880, with thirty -three charter members. The first 
oflScers were Frank P. Longley, Dictator; W. 0. Mawherter, V. D. ; 
John Gregory, Reporter; John H. Schlosser, Treasurer; A. R. Owen 
Chaplain: Dr. O. D. Benson, Medical Examiner. The present member- 
ship is tifty-four. The lodge meets in the Odd Fellows' Hall. The pres- 
ent officers are William Moffitt, Dictator; T. J. Graves,V. D.; John Hun- 
ter, Reporter; John Fox , Treasurer ; A. C. Pomeroy, Chaplain. The lodge 
is highly prosperous 

Bryant Post, G. A. R., No. 02, named in honor of Col. J. R. M. 
Bryant, was organized in April, 1882, with eighteen charter members. 
The first officers were S. C. Fisher, Commander, Ja<;ob DeHart, Sur- 
geon; J. H. Stump, J. y. C. ; Phili[) Gemmer, Quartennaster; Theodore 
Harbaugh, O. D. ; Hosea Cronkhite, O. G. ; A. Holmes, Chaplain; Isaiah 
Smith, Adjutant. The lodge meets in the Odd Fellows' Hall and is 
])rosperous. 

Present Business. — General stores, H. D. Thomas, J. H. Messner, 
W. T. Moore, W. F. Nichol; gi-oc(^rie.s, S. B. Mathis, Samuel Bittinger. 
W. W. Stark. John Chambers, James Slauter, Henry Shiu'tz, William 
Slauter. Charles Pitcher and Ellis Ross; hardware, F. P. Longley, 
Hottenstine & Lupoid; drugs, A. Nebeker and W. C. Fearn; restaurant, 
John Armstrong; milliners. Misses J. and A. Thomas; meat market, 
Benjamin Stevens; hotels. I'armers' and Commercial; merchant tailor, 
W. K. Ward; saloons, Eli Mathis, W. P. James and Henry Karst. 



96 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

THE COUNTY PRESS. 

During the year 1844, Enos Canutt, with a small quantity of 
printing raaterial and an old-fashioned hand-press, began issuing 
at Independence, Warren County, a small sheet, of strong "Whig 
proclivities, called the Wabash Register. The paper was a live or six- 
column folio, subscription price, $2 per annum, and after a time a circu- 
lation of about 300 was obtained, a portion of which came from Fount- 
ain County. Late in 1845 or early in 1846, Mr. Cauu*^t moved the 
office to Attica, which at that period gave promise of becoming a town 
of great commercial influence, and continued issuing the j^aper there, 
changing the name to the Attica Journal. At least half of the circula- 
tion was in Warren County. In 1848, the office was moved to Williams- 
port, which town at that period gave almost as great promise as Attica, 
as the side-cut canal was in process of construction and a vast country 
north and west began to pour its commercial wealth into the large ware- 
houses just erected. Williamsport then seemed a more eligible site for 
a newspaper than Attica. There was a strong demand at this period for 
news, as the attitude of Congress on the Wilmot Proviso and the slaver}* 
question in general created much excitement in the county and widely 
extended the circulation of the paper. The old building in whicn the 
paper was printed is yet standing on Main street in the old town. In 
December, 1854, A. S. Foster bought the office and issued the first num- 
ber of the Warren Republican, a seven-column folio. In June, 1855. 
Isaiah Whinery became associated with Mr. Foster as joint editor and 
proprietor, and upon Mr. Foster's death in December, 1855, continued 
alone until February, 1856, when Delos W^arren purchased the interest 
formerly owned by Mr. Foster. In September, 1856, the veteran editor, 
Mr. Canutt, bought Mr. Whinery's interest, and in May, 1857, bought 
Mr. Warren's interest, and was thus again sole editor and proprietor. 
Politics in the county during the last few years had run high. The 
largest crowd ever in Williamsport up to that time met during the cam- 
paign of 1856, and listened to eloquent orators, from home and abroad, 
upon the leading topics of the day. The population of the county seat 
had almost doubled, and all things combined to extend the circulation 
and usefulness of the Republican, which entered upon a season of great 
prosperity. In September, 1856, as the duties of Mr. Canutt had greatly 
multiplied, and as he was getting well advanced in years, he employed 
W. P. Rhodes, a brilliant young lawyer and forcible writer, to furnish 
regular articles for the paper on the leading subjects of the day. The 
paper went with the new party. Republican, steadfastly maintained its 
doctrines and principles, and did more than anything else to give the 
county a heavy Republican majority. In January, 1860, Mr. Rhodes 
ceased writing for the paper, after which Mr. Canutt remained alone un- 
til his lamented death, in September, 1861. The paper went to his heirs, 
and his son John A. Canutt, assumed control, and W. P. Rhodes was 
employed to write for the paper. Henry F. Canutt became connected 
with the paper in May. 1863. In March. 1864, Orm E. Harper bought 
the office, and Jesse Harper became principal editor and gave the paper 
a strong religious caste. Almost every article written by him, on what- 
ever subject, contained Scriptural quotations and invocations to the 
Deity. In the autumn of 1866, the office passed to the control of a com- 
pany consisting of AVilliam C. Smith, W. P. Rhodes, and W. H. Thomas, 
Rhodes officiatinsr as editor, and Smith as business manager. The com- 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 97 

pany paid $1,700 for the office, and eraployod J. A. Canutt to ])ubli8h 
the paper. In June, 1807, the office was ac^ain sold for iBl,<)<H) to J. A. 
and H. F. Canutt, who published the })aper and employed Dr. G. F. 
Richard.son to act as editor. No other change took place until Febru- 
ary, 1870, when John Gregary, son of Benjamin F. Gregary, one of the 
most worthy and intluential men ever a resident of the county, bought 
the office, and has since remained editor and publisher. The paper has a 
large circulation, and the office an excellent job and advertising patron- 
age. The strong position taken by Mr. Gi-egary on the question of tem- 
perance and un all (pxestions of social and political reform has widely 
extended the usefulness of the Rejmblican. 

Upon the sale of the Repiiblicati in 1870, to Mr. Gregary, the Ca- 
nutt brothers moved to Kansas, where they were connected with the news- 
paper buisness for about twelve years. While there, the elder brother 
died, and in 1882, Henry F. Canutt returned to Williamsport and 
founded the Wabas^h Commercial, reviving the old name which his father, 
Enos Canutt, had bestowed upon the first paper issued in AVilliamsport 
in 1848. Although the paper has just started, the circulation and the 
job and advertising pa ti'onage are fast increasing. In 1871, an Inde- 
pendent Republican paper was started at Williamsport. It was called 
the Warren Leader, but after a few months it expired. 

WEST LEBANON. 

The early history of this flourishing town is somewhat obscure and 
uninteresting. From the fact that it was an inland town, remote from 
any navigable water course, then the great highway along which flowed 
the streams of commerce, it was destined to remain in comparative 
obscurity until steam was harnessed and driven with enormous buidens 
through the heart of the continents. It was one of the first towns in the 
county to be laid oft', but for many years was small, having less than fif- 
teen families. In September, 1880, Eleazur Purviance, John G. Jemi- 
son and Andrew Fleming employed Perrin Kent, Siu-veyor, and laid out 
Lebanon (not West Lebanon), on portions of sections 13 and '24, Town- 
ship 21 north. Range 9 west. Sixty-four lots of the usual size were 
laid out, besides several large outlots. numbered A, B, C and D. The 
old plat shows Front, Main and Water streets, and Walnut. Kent, High, 
Clinton and ('hurch streets. Outlot B was donated for a meeting house, as 
was also Outlot C. The large Outl'>t D, off" some distance from the others, 
was donated by Mr. Jemison for a burying ground. Some time before 
this, however, possibly as early as the fall of 1829, and certainly as early 
as March, 1880. JMr. Jemison had opened a store on the site of the old 
town, with a stock worth about S8(H). He paid SIO for his licen.se. He 
had a general assortment of goods suited to the wants of backwoods peo- 
ple. The Flemings and Purviances were early at the town. For ten or 
twelve years there were not to e.Kceed about a dozen families in the 
place. Thomas R. Vanmeter began selling goods in 1881, his stock in- 
cluding liquors, then about the most profitable commodity. In 1834, 
Andrew Fleming opened a store of " foreign and domestic groceries," 
but tht« following year went into jiartnership with a man named Lyon, 
under the name Lyon & Fleming, and a short time afterward became 
known as Lyon, Fleming & Co. In 1835, Nathan Horner opened up 
with some sort of commodity, just what is not known. It was about this 
time, or perhaps a little before, that Mr. Jemison retired from the mercan- 
tile pursuit. In 188G, Lyon Si Forshay were associated in business, and 



98 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

about the same time William Farnsworth began selling liquor, as did 
also Cummings & Meeker. At this time, the town was as large as at any 
period during the first fifteen years of its history. It had blacksmiths, 
carpenters and other usual artisans and mechanics, and was quite a flourish- 
ing little place. L. D. Northrup was selling goods in 1837. In 1839, 
James M. Dean and Conover & Shaw opened stores of merchandise; 
and in 1841, William Rook commenced with liquor and groceries. Be- 
fore this period the town had begun to rvin down, until, in 1843, ac- 
cording to Dr. Jackson Fleming, there was not a store in the place and 
business enterprise was almost at a standstill. Later in the '40s, it be- 
gan to revive again. Probably John Mick, who opened a store of merchandise 
in 1845, was the first merchant after the town begran to revive. During the 
fall of 1846 or the spring of 1847, the well-known firm of Warren & Pur- 
viance brought a large stock of general merchandise to the town, and 
about a year later !S. F. and W. Messner followed suit. Soon afterward. 
Dr. J. Fleming became connected with the mercantile pursuit, as did 
also John W. Gearing. In 1853, J. M. Rhodifer commenced the same 
pursuit. At this time, Lebanon contained a population of about 150. 
James Sinks was an early cabinet-maker in the town, and a Mr. Stephens 
an early blacksmith. James Rhodifer was an early Postmaster. A man 
named Anderson sold goods late in the '40s. Dickson Fleming was 
associated in business with Dr. Jackson Fleming. In the early part of 
the '50s, they were succeeded by N. S. Brown. Soon after this, the new 
town began to grow at the expense of the old. 

The Railroad Station. — Trains beo-an to run on the railroad recru- 
larly after 1856. A station was obtained aboat a mile north of the old 
town through the influence of the Flemings, Briggses, Purviances, et al. 
Five acres of land were donated for a side track and for station houses, 
and the side track was to be graded along the town, which cost the citi- 
zens $224 only. John Ruark built the first house in the new town about 
1855 and opened a shoe shop. Other early residents of the new town 
were Charles Last, Henry Last, James Stevens, George Carithers, Elijah 
Fleming, Mr. Chaney, John Ross, Cornelius Fleming, Jonas Lowe and 
others. Chaney opened the first store, his stock consisting of groceries 
and provisions. Cornelius Fleming sold dry goods in 1857. Elijah 
Fleming was the first blacksmith. Stephens was the second and Lowe 
the third. George Isler sold dry goods in 1856. Dr. Richardson sold 
the first drugs. Mr. Cubberly sold general merchandise daring the last 
war. Spinnings & Anderson opened the first distinct hardware store in 
the '60s. Subsequent buisness men have been Mr. Swazey, drugs; John 
Pribble, dry goods at)d clothing; Sirenus Tellus. drugs; George Don- 
nelly, drugs; Dr. A. C. Walker, drugs, since 1867; Hastie & Aldrich. 
dry goods; C. S. Sanford, dry goods; Mr. Hopkins, dry goods; John 
Brice, clothing; William Bell, hardware; Edwin Brice, hardware; James 
Goodwin, dry goods; Hai'vey Bonebrake, dry goods; and clothing, Flem- 
ing Brothers. 

Industries. — A company was organized in 1866 and incorporated, 
with a declared capital of $6,000, to build a large steam flouring mill. 
There was a total of twenty-three stockholders, the principal ones being 
Thomas Crone, twenty shares; P. W. Fleming, ten shares; C. V. Flem- 
ing, ten shares; and the others with less interest. The corporate name 
was the " West Lebanon Mill Company." The mill, a frame structure, 
three stories high and 40x50 feet on the ground, was erected and three 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 99 

runs of stone placed therein. The mill started out well, and two years 
aftorward was sold to Bowoi's & Buriine. and not long afterward was ac- 
cidentally destroyed by fire. Mr. Tinkler also started a grist mill early 
in the 'TOs, placing the necessary machinery in the old warehouse. It 
amounted to but little. 

The large wai'ehouse was built in 1857 by Dr. Jackson Fleming. It 
cost $2,500. Large quantities of grain were bought in the early history 
of the new town. Morgan Davis bought many thousands of bushels an- 
nually for a Lafayette company. James McDonald owned the building 
for a time. The Tinklers own the warehouse at present. For a number of 
years George Laub manufactured his own castings for a pump which he 
had patented and was selling. Bateman was one of the grain buyers. 
Ward Sc Cbeseman manufactured buggies and wagons <|uite extensively 
over twenty years ajro. Mr. Bell followed the same occupation, turn- 
ing out between thirty and forty vehicles per year. 

Incorporation. ^-\n the year 1869, West Lebanon, as the new town 
was named, concluded to become incorporated ; whereupon the County 
Commissioners were petitioned to order an election to decide the ({ues- 
tion, which was accordingly done. A majority of votes were cast in fa- 
vor of the project, and the village was duly declare<l to be the incorjio- 
rated town of We.st Lebanon; thus it has remained until the present. The 
tirst trustee.s elected in September, 1869, were R. Preble, F. Ross, J. 
AVard, J. Brown and F. Spinning; Marshal, S. J. Smith; Treasurer and 
Assessor, P. W, Fleming; Clerk, VV. Y. Fleming. The present town 
officers are, Trustees, John Stevens, John Fritz and Warren Fleming; 
Clerk and Treasurer, W. L. Rabourn; Marshal, John Amerman. In 
1870-72, when the new coiu-t house was built. West Lebanon applied 
for the location of the court house and the county seat. Her claims 
were so strong that she succeeded in postponing the erection of the house 
a year or better, and came near wresting the prize from Williamsj>ort. 
Her location was more (central, and had her citizens been as active and 
as generous with donations of land and money as those of Williamsport, 
the result might have been different. 

Neicspaperfi. — The town has not been without its newspaper enter- 
prises. The Lebanon Patriot was issued during the war. The second 
owner was Andrew Hall. The next ventui'e was a seven-column folio, 
called the West Lebanon Adrance, edited by S. P. Conner. The tirst 
issue aj)peared in 1871. Its politics was Republican, and a circulation 
of about 400 was secured. At the exjiiration of about a year, the paper 
passed to Dr. A. C. Walker, Joseph Tinkler and P. W. Fleming, Dr. 
Walker officiating as editor. At the end of alx)ut two years, the Adrance 
became defunct. Its successor was the Gazette, conducted by a Mr. 
Bloomer. It passed to Mr. Rosenburg. when its name became the 
Times. A Methodist minister named Morgan conducted it for a short peri- 
od changing the name to the Conimoniri'allh, after which Dr. Walker again 
put on editorial harness, with Rufus Fleming as partner. After a time, 
it was rented to Shark & Edmunds, of Illinois, but in a few months they 
retired, not having made their fortunes, and a son of Dr. Walker tried • 
his hand at the business. About this time, the name was changed to the 
Statesman. William Olds next rented the sheet and conducted it about 
eighteen months, at the end of which time ho shook the dust of the 
place from his feet, and the organ was sold to A. W, Baker, who ed- 
ited it until about a year and a half ago, when the office was removed to 

LafC. 



100 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Waynesville, 111. Thus ended the series of newspaper enterprises, none 
of which were profitable to the owners. West Lebanon should have a 
newspaper by all means. 

Secret Societies. — In 1858, a lodge of Odd Fellows was instituted at 
Lebanon, and was named Colfax Lodge, No. 109, in honor of Schuyler 
Colfax, who not long before had created the Rebekah Degree in that 
society. R. Hamilton was the first Noble Grand and A. S. Foster the 
first Secretary. The old books of this lodge could not be found, and 
but little can be learned regarding it. This lodge finally ran down 
somewhat and was removed to Marshtield. 

The charter of the Masonic Lodge No. 352, was granted in May, 
1867, with the following charter members: J. M. Fleming, Josiah Wood- 
ward, John Fritz, John W. Brown, John Ray, Isaac Cadwallader, G. S. 
Fleming, N. V. Wire, M. L. Stephenson, W. M. James, J. S. Fleming 
and J. W. Cadwallader. The first officers were J. S. Fleming, W. M.; 
G. S. Fleming, S. W. ; J. M. Fleming, J. W. The present officers are 
A R. Cadwallader, W. M.; B. D. Callaway, S. W.; A. E. Wilson, J. 
W. The present membership is thirty-nine, and the lodge is in a flour- 
ishing condition. 

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of West Lebanon was 
organized in September, 1880, at the residence of Mrs. Ann S. Fleming. 
The early members were the following ladies: Ann S. Fleming, Mrs. 
Cheseman, Mrs. Colton, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Sandford, Mrs. P. W. Flem- 
ing, Mrs. E. E. Hayward, Mrs. S. A. Ward, Mrs. S. Porter, Mrs. James 
Hamilton, Mrs. Dr. Fleming, Mrs. Lower, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. L. L. Cad- 
wallader, Miss Ann E. Fleming and Miss Laura Stevens. The 
first officers were Mrs. J. P. Cheseman, President; Miss Ann E. Flem- 
ing, Secretary; Mrs. William W^ood, Treasurer. The present officers 
are Mrs. V. P. Demott, President; Mrs. J. P. Cheseman, Secretary; 
Mrs. P. W. Fleming, Treasurer. The number of active members at 
present is fifteen. The greatest number at any one time was twenty- 
seven. The organization is in a flourishing condition. 

The population of West Lebanon in 1840 was about fifteen families; 
in 1850 it was about 150 persons; in 1860, about 300; in 1870, about 
500: and in 1880, nearly 700. For thrift, energy and importance, it is 
not excelled by any other town in W^arren County. It has not relinquished 
its claim to the county seat, and may one day be the county metropolis 
and seat of justice. Many think the change of the county seat to West 
Lebanon would centralize the county and largely prevent the constant 
drain of wealth into neighboring counties. 

INDEPENDENCE. 

The presence, in early years, at this place of the French trader Zach- 
ariah Cicott, made the locality famous; not only because the trader had 
considerable money and a great deal of live stock and other personal 
property, but because his personal experience, love of adventure and 
faculty to tell well what he had seen and undergone, made him an at- 
tractive companion for all the hardy and daring old settlers who came to 
the county. They delighted to hear him tell of his own exploits, and 
his contact with the Indians. His presence in the county before and at 
the time of the white settlement caused his cabin to become a great ren- 
dezvous for land speculators, settlers and travelers. Some years before, 
he had married his second wife, a sqaaw of the Six Nations, by whom he 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 101 

had several children. Cicott, then, was the first white man in the coun- 
ty, and for a number of years wielded no little influence, as his property 
and repute made him au object ol interest, esjiecially to those who were 
fortunate enouj^h to be able to get the pecuniary advautaj^e of him in 
trading or selling. It it stated that some of the most prominent men at 
Indepnedence in early years, owed their good fortune in this world's 
goods to the skill with which they fleeced Cicott as he had fleeced 
the Indians. He was an inveterate card player, and lost much of his 
property to those who were bright tmough to trap him. He loved to race 
horses with the whites as well as the Indians. Many of the old settlers 
can yet rememer how he and a number of Indians would wager a heap of 
fine blankets, or a few tine ponies, or other valuable property, and then 
go out a mile or two in the woods and ride back under whip and spur, 
through the bushes and around the trees, all veiling like demons and 
filling the air with curses, until the place fairl}- smelled of brimstone; 
the one getting back first would carry oti' the jirize, and this lucky per- 
son was usually the wily old trader. After the town was laid out, its 
rapid growth, and the location there of men of capital and greater com- 
mercial ability and enterprise, soon cast Cicott in the shade, from which 
he never rose. Ho laid out the town in October, 1832. Ninety-one lots 
were laid out by Perrin Kent, Surveyor, on the "Cicott Reserve," in 
Township 22 north. Range 7 west. The plat shows Marion, "Warren, 
Clay, Washington, Main and Liberty streets, and Water, Second, Third 
and Fourth streets. Whether any other settlers besides Cicott were there 
before the town was laid out, cannot certainly be learned by the writer, 
though the evidence seems to imply that there were They were very few, 
however. Probably the second settler at Independence was Abraham 
Howery, who located there in 1882, and opened a licjuor establishment, 
paying §5 for his license. Then Dr. Lyon came in, and immediately 
afterward David Molfitt appeared, erected the tii-st frame house in town, 
and began the manufacture of hats. After this, the rush in there was 
quite rapid. Jacob Hanes, Rufus Webb, William Farmer, Isaac Way- 
mire, John Evans, Dr. Talman Tripp, Frederick Rittenour, Ann Holstock, 
Daniel Doty, Peter Messmore, Dr. W. G. Montgomery, Dr. "Wade, 
Charles Steadman, Andrew Young. Thomas Julian, Isaac Bunnell, Henry 
Farrell, Elijah Young, Edward S. Coates, Samuel Thomas, John Crow, 
Ailer Perry, Thomas Jefferson, were among the early residents of Inde- 
pendence. Farrell and Young were blacksmiths. Moftitt was a hatter, 
and al.so one of the best hunters and traj^pers ever in the county. He did 
not neglect his business to hunt; at odd times he would shoulder his 
gun, and when he came back, game usually came with him. He ke})t on 
hand a stock of several hundred hats, of the latest backwoods fashion. 
He bought his wool from the few settlers who owned sheep. In a few 
years. Independence became as promising a town as any along the Wa- 
bash. Towns along large water- cournes had the advantage in those days, 
as almost all conuuercial transactions weie confined there. Jacob Hanes, 
in 18;{;}, began selling iccf and dry groceries. A few years later, Josej)h 
Hanes became associated with him. James Hemphill began selling mer- 
chandise in 1885. William Farmer built the first brick house in 1884-8"), 
making the brick himself. Soon after thi.s, Shoup & Tate began buying 
and packing hogs. They bought several hundred during the coMer 
months, jiacked them in bjurols (hat were manufactured at the town or 
near there, and ship[)ed them by flat-boats down the river, and on down, 



102 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

usually to New Orleans, wliere cargo and boats were sold, and the pack - 
ers came back in steamboats. They also bought some grain James 
Hemphill, Newton Morgan and others engaged in this business much 
more extensively. It is probable that early in the '40'8 he packed as 
high as 2,000 hogs during the season, and others there at the same time 
did as well or better; so that, many seasons, from 2,000 to 5,000 hogs were 
slaughtered, packed and shipped on the river from Independence. The 
grain trade was even more marvelous. A much larger country than at 
present sought a market there. There were no railroads then. The river 
was the great highway where vessels, from pirogues to steamboats, draw- 
ing ten or twelve feet of water, were seen daily during the high water 
season. The smaller vessels and the pirogues, and numerous keel boats 
and rafts, were running the year round, going down the river with large 
loads of corn, wheat, oats, wool, pork and beef, and returning with all 
kinds of merchandise and store goods. From 1835 to 1845, Independ- 
ence was one of the best trading points on the I'iver. From 10,000 to 
60,000 bushels of grain were shipped annually. The population in 1840 
was about 350, and in 1842-43 was about 40(); this was the highest flood 
of human beings. But all the industries of the town have not been 
mentioned. Late in the 'SO's, Isaac Bunnell started a carding mill 
and a corn cracker, although the latter really exceeded the modest capac- 
ity of a corn cracker proper, as considerable flour was manufactured, 
though of a rather poor quality. It met a want, however, and was well 
patronized. The present mill there is the legitimate successor of the 
old •' corn cracker." The carding mill, also, met a want, and soon had 
a thriving business, during the wool season. Two or three hands were 
employed. Farmers carried their wool there and had it carded into rolls, 
when it was taken back home and woven into cloth by the pioneer 
mothers. Henderson & Boxley erected a distillery about half a mile 
below the town proper, and began to manufactm-e the best quailty of 
rectified spirits. This was about 1835. They also kept for sale a small 
stock of merchandise, as their old license to sell the same was discovered 
among the old papers in the court house. They gradually increased the 
scoi^eof their business until, within two or three years after starting, they 
were consuming not less than 200 bushels of corn daily, and some think the 
quantity would reach nearer 350 bushels. ' This was a vast business for 
a new country, and an important one also, as it afforded an excellent 
market for corn — a great blessing to the moneyless settlers On the op- 
posite side of the river, in Fountain County, were three or more other 
distilleries, the largest one consuming not less than 500 bushels of corn 
daily. Perhaps all these distilleries within a radius of ten or twelve 
miles, consumed 1,000 bushels of corn each day, or from 300,000 to 365,- 
000 bushels per year. These are, perhaps, too large figures, as certain 
seasons of the year the quantity manufactured was quite small. Every- 
body drank whisky in those days. It was on every mantel-piece. Chil- 
di-en took it for the happy effect, women for the strength and nerve it 
gave them, and men because it inspired them with new life. It was 
taken in warm weather to cool, and in cool weather to warm. And the 
whisky in those days ivas whisky. It had no strychnine, nor coculus 
indicus, nor sulphuric acid, nor other poisons which destroy the delicate 
tissues of the interior membranes'. Old settlers yet living positively 
aver that 'there was less drunkenness in those days than at present. 
Men, women and children were moderate drinkers, and would rarely get 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 103 

intoxicated. They knew when to stop. There was no house-raising, or 
barn-raising, or any public gathering for work where whisky was not 
furnished by the employer. Men who early become im])ressed with a 
sense of the evil, and who endeavored to introduce the custom of house- 
raising or log-rolling without whisky, were left to raise their own houses 
or roll their own logs. Tavern keepers did not pretend to open theii' 
doors without a bar, where whisky could be had for the money. This 
immense demand led to the erection of many distilleries all through 
the country, gave the farmer or mechanic what he regarded as a "neces- 
sity," and also furnished him with a handy market for his corn. The 
Henderson Si Boxley distillery was well patronized for some eight or ten 
years, when it was abandoned. 

This large manufacture of li(jUor led to a strong and steady demand 
for baiTels, and numerous cooper shops arose, in consequence. Samuel 
Thomas began the work as early as ] 835-30, and for several years, or 
while the great demand continued, turned out about 1,000 kegs, whisky 
barrels, slack hogsheads annually. He gave five or six men constant 
employment. Jacob Harmon and Jesse Tumbleson bought cattle all over 
the county, and drove them through to Baltimore or New York; later. 
Chicago became the market. James Young opened up a harness and 
saddlery shop, which he conducted on qiiite an extensive scale. Isaiah 
and AVilliam Young started the old tannery with some twenty vats, and, 
soon had a thriving business. Much of their leather was used in the 
harness shop of Mr. James Young. Ryan & Smith and Julian &, Ritten- 
our were grain buyers from about 1838 onward. The latter firm built a 
large warehouse across the river, on the canal. Fred Rittenour built a 
large flouring mill in town about 1846, but imfortunately it was soon 
destroyed by tire. He did a big business for about three years. Peter 
Messmore and Henry AVilson were merchant tailors of Independence in 
early years. So great was the rush into t^ie town before 1837, that in 
the spring of that year Joseph Hanes found it profitable to lay out an 
addition to the town, which was done above and adjoining the original 
plat. John Bunnell sold goods, beginning in 1836, and about the same 
time William Meeks opened a grocery. A few months later, IM. M. Mil- 
ford opened up with a stock of merchandise worth about SI, 000. James 
Hemphill conducted a general store, as well as his pork-packing and 
grain buying. Henry Lowrey opened a store as early as 183(3. Henry 
Miller was among the first tavern keepers; he kept licjuor at his bar. 
Rufus Webb, Edward S. Coates and the firm "NVolls & Bradley started 
three good general stores in 1837. Talman Tripp kept the ferry across 
the river. The travel then was very great, and a ferry on a well-traveled 
highway was a profitable source of revenue. Hundreds of teams, draw- 
ing huge wagons that had come from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, 
Kentucky and other States, loaded with household goods and weary, 
hungrj'-looking settlers, often had to wait their turn before they could 
cross. Hotels sprang into existence to accommodate the demand. The 
purchase and transfer of land were a daily talk. SjK'Culators were pres- 
ent with tempting offers of money at high rates of interest; to be given 
for first mortgages, that wer<» tantamount to downright sales. Everybody 
was busy. Edward K. Wilson opened a store in 183't), but he soon went 
into partnership with Mr. Hemphill, under the style of Henii)hill & 
Wilson. They had a large stock. John Crow was selling liquor and 
groceries in 1842. Clark &, Ogilvie did the same with a general stock 



104 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTV. 

of merchandise at the same time. Crow changed his stock to merchan- 
dise in 1843. Jacob Doty was ferryman in 1843. James Wilson began 
merchandising in 1844. Coates was yet in the same business, and prob- 
ably at that time had the largest stock in town. Peter H. Messmore was 
selling liquor in 1844. John E. Walker opened a general store in 1845. 
Coates, James Wilson, Samuel Ogilvie, Fred Rittenoar, Messmore, and 
perhaps some of the others, were still selling goods in 1845. Thompson 
& Barlow began in 1846, as did J. Williams and J. M. Austin. Coates 
& Clark held forth in 1849. John B. Yeager came in with goods in 
1850, as did J. W. Bunnell, P. E. Abbott, A. G. Young, M. L. Clark. 
John Ryan, Peter Lobdy, Henry Welch, J. Killenbarger, G. F. Has- 
tings, T. P. Fulton, within the next two years. Henry Welch was ferry- 
man in 1855. 

It was duriiig the forties, while the travel northward through Inde- 
pendence was very great, that a company was formed to build a bridge 
over the Wabash at Independence. A large subscription was raised, but 
after the work was begun the project was abandoned, as the subscribers 
failed to respond according to contract. Another abortive enterprise 
was the attempt to raise means to build a side cut canal. Timber was 
gotten out, and money was subscribed, but at length the work was post- 
poned and finally stopped. A few years later, or in 1850, the plank road 
company undertook to extend their toll route from the town northward 
to the county line, in the direction of Oxford; but this scheme, after a 
few miles of plank had been laid, shared the fate of the side cut canal 
and the bridge. Independence enjoys the distinction of having had the 
first newspaper in the county, an account of which may be found else- 
where in this volume. It was started in 1844, when the town was at 
the height of its prosperity and promise, and when but few neighboring 
towns could boast of greater activity in trade. After about 1850, the 
town began to take its destined place. Like Rome, it could not die im- 
mediately, but lingered long in the lap of its former greatness and grand- 
eur, loth to become extinct, like the crater of some pre-hisioric volcano 
whose activity had forever stopped. Its decadence was gradual, extend 
ing to the present time. Among the business men of the last five-and- 
twenty years are David James, Thomas Julian, Bryan & Smith, Isaac 
Julian, John and Robei^t Lank, John Clawsim, Newlin Yount, Dr. Reed, 
Joseph McFerren, William Adair, Jasper McClatchy, who conducts a 
saw mill, Isaac Colly er, who conducts the old grist mill with water from 
the old spring, and manj others. The present population is about two 
hundred. 

STATE LINE CITY. 

This town derived much of its early growth and importance from its 
location at the junction of the two old branches of the Wabash Railroad — 
in fact, it owes its existence to the construction of the road. Its growth 
during the first five or six years was rapid, and for a time the town 
promised to become a foi*midable ,i'ival in population, enterprise and 
wealth of Danville, 111. In June, 1857, Robert Casement, who had just 
purchased the land, employed a surveyor, and laid out about thirteen 
blocks of eight lots each, besides one block for a public square — the same 
upon which the new schoolhouse now stands. This was scarcely accom- 
plished before A. P. Andrews and John Brier, who had been selling 
goods northwestward in Illinois about three miles, removed their store 
— building and all — to the town. William Van Horn had been living 



HISTOKY OF WARREN COUNTY. 105 

on the town site for a number of years before this. Andrews <& Brier 
wore soon joined by Barkley, and about the same time by Ross, both of 
whom ojjened small stores of j^eneral merchandise. William Toole 
erected his dwellini^, and Ix^i^an dealini; out liquor and a few gi*oceries. 
The railroad companies had erected depots and eatinj^-houses, and for 
a number of years passengers were furnished with a substantial meals or 
a luncheon. Freight of every description was transferred, and the work 
thus made necessary rec^uired the attention of numerous employes. Numer- 
ous buildings were erected to accommodate the rush; hotels were opened, 
and saloons began to deal out their infernal liquid. The town gained a 
hard name, mainly by reason of the pi'esence of a rough class of railroad 
and other hands, who would drink and carouse with bacchanalian delight, 
often until nearly morning. 

Among the early residents and business men were A. P. Andrews, 
William Edenburn, Patrick Cavanagh, L. A. Andrews, Dr. A. M. Porter, 
B. F. Marple, J. P. Lucas, John Brier, David Mead, Uriah Cleveland, 
Samuel Andrews. Dr. Foy, Andrew Van Allen, J, H. Barkley, David 
Frazier, Charles Pratt. Luke Riley, Robert Casement. James HoUister, 
John Crane, William Dennison, Harry Ross, S. C. Boyd, Michael Griffin, 
William Jones and many others. Frasier kept the railroad eating-house, 
and Pratt kept hotel at tirst, but later became town butcher. Riley and 
Boyd kept boarding-houses. Andrews. Brier, Bariley and Ross sold 
dry goods, groceries and general merchandise. Casement and Hollister 
were grain buyers. Van Allen was car repairer. Dennison and Crane 
kept saloons, as did Cavanagh, who is yet in the same biisiness. Mar- 
ple soon went into the drug business, which he yet continues. He is one 
of the best citizens of the town. Porter, the first doctor, yet ministers 
to the bodily welfare of the inhabitants. Among the later business men 
have been Ross & Hardy, J. W. Villers, Wright &, Denny, Brit- 
tingham tSc Delay, Whitehead & Asbury, J. R. & G. W. John- 
son, Oliver Osborn, Mr. Lyons, John Stephens, C, R. Dubois, George H. 
Lucas, Taylor & Son, T. H. Stephens, M. P. Sennett, B. F. Bonebrake, 
William Barger, Mr. Dowler, A. R. Simpson and David Shepard. Will- 
iam Kent established a grain warehouse very early, as did Mr. Case- 
ment. The quantities of grain bought were enormous, and probably, 
during some seasons, exceeded 200. 000 bushels. Teams would stand 
waiting their turn until the drivers had replenished their stock of pa- 
tience by fiequent potations, during certain intervals, at the dram shops. 
It seemed easier, for them to wait after that — the drivers, not the teams. 
Care, with heavy wings, Hew away, and Mirth, with laughing face, 
touched the heart with delight. The profits of the sales of grain were 
often left in the possession of ye dram seller. And the grain buyers 
made money. 

Each of the two railroads, in about 1858 or 1859, built a round 
house, where engines and cars were stored and cared for. The presence 
of these shops was alone sutHcient to insure the town a considerable 
population. In fact, State Line City, with its big stores, its immense 
grain trade, its hotels and saloons, its transfer of freight and passengers, 
its round houses and depots and its seminar}', was at the pinnacle of its 
activity, ])romiHe and prosperity. This was during the period from 
about 185U to about 1807; the highest |)opulation, including the Hoating 
railroad men, being about 550. It was a lively scene at the depot when 



106 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

passenger trains came steaming in, and unloaded their burdens of mis- 
cellaneous, though homogeneous, humanity. 

Mound Lodge, No. 274, F. & A. M., was instituted in May, 1861, and 
for several years worked without a charter. Among the early members 
were Walker Hurd, William Jones, W. M. Dixon, David Frasier, A. M. 
Porter, J. R. Johnson, A. J. Lyon, J. D. Ludlow and Adam Myers. 
Walker Hurd was the first Master. The lodge is doing well, has valu- 
able property and a large membership. Simmons Lodge, No. 240, Odd 
Fellows, was instituted in May, 1865, with the following first members: 
John Simmons, Divan Smalley, R. S. Burke, Thomas S. Jones and John 
M. Knox. In 1868, the name was changed from Simmons to lUiana. 
John Simmons was the first Noble Grand, Burke Vice Grand, and Knox 
Secretary. A Rebekah degree was started in May, 1875, but died out. 
The lodge is in a prosperous condition. 

PINE VILLAGE. 

This is younger than most of its sister towns. It was laid out in 
about 1851, by Isaac and John R. Metsker, owners and proprietors, 
Perrin Kent doing the surveying. Daniel Connell erected the first 
dwelling, and began working at the blacksmith trade. Soon afterward. 
Woods & Fisher opened a store in the Connell dwelling, the stuck 
being worth about §1,700. Mr. Woods did not deal fairly with his 
partner, and a rupture between the two transferred the goods to Mr. 
Fisher, and Mr. Woods left the county and State within a few months 
after the store had been established. Mr. Woods built the second house 
in town before leaving. S. C. Fisher built the third house, and for 
about eight years conducted one of the best stores ever in Pine Village. 
At one time, his goods were worth about $5,000, and his trade was large 
and lucrative. He made money, and finally established himself as a 
practitioner of the law at the county seat, where he now lives, respected 
and honored. Newton Morgan opened the second store, not long after 
W^oods & Fisher began, placing his stock in a storeroom which William 
Moon had erected. Among those who built early in the town were Frank 
Hegler, J. M. Swadley, G. W. Freeman, James B. Rowan and others. 
Among the business firms were Kern & Julian, Julian & Julian, John 
Smith, Swadley & Thomas, Campbell & Pievson, Martindale & Little, 
John Shawcross, James B. Rowan, Vance & Wiggins, the Turners, 
Ichabod Boyer, John Craig, Dr. William Messner & Son, Fenton & 
Buckley, R. C. Clark, Nelson Metsker, A. H. Haun, yet in business, 
George Smith, T. J. Farden, Frederick Cain, W. E. Wakeman, H. W. 
Wagner, A. P. Rowan, J. B. Rowan, J. F. Rowan, yet in business; 
Haun & Farden, the Messners, Rhode & Cobb, McCord & Cobb, Rowan 
& Kigor, Daniel Bell, harness, in 1861, Fentou & Literal, Fisher, Gun- 
kle; James Swadley, manufactured wagons and is yet in the business. 
Anderson & Hall, built a large grist mill in 1800, at a cost of $5,000. 
It was an excellent mill, but for some reason did not do well after about 
six years, and the greater portion of it was finally removed to West Leb- 
anon. It was built, largely, by subscription of the citizens. 

About six years ago, Fenton & Buckles established a brick and tile 
factory south of town, which has continued to furnish large quantities 
of material in its line. The demand is growing stronger, as is also the 
factory. Mr. Buckles is the sole owner at pi-esent. S. C. Fisher built 
the hotel (now the Union House) about 1853, and a man named John 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 107 

Ferguson rented it and became lirst " mine host. " The cognomen of 
the hotel was " Oui- House." John F. Sale is the present landlord. 
Among the Postmasters have been Vance, Henry Webb, J. B. Rowan, 
Dr. AVilliam Messner, A. P. Eowan. A. H. Haun, Y. F. Turman, Miss 
Mary Turman, J. B. Rowan, Frank Rowan, John Wagner and William 
R. Streets, tbe present agent of Uncle Sam. Among the physicians have 
been Jones, Lacey, Hall, Harbinson, Messner (two), Demming, Kidney, 
Pike, and Fenton; and McMullou at present. A man named Haven con- 
ducted a lumber yard for about one year. A few years ago, Haun & 
Haven began issuing a small advertising sheet, which met with such 
encouragement that A. P. Rowan was induced to extend the scope of the 
enterprise, and soon afterward issued (|uite a little paper. It was newsy, 
bright, and pleased the citizens very much; but after a few issues, when 
the novelty of having a paper published in the town wore off, the in- 
clination to pay any money to assist the entei'prise also wore off, and 
Rowan was compelled to suspend the issue. People were anxious to 
have H;he sheet continued, were perfectly willing to read it without being 
solicited or paid for so doing, but when they were expected to pay 
something in return- -were asked to reach down in their breeches pockets 
for greenbacks — such an intimation met with a chilling negation. The 
frozen disdain with which they met such a proposition would have put 
to shame a book agent or an historian. And no wonder! The price of 
subscription was SI per annum! 

The Knights of Honor established a lodge in town about four years 
ago, the following being the charter members: S. C. Fenton, W. T. 
Wagner, W. R. Streets, A. H. Haun, W. H Smith, Jonathan Howell, 
S. H. Eberley, G. M. Smith, Samuel Thomas, R. G. Odle, Thomas 
Farden, N. S. Ogburn, James Metsker, and J. B. Rowan, \\ . T. Wag- 
ner was lirst Dictator and R. G. Odle Secretary. Eli Fenters is the 
present Dictator; Dr. Fenton, Secretary, and A. J. Eberly, Treasurer. 
The present membership is fourteen. Mrs. Sarah Swadley was the first 
milliner in town. Mrs. Elizabeth Ambler is the present milliner. John 
Driimmond was probably the first butcher. Ambler & Smith hold forth 
as such at present. For many years, the town has been without a saloon. 
One was started, but proved to be unprofitable. About twelve years ago, 
the old fair ground, just south of town, was transformed into a camp- 
meeting ground. A large shed was erected, and other accommodations 
were provided. Annually the ground is used for this pui-pose. For the 
past fifteen years, W. W. Fenton has sold sewing machines, with head- 
quarters in Pine Village. His sales are large. A. H. Haun has been 
buying grain for the last two or throe years. He is getting ready for the 
railroad, which is sure to pass within reasonable distance of the village. 
This is one of the finest little towns in Northwestern Indiana. The citi- 
zens are intelligent, moral and enterprising. The present po[)ulation is 
almost 250, 'but this will be doubled when the iron horse visits the 
town. 

MILFORD OR GREEN HILL. 

This beautiful little village was laid out in March, 1882, by Will- 
iam B. Bailey, proprietor, on the west half of the northwest quarter of 
Section 28, Township 28 north. Range (5 we-st, and comprised forty-eight 
lots, with East and Main streets, and Pine, Center and Warren stre(»ts. 
Ezekiel Timmons was sui'veyor. Horatio Bailey had something to do 

7 



108 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

with laying out the town, which was named for a town in Delaware — 
Milford. Alvin Potter and Joseph Timmons bnilt houses about the 
same time in the village, and probably soon after the lots were laid out. 
Lorenzo Westgate opened the first store in 1833, placing his small stock 
of goods in the Timmons building. Thomas Literal began to sell liquor 
in 1836, and at the same time Nathan H. Biddleuome came in with a 
general stock of goods. This man was thefii'st Postmaster. Among the 
other early residents were Joseph Gray, a shoe-maker, William Jerman, 
John Peniwell, Thomas Shockley, John Patterson, who kept a store after 
Westgate, Newton ^Morgan, also a store for many years, Nathan Worley, 
Joseph Thompson, the first tavern-keeper, Frederick Fenton, a cabinet- 
maker, Abraham Timmons and Jonathan Bailey, both of whom kept 
cabinet shops, made coffins, etc.; John Ward, the first blacksmith; James 
Stewart, who sold groceries; William Morgan; Selby Timmons, a shoe- 
maker; Clem Watkins; Hiram Nichols, a tavern-keeper; John Cowgill, 
who conducted a tannery; Lemuel Cowgill, a shoe-maker; Zed Lewis; 
George Scott, a blacksmith; Stephen Moore, a wagon-maker; Dr. Poole, 
the first resident physician, after whom the first post office — Poolesville 
— was named; Henson Watts; Aaron Stephenson, whose murder a few 
months ago so excited the little village; William Virgin, who conducted 
a tannery; George Harris, a tavern-keeper; William Jones, a tailor; 
Asa Robb, a shoe maker; Dr. Osborn and many others. Marshall M. 
Milford sold merchandise as early as 1836. Newton Morgan, who had 
previously lived a short distance north of the village, opened his store in 
1838. It is said that his first goods were obtained from Chicago. He 
drove a small herd of cattle to that market, but was compelled to take 
considerable commercial paper in payment. While there, he found that 
while merchants would not cash the notes for anything near what they 
were worth, they were willing to take the same at a small discount for 
goods. He therefore traded them for goods, but was obliged to en- 
VJorse all the notes. It is said that, fifteen years later, some of those 
notes came to him for payment, on account of his indorsement. He es- 
tablished his stoje with the goods, but continued to live on his farm. 
Every morning he would ride his toagh little white horse, "Joe," down 
to the store, where the animal would stand all day without food, and at 
night horse and rider would return on the gallop — always on the gallop — 
and yet the pony was sleek and fat. Morgan packed some pork, and 
bought large numbers of cattle, which were driven east into Ohio, where 
they were disposed of to be fatted for the Eastern market. His goods 
came by river or canal to Independence, whence they were conveyed to 
Milford by wagon. He established branch stores at Rainsville and Pine 
Village, and made his fortune by judicious management. At his death 
in 1857, he had amassed a fortune of about $60,000. He owned valu- 
able property in La Fayette. For years he was the principal business man 
in the northeastern part of the county. James Stewart's grocery store 
was established in ]838. A. S. Smith sold goods in 1841. Biddlecome 
was in the mercantile business in 1850, but whether he continued from 
the time he first established his store until then, cannot be learned with 
certainty. Peniwell & Shockley started a store early in the forties, but 
broke up in a few months. John Truitt sold whisky early. Henry Fos- 
ter and John Dougherty conducted stores, the former during the forties 
and the latter after the death of Morgan. Westgate boarded at Mr. 
Bailey's, just north of town, for a time after he had first started his 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 109 

store. He was a sensitive fellow, ami a threat lover of the sublime effects 
of alcohol whoa troul)le arose. Mrs. Pratt, whose maiden name was 
Bailey, tells that when the wonderful meteoric shower occurred, in No- 
vember, 1838. AVestgate was terribly frightened, and really thought the 
day of judgment was at hand. He took to whi.sky to drown his anxiety, 
and for two weeks, wallowed in a continual debauch. The world did not 
end, but the protracted drunk did, and Westgate came out like the boy 
after the mule had kicked him — wiser, but not so handsome. 

The Hague Brothers sold goods during the rifties. Other merchants 
have been the Franklin Brothers; iSamuel Bittinger, an excellent man, 
now in business at the county seat, sold goods during the last war. He 
owns a farm near Green Hill, upon which is an enormous mound, the 
reputed work of the pre-historic Mound-Builders; but the writer of this 
chapter, after an examination of the mound and surroundings, is satisfied 
that it is a natural, though peculiar formation, due to the action of Little 
Pine Creek and its tributaries, probably thousands of years ago. Mr. 
Bittinger has often refused to have it opened. It is about forty feet 
high, and several hundred feet in basial diameter. Other business men 
have been Thomas C. Bailey, Lewis Le>vis, Elijah Dawson, Cummins & 
Whistler, T. M. Davis, W. R. Slaughter. Simeon Thompson, George 
Thompson, John W. James, William Timmons, Wallace Bailey, Dr. A. 
J. Adams, T. W. J. Sullivan, Dr. A. V. Moore. John and Zed Lewis 
burned brick early. Elijah Holloway made chairs, commencing before 
1845. Obed Ward sold goods for a time since 1845. Among the physi- 
cians have been Hillis, Birch, Frankebarger, Stephens. Pressley. Sanders, 
ChenHweth, Lowery, Edwards and the present Drs. Vick, Moore and 
Gray. Among the Postmasters have been Biddlecome, Morgan, Samuel 
Bittinger, Hemy Foster, Thomas Davis, and the present agent, Thomas 
Bailey. William and Horatio Bailey conducted a saw mill as early as 
1835-36. It was the iisual old fashioned mill, operated by water- 
power on Little Pine Creek. It ran for about twelve years, and fur- 
nished the lumber for all the early houses. 

Several secret societies have been established in the town — Odd I'el 
lows. Masons, Good Templars, and perhaps others. The real name of 
the town, until about 1S()1), was Milford; but at tliat date the citizens 
decided at the polls that the town should be incorporated, and at this time, 
largely through the influence of the United Bi-ethren, it was designated 
Green Hill. The incorporation led to cleanliness and to sidewalks, 
either of boards or gravel, largely the latter. There is not a brick build- 
ing in the town except the seminary. For the last thirty or forty years, 
there has been no liquor sold except once for about six months, when a 
man who had undertaken the business was compelled to shut up shop, 
as he received scarc(dy any patronage. The town has a present popula- 
tion of over two hundred. 

RAINSVILLE. 

This village was laid out in April. 1833, by Isaac Rains, proprietor, 
on the northwest (juarter of Section 27. Township 23 north, Range 8 
west. Nine blocks of eight lots each were surveyed, the plat showing 
East, Jackson, Main and Bridge streets, and Water, Second. Third and 
Fourth streets. Some time before this, probably as early as 1832, Mr. 
Rains had come to the place, had located his mill site, and had erected 
a rude frame dwelling from boanls sawed at the saw mill he had just 
fiDished. His dam was located above the present bridge, and was so 



110 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

imperfect that it was often washed away, thus suspending the operation 
of his mill and perplexing the settlers with inconvenience. On the hill 
south of town, he found a granite bowlder, which had been split by a 
level surface into two equal fragments. These he dressed and fitted in 
one apartment of his mill, to grind corn and wheat for the settlers. It 
is said he furnished quite a respectable article of flour, and his meal 
could not be beat. He did good work at his saw mill also. Both mills 
were very convenient for the settlers in that vicinity, as it saved long 
journeys through bottomless I'oads with poor teams to distant mills. 
Among the other early residents of the town were Michael Creekpaum, Sam- 
uel Harris, Granville Davis, Jesse Harlan, a carpenter, John Bartlett, 
Thomas BaHlett, M. H. Lewis, a blacksmith, Abraham Howery, a tailor, 
Dr. I. W. Smith, John Brown, James Wilson, Joseph Smith, a wagon- 
maker, Joseph Cowgill, a tanner, and James Piatt, a blacksmith. G. 
W. Literal sold liquor in Rainsville as early as March, 1884, at which 
time he was licensed to thus sell by the County Board. He did not re- 
main longer, probably, than during the year 1834. In the autumn of 
1835, Samuel Harris & Co. opened a store of general merchandise, 
valued at about $1,000. About the same time, or a little later, Chester 
Clark did likewise. Michael CreekpauQi opened a tavern, from the bar 
of which he sold liquor. In November, 1836, Thomas Clawson began selling 
merchandise, and at the same time M. H. Lewis opened a store or saloon of 
" wet and dry groceries." A man named Bushnell was in about this time 
for a few months with goods. At this time, also, N. Blue was dealing 
out liquor a mile or so above Rainsville, on the creek, and John H. Bart- 
lett was doing likewise at his distillery a mile below to^^n. Whisky was 
thought then to be one of the " necessities of life." Levi Douthil 
opened a saloon (that was not the name then) in about 1 837. At the 
same time, M. H. & M. M. Milford were licensed to " vend foreign and 
domestic merchandise." John H. Bartlett removed his liquor establish- 
ment to Rainsville, where he made a great deal of money. Samuel Har- 
ris still sold merchandise. Mr. Cowgill was doing quite an extensive 
business at his tannery. He manufactured a few horse collars, and sup- 
plied the shoe-makers, for miles around, with leather. Mr. Bartlett' s 
sale of " spirituous and strong liquors" was so great that he was re- 
quired to pay an annual license of $25. This was in about 1838. His 
relative, Jefferson Bartlett, opened a store of merchaadise in 1838. 
Jesse Harlan sold liquor in 1839. Lyon & Aldrich began selling mer- 
chandise in 1839. Creekpaum still conducted his tavern and saloon, and 
Samuel Harris his general store. Abner Evans opened a general store 
in 1840. Francis Bowington established a tavern in 1840. Aldrich 
was alone in the general store in 1840, Lyon having left. In 1844, Mc- 
Murtrie & Porter were licensed to sell general merchandise; in 1845, G. 
F. Hoffman the same, and in 1847 Lewis Taylor the same. In 1848, 
Mabie's Circus was advertised to show at Rainsville, but for some reason 
did not till the appointment. In 1850, Mr. Hoffman took his brother 
for a partner. Joseph Smith sold liquor in 1851. Newton Morgan es- 
tablished a branch store at Rainsville in 1852. Earl & Jacobs began 
the mercantile pursuit in April, 1853. At this time the Hoffman 
Brothers were doing a big business. In 1840, Rainsville had a popula- 
tion of about eighteen families. It was then a " hard place," owing to 
the boisterous couduot of drunken men, who were habitually seen reeling 
around the town engaged in tipsy fights. The venerable old settler, 



HISTOKY OF WARREN COUNTY. Ill 

Wesley, Gray, says that on one occasion be himself rode on horseback 
into a saloon there, pouro.l out a glass of whisky, tossed it off, and then 
rode out and went on his way. It is stated that Rainsville has never 
seen the time when whisky could not be obtained from some " shebang" 
within its limits. The Indians used to go there often for "fire-water," 
but they were less noisy and quarrelsome than the whites. 

H. &. C. Gregory were selling goods in 1851; also Henry Jacobs and 
Newton Morgan. John Shawcro.ss began in 1857; he is yet in business, 
and is one of the siibstantial men of the town. Woodlin & Coffin suc- 
ceeded Jacobs about a dozen years ago. Other business men of the town 
have been Hoffman &; Nern during the war. James F. Brown. AV. F. 
Nern, John Nern. Frank Hoffman and Brown & Crabb. Among the 
later doctors have been Isaac Smith, Steinbel, McCaru, Hamar, E. L . 
Booth. Wycoff, Armstrong, Page. Christly, Osborn and Hoffman. 
Among the Postmasters have been W. F. Hoffman, G, W. McCarn, Jacobs, 
Joseph Shawcross, -Hoffman, Bartlett. Brown and John Shawcross. Larson 
& Sandel opened a shoe store in 1882. Newton Ogburn manufactured 
wagons. E. Nostrum follows the same pursuit now. James Hawkins 
built the present big grist mill some forty years ago Ten or twelve 
years later, it passed to John Carpentei*. Twelve or fifteen years ago, 
James Wilson purchased it. It has been an excellent mill in its day. 
Its flour is not surpassed. 

In 1875, the Knights of Honor organized a lodge in the town. The 
charter members were Daniel Sigler, S. N. Osborn, John Coffinberrv, C. 
B. Thompson, S. H. Hickman, J. M. Hooker, K H. Wycoff, W. H. H. 
Heed and James Hooker. Daniel Sigler was the first Dictator. F. M. 
Jones was the first initiate. A Temple of Honor was established about 
eight years ago, and for a time flourished with a large membershiji. It 
became defunct after a few years. The Odd Fellows established a lodge 
about thirty years ago. They are now in good circumstances; own a 
building in which is their tine hall. The Knights of Honor own the upper 
story of the schoolhouse, where they meet to familiarize themselves with 
tlie delightful pleasure of riding the goat. The Masonic lodge was or- 
ganized in 1864. It is No. 315. Among the first members were Peter 
Garner, Joshua Anderson, William Rhode, William Brier, E. L. Booth, 
W. Rhode, Caleb Rhode; J. M. Rhode and others. AV^illiam Rhode was 
the first W. M. The lodge is in good condition, with an active member- 
ship. The present population of the town is about one hundred. 

M.\RSHFIELD. 

This town owes its origin and permanence to the railroad. In ancient 
times, civilization sought the sea, or the larger streams, that would float 
vessels engaged in commerce. Inland towns were compelled to re- 
sort to wagons, mules, camels, etc. Bat when steam was harue.ssed, and 
made to propel enormous burdens on a net work of iron roads through 
the hearts of the continents, a revolution in commercial modes and facil- 
ities largely altered the customb that had been in vogue from time im- 
memorial. Towns sprang into existence without regard to location on 
streams or bodies of water. Old towns, of great former commercial 
power, were avoided by the iron horse, and soon fell into desertion and 
decay, reluctantly yielding their accumulated wealth and grandeur in 
building up the new along the iron roads. The rails had no sooner been 
laid across Warren County than the town of Mar.shfield was laid out. 



11"^ HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

It was named for the residence of the " Great Expounder" of tlie Con- 
stitution, Daniel Webster. Some ten blocks, of eight lots t^ach, were 
laid out north of the railroad in May, 1857. The plat, as recorded, 
does not state the name of the man laying out the town — that is, the 
name of the proprietor. The only house near the site of the town, pre- 
vious to this, was that of Elijah Cronkiiite, which had been built many 
years before. About the time the lots were laid out, W. L. and Robert 
Hamilton erected a frame dwelling — the one now occupied by the fam- 
ily of the former, and Kent & Hitchens erected a warehouse, completing 
the same before the 1st of June, at which time they had contracted to 
have the building ready for the receipt of grain. They also built their 
two-storied frame building, into which they placed between $4,000 and 
$5,000 worth of goods. This was the first store, which was opened in 
October, 1857. The Hamilton building was used as a boarding-house. 
Among the early residents were James Shanklin, Daniel Forsher, Walter 
B. Miller, John Nail, Isaac Julian, Al. Green, Talbot and others. Mr. 
Nail was a blacksmith and wagon-maker, and is yet following the same 
calling in the village. Mr. Miller began selling from a general stock of 
goods, as did Isaac Julian soon afterward. Orin Aborn was the first 
doctor. He is now a resident of the village, though he lived for a num- 
ber of years in Indianapolis. He is a man of great force of character 
and one of the ablest physicians in the county. Mr. Hitchens left Marsh- 
field in 1859, and the Kent Brothers assumed his business. The Hamil- 
tons, who had been wood contractors on the railroad from Lebanon to 
State Line City, began to sell agricultural implements when the village 
first started, and W. L. is yet in the business. These men, who were 
carpenters, erected the greater number of the buildings, not only in town, 
but throughoat all the surrounding country. They were building contract- 
ors, and some years did an aggregate business of about $25,000. 

But one of the most important features during the early history of the 
town was the grain trade. Mr. Hamilton told the writer that from 
250,000 to 300,000 bushels of grain were bought there annually, for 
several of the earliest years; while a citizen living a short distance north, 
who was frequently in town at that period, thought the quantity would 
reach 400,000 bushels. Elisha Hitchens, one of the buyers, who is at 
present Postmaster at Williamsport, stated that, as a matter of fact, not 
more than about 175,000 bushels were bought any one year. This il- 
lustrates how easily people may be mistaken. Bat the quantity actually 
bought was certainly enormous. A long line of teams, perhaps a hiin- ' 
dred or more, would stand some days waiting their turn to unload. . The 
facilities for weighing and handling grain were not as perfect as at pres- 
ent, and the accumulation of teams, many of which had to remain until 
after midnight, created an impression not supported by the actual state 
of facts. After the expiration of eight or ten yeai's, the Kents ceased to 
buy grain, and W. L. Hamilton began, and is yet buying and shipping. 
A sheller, run by steam, is operated in connection with the warehouse. 
James McDonald was in town early with a stock of goods, as was the firm 
Gundy & Kerr. The Hamiltons built the Perrin House for J. Q. A. 
Perrin, who yet owns the building. Frank Brown began merchandising 
a few years later. Frank Baum was in with <Jrugs, and Jonas Baum. 
Albert Johnson and J. P. Stinespring with groceries. David Holtz 
came with his commodity comparatively early. 

Id 1800, Colfax Lodge, No, 109, I. O. O. F., was removed from West 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 113 

Lebanon to Marslitield. Here it met until about 180."), when its charter 
n-as Kun-endered, and the lodge became a thing of the past. In 1873, 
Hedrick Lodge, V. D., F. ct A. M. , wan instituted, with the following 
lirst officers: C. W. Osborn, W. M. ; Edwin Pechin, 8. ^V. ; H. Ander- 
son, J. W. ; J. E. Hedrick, Treasurer; H. C. John.son, Secretary; E. S. 
Johns, J. D. ; A. B. Cronkhite, S. D. ; W. L. Hamilton, Tiler. 

BALTIMORE. 

This to.vn was laid out in November, 1829. on the southwest fraction 
of the north half of Section 21, Township 20 north, Range 9 west, by 
William Willmeth and Samuel Hill, by his attorney, owners and pro- 
prietors. A portion of one square was reserved for a market-place. An 
addition was laid out soon afterward on the north, from which a portion 
of one lot was reserved for a public spring of good water, and a square 
on the west for a " school and meeting house." This old town has been 
so long defunct that great difficulty was (Experienced in getting accurate 
information regarding it. It was situated on the bank of the Wabash, 
in Mound Township, and had a wharf where vessels landed and loaded 
their cargoes of freight and humanity. In November, 1828, just a year 
before the town was laid out, William and Charles Willmeth had 
opened a store on the site of the village, paying $10 for their license. 
Their goods were worth something over §800, and consisted uf a general 
assortment. In 1830, Samuel Hill, one of the proprietors of the town, 
came on with goods worth $2,500, for the sale of which he was required 
to pay a license of $15. This was the largest and best stock of goods in 
the coxmty at the time. W^illiam Hall began to sell liquor in March, 
1832, and Abijah B. W^atson succeeded him the following autumn. 
George Hobbs was selling liquor and groceries after March, 1834. Be- 
fore this, in September, 1831, Richard Taylor had opened a store of 
general merchandise. His license, the following year, was $17, show- 
ing that his stock of goods was valued at nearly $3,000. George F. 
Taylor obtained an intere.st in the store the following year. In 1835, 
the goods became the property of Taylor &, Cunningham. Sophia B. 
Weaver sold wet and dry groceries in 1835. John McConoell sold 
groceries in 1830. At the same time, Willmeth & Hobbs wore selling 
merchandise. In 1837, A. & E. Rogers engaged in the mercantile pur- 
suit. The Beckets were selling liquor as early as 1832, but soon changed 
their stock to merchandise. Alfred Becket was alone in 1838. Samuel 
Wetzell was licensed to sell goods in 1839. J. B. King and others re- 
monstrated against granting the license to Wetzell, on th« ground that 
he kept a disorderly house, but he was tinally licensed by the County 
Board for $37. It is stated that he conducted a di,«tillery in connection 
with his li([Uor store. The Rogers Brothers and Taylor & Cunningham 
were yet in Inisiness in 1839. Samuel Murphy began selling li(pior in 
1841. A man named Fagan sold litiuor io 1845. W. A. Shangster sold 
merchandise in 1840. After this period, the death of the town became 
a certainty. The mechanics who had ventured there in prosperous days 
now qiiietly departed for more ]>romising fields, and the epitaph of 
Carthage was written for Baltimore. The highway of water gradually 
ceased to bo traveled as in' earlier years; the business men. one by one, 
left; families removed, and at last, after many years, the town that once 
gave much promise was left to the sole habitation of the batrachians. 



114 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Considerable grain and pork were shipped from this old port in prosper- 
ous years. The town once had a population of about seventy souls. 

CARBONDALE. 

John Thorapson built the first house, in 1854. The following year, 
the brick house was erected by Andrew Brier. The church was built in 
1867. George A. Shaffer sold the first goods in 1873, his store being 
the old blacksmith shop; his stock was worth about |1,400. The build- 
ing now occupied by Mr. Sentman as a store was moved up from the 
Schoonover farm, where it had stood for a few years. A Mr. Kelly suc- 
ceeded Shaffer, and then came Howland, after which the town had no 
store for a short time. Shawcross came in next; then Kelly again, and 
then the present merchant, Mr. Sentman. John Thompson was the first 
blacksmith. D. Hudson conducted a wagon shop. Dr. Wesley Clark 
was the first Postmaster — perhaps as early as 1846. The office was 
then called Clark's Cross Roads. In about 1873, Shaffer had the name 
changed to Carbondale. 

JOHNSONVILLE. 

This is a small town on the Wabash Railroad, in Steuben Township. 
It was laid out by G. W. Johnson, who owned the land and lived near 
by. It was laid out at the crossing of the Chicago, Danville & Vin- 
cennes Railroad, and has a station house, one store and a residence or two. 

POINT PLEASANT. 

This was a paper town only. It was laid out on Section 33, Town- 
ship 23 north, Range 8 west, in July, 1830, by John H. Bartlett. Bart- 
lett's dwelling was there, also his liquor store, and perhaps a saw mill, 
but that is all. 

HEDRICK. 

This is a little village of recent gowth, on the narrow gauge rail- 
road, on the southern boundary of Jordan Township. The first house 
was built by John Hendricks, and the first store opened by Zarse & 
Ahrens. Frank Hartman opened a drug store. About eight or ten 
families reside in the village, which was named for an old settler living 
near. A schoolhouse was built there about two years ago. 

CHESAPEAKE. 

This was a very early village, and was situated about two miles east 
of Marshfield. If lots were laid out, they were not recorded. Com- 
paratively nothing can be learned regarding this little town. Several 
houses were built, and various mechanics appeared to ply their craft. It 
is said that William Newell and Thomas Washbui-n conducted stores 
there very early, but there seem to be some doubts about the truth of 
the statement. A blacksmith was there, at all events, and a few dwell- 
ings, but all else is enveloped in mystery. The village began early and 
then died early, as good-looking babies are said to do. 



HISTORY OF WARKEN COUNTV. 115 



MILITARY HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



BY WESTOS A. OOODSPEED. 



THE OLD MILITIA SYSTEM. 

DURING the early history of ^V^^rren County, and prior to the rebell- 
ion of 1861-G5, the old miltia system; which had done such excel- 
lent service in all the Indian border wars, was in force throughout the 
Hoosier State. From the Indian tribes, depleted by protracted and 
periodical contests, but little danger was apprehended, though the habits 
induced in the whites by a life spent amid the alarms of the frontier, 
forbade the total relinquishment of organized bodies of luilitia, or the 
obliteration of that grateful sense of public security which their pres- 
ence afforded. But the wonderful strides of the State in population and 
prosperity, and the absence of encounters with predatory Indian bands, 
soon gave satisfactory assiu-ance of general safety, and the old service- 
able system was permitted to die out. It is true a partial organization 
was maintained, and in the '50' s arms were secured from the Govern- 
ment of the State; but these organizations were little better than assem- 
blages of young men for sport and frolic, and had no feature in common 
with the rigid discipline that pi-evailed in the regular army. Among 
these companies was one known as the Milford Blues, organized in July, 
185<3, the officers being Elihu A. Saunders, Captain; J. A. Heigh, First 
Lieutenant; A. J. Ryan, Second Lieutenant; B. F. Magee, Ensign. 

SOLDIERS OF WARS PRIOR TO 1861-G5. 

If any of the early settlers of the county were ex-soldiers of the Rev- 
olutionary war, such fact is not known to the writer. Doubtless there 
were a few. Quite a goodly number had served in the war of 1812, 

among whom were the following: David McConnell, Perrin, who 

was at New Orleans in 1815, Seth St. John, who was at Hull's surrender; 
Andrew Pierce, Peter C. Hall, John "Williams, Jacob White, William 
Odle, Perrin Kent, and others whose names cannot be learned. Aaron 
Spiser served in Capt. Brown's Company C, Battalion of Mounted 
Rangers, during the campaign in Missouri Territory against Gen. Black- 
hawk, in 1832-33. His discharge is on record in the Recorder's office. 
The campaign extended into the present States of Illinois, Missouri, 
Iowa, and possibly Wisconsin. A company was raised in Fountain 
County for the Mexican war and was joined by a few men from Warren 
County. The Captain of the company was R. M. Evans. Quite a num- 
ber of ex- soldiers of this war have lived in Warren County. 

THE LATE CIVIL STRIFE. 

fippiiing Scenes. — The political campaign of 1800 was enthueiatic 
and determined. All the skill, learning and eloquence of both j)arties in 
the county were brought to bear ui)on the issues that were overshadowing 



116 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

the nation. Every schoolhouse, grove, and many of the churches were 
occupied by ultra politicians, who, with all the fiery spirit of the hour, 
sought to penetrate the political gloom and direct the popular will. 
Wide-awakes, with gaudy oil- cloth caps and capes of red, white, blue, 
or hickory, and with long lines of flaming torches, paraded the streets 
of villages and towns at night. The stirring notes of fife and drum 
quickened the step and fired the blood. Many fully realized that the 
country was on the brink of some great calamity, and spared no effort to 
have the true political situation thoroughly understood. At last came 
the news of Lincoln's election, and great was the joy of the Republicans, 
who held various public meetings that the members might have the oppor- 
tunity of mingling their congratulations. As time passed, and the South- 
ern States, one after another, passed ordinances of secession, and the 
air became rife with fearful rumors of impending war, the inbred loy- 
alty of the citizens rose above party limits and all looked with hopeful 
eye to the new administration for relief. In the midst of all the rising 
tumult, nothing was to be seen at the head of the Government but pa- 
tience, charity and humanity — nothing but kind and pacific promises. 
The winter wore away, but the shadows thickened, and many faithful 
hearts lost hope. Many feared that Mr. Lincoln was weak and vacillat 
ing, and his inaction and apparent apathy in the face of steady prepar- 
ations for war in the South, gave color to the thought. Petitions were 
poured upon him from all the Northern States, urging him to strangle 
the hydra of secession in its infancy, but still he hesitated. In 
view of the darkness that shrouded the nation at subsequent stages of 
the war, when a great party in the North was denouncing the Adminis- 
tration, and treasonable outbreaks were occurring with fearful and start- 
ling frequency, the transcendent wisdom of Mr. Lincoln in throwing 
upon the South the burden of commencing the strife, even in the face of 
the most abundant concessions, undou.btedly saved the country from hope- 
less disruption. Even as it was, the escape from open and concerted re- 
bellion in the North was dangerously narrow. 

When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was received, and doubt 
and dread were changed to certainty and concern, the most intense ex- 
citement everywhere prevailed. All former political antagonisms were 
speedily relinquished. The rural districts were depopulated, all busi- 
ness pursuits were suspended, and the towns, telegraph oiSces and news 
stations were thronged with vast crowds of excited, indignant and de- 
termined citizens. Neighbors gathered at every cross-road to discuss the 
awful situation and encourage one another with hopeful words. Mothers 
and maidens who had never felt the anguish of separation from loved ones 
at the stern call of a nation at war, were now pale with the first sicken- 
ing fear. But the intense feeling of terror that seized upon all hearts 
soon gave place to prompt and thoughtful action and invincible manifes- 
tations of ioyality. 

The issue of the Republican of April 18, 1861, contained the follow- 
ing leader: 

TO ARMS. 

We think the time has come for all true patriots to act in defense of their coun- 
try, her institutions and her laws. We have been overrun by a swarm of Southern 
Tories, both in Congress and out of Congress, for years, and it is now time for free 
men of the North — peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of our country. Ye, who 
stand upon the glorious platform of our Union, the constitution and the enforce- 
ment of the laws, and who have borne and foreborne with traitors in arms against 



HISTORY OF WARREN CODxXTY. 117 

you until forbearance has ceased to be a virtue, the crisis is now upon you. The 
fort upon whose defense' your hearts were with an intense and all-absorbing enthusi- 
asm fixed, lias been surrendered to traitors, and the fla^ of beauty and of glory, at 
the sight of which every true Ameru an heart swells with pride, lias lieen struck to 
those wliose sworn duty it was to uphold it against foreign and domestic enemies. 
Is there a man worthy the name American whose soul does not burn with indigna- 
tion deep at this insult to the sacred eiiiblim which he has been taught to love and 
honor? This damning blot upon our national escutcheon must be wiped out with 
blood. Treason nuist be crusiied with tiie strong arm of this Government, and the 
majesty of the laws vindicated, if newl be, by a million men at the point of the 
bayonet and at the cannon's mouth. The time for appeal, argument, conciliation, 
has gone with the surrender of Sumter. Let the tocsin now sound, and from every 
hill and valley, from lake and river, from mountain and prairie throughout all the 
loyal and true States, let patriots rally to the call of their countr}', resolved that this 
stain ui)on our flag shall be atoned for, that the supreniacj" of the Union shall be 
maintained and the laws shall be enforced be the con.sequences what they may. Woe 
be to those who shall attempt to withstand the tempest of the nation's wrath. 

Immediately following the news of the fall of Sumter, came the 
prompt call of the President for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebell- 
ion, and the hope of the citizens kindled into instant and energetic tire. 
Hundreds in the county came forward and signified their readiness to go 
out to their country's battles. Mothers were seen encouraging their 
sons, wives their husbands, sisters their brothers and sweethearts their 
lovers; and old men, long past the prime of life, with feet already on 
the brink of the grave, strenuously insisted on enrolling their names 
with their sons and grandsons, and considered it insulting when they 
were refused the sacred privilege of avenging the wrong to the old tlag. 
America had never before witnessed such a popular uprising. There 
was not a town of any consequence in Wan-en County where indignant 
mass meetings were not held, and where the patriotism of the people did 
not find prolonged utterance. 

First War Meeting. — The call of the President for Volunteers was 
no .sooner received than the citizens of Williamsport and vicinity were 
summoned to assemble at the Court fcEouse to consider how the crisis 
should be met. Accordingly, a large crowd gathered on Tiiesday evening, 
April IG, and B. S. Wheeler was appointed chairman and Lev. Miller 
Secretary. William P. Rhodes called the house to order and stated the 
object of the meeting, and then, amid the wildest enthusiasm, Col. Bry- 
ant was called out. He delivered a thrilling speech, reviewing the 
great issues before the people, insisting that the South was wholly in the 
wrong, and that it was the duty of every loyal man to assist with might 
and means in preserving the tinion of the States. At the conclusion of 
his remarks, which were received with prolonged cheers, he moved that 
a paper be drawn up, calling for volunteers, and tendering their service 
to the Governor of Indiana. This was done, himself, Dr. F. M. T^bbs, 
James Park and H. P. Downing preparing the paper. While the others 
were thtis engaged, James Park entertained the audience with an elo- 
quent speech. About twenty-five volunteers appended their names to the 
enlistment roll. On motion, a committee (B. F. Gregory, Samuel F. 
Messner and H. R. Pomeroy) was appointed to solicit aid in equipping 
the "Warren Company" for the field. The Rcpnhlican said: " The 
meeting was largely attended, and by men of all parties Much enthu- 
siasm was manifested, and it was the unanimotis sentiment of the meet- 
ing that the Union must and sliall be {^reserved. Three rousing cheers 
were given for Maj. Anderson, for his gallant defense of Fort Sumter. 
Adjourned to Wednesday evening." 



118 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

The Second War Meeting. — The citizens again assembled at the 
court house on Wednesday night, April 17, on which occasion the en- 
thusiasm and loyalty of the previous meeting were greatly surpassed. 
Benjamin Crow, an old resident of Kentucky, Jesse Hardier, Col. Bryant 
and others were called out. A select glee club sang the stirring national 
airs, and the martial band executed Yankee Doodle in a manner that 
brought upon them the thunders of the house. The company was in- 
creased to about sixty, and the meeting adjourned to Friday night, on 
which occasion the full number, except a few, was raised. On the fol- 
lowing Monday, April 22, within six days after the call of the President, 
was received, the company was completed and organized, and was on the 
train bound for Indianapolis. The Republican stated that the company 
nximbered 177 men, rank and file. Just before their departure they met at 
the court house and elected the following officers: James R. M. Bry- 
ant, Captain; Dickson Fleming, First Lieutenant; Jjev. Miller, Second 
Lieutenant. A beautiful national banner was then presented to the 
company by Miss Hannah Johnson on behalf of the ladies of Williams- 
port and vicinity, in a brief, earnest and loyal speech, to which Capt. 
Bryant responded, pledging the lives of his company to the last man to 
prevent the flag from being trailed in the dust. The company was then 
drawn up in line and each member presented a copy of the New Testa- 
ment. They marched to the depot, accompanied by the whole town. 
Short speeches were made in the open air until the train came in. Ah! 
it was so hard to part from dear ones, for it was well known that 
many would never retvu'n. The first bitterness of that long and dreadful 
war wrung all hearts with keene it anguish as the train slowly steamed 
out of the depot, bearing its human sacrifice. The next day at noon 
they were in Indianapolis. There were but few counties in the State of 
no greater population than Warren which succeeded in getting full com- 
panies into the three-months service. So great was the rush for the en- 
listment offices that Indiana alone could easily have supplied the entire 
call of 75,000 men; and at that time it was considered a mark of great 
distinction for small counties far removed from the rendezvous to out- 
strip in activity the larger and nearer counties. The fact of Warren's 
loyalty and activity was so manifest that the Republican, of May 2, pub- 
lished the following: 

OLD WARREN AHEAD. 

We doubt if aa}^ portion of the State has been more prompt to respond to the 
call of the President for troops than this county. Other counties have furnished 
more men, but few, if any, have done it with a greater degree of willingness and 
contributed more in proportion. Of the volunteers that left hist week, 130 remain 
in the service, and thij-ty moi'e left Independence and Pine Village this week to com- 
plete two full companies. Another company of ritles is now forming, and will be 
ready in a few days to march whenever required, making in all over 230 men. This 
proportion all over the State would furnish 30,000 or 35,000 men. Hurrah for Old 
Warren and the Union! 

Contimied Volunteering. — The company of Capt. Bryant had no 
sooner departed than immediate steps were taken to raise another. West 
Lebanon headed the movement, opening enlistment offices at Williams - 
port, Independence, Rainsville, and at one or more points in the south- 
western part of the county, besides at Lebanon. The company was 
called the Warren Rifle Company. The county seat came to the assist- 
ance of this company, and on the afternoon of April, 24, held a meet- 
ing at the court house to encourage the enlistment of new men, to pro- 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 119 

vide for the families of the company just gone, and to organize commit- 
tees to receive donations of food, money or clothing, t«) be sent to the 
members of Capt. Bryant's company. On the 27th of April, an enthu- 
siastic union meeting was hold at the Cumpbellite Church in Pine Township 
to give tho volunteers of Warren and Benton Counties a free dinner and 
a farewell. J. M. Harris was chosen Chairman and W. Marvin Secre- 
tary. Bev. M. S. Bagsdale, Dr. L. Buckles and Hon. J. Young deliv- 
ered brief, patriotic speeches. While the orators were entertaiuing the 
assemblage, E. Sargent, AV. J. Tem})leton, J. Young, J. T. Stokes and 
"\V. B. Smith prepared a series of loyal resolutions, one of them being as 
follows: 

Resolved, Tliat we, the citizens of Warren and Benton Counties, do pled.^^e our 
lives and sacred honor to stand by and support the Union, believing it to be our 
duty to suppress treason wlierever found. 

An excellent time was enjoyed. A splendid dinner that the volun- 
teers often thought of afterward when half or quite starved down in the 
South, was jiartaken of by a large crowd. 

The First County Relief. — As early as the 30th of April, the Board of 
Commissioners appropriated means from the county treasmy to provide 
for the wants of the families of volunteers, and directed that each town 
ship should appoint suitable committees to enroll the names of such fam- 
ilies, to ascertain their wants and to see that the county appropriation 
was judiciously expended. These orders were promptly executed, and 
from that on, while the war continued, a thorough system of caring for 
the families of soldiers was in active operation. There is certainly no 
county in the State of equal or less population that deserves greater 
credit than Warren for the earnest and expensive care manifested for 
the families of soldiers. More on this subject will be found farther on 
in this chapter. 

Letters from the Camp and Field. — The first company was scarcely out 
of the county before long letters were received from the boys, and pub- 
lished, describing graphically the ups and downs of a soldier's li fe. Every 
letter was written with that unwavering confidence so universal at that early 
period of the war, which predicted that the rebels would receive an awful 
whipping when " oiu' regiment " (" said by competent military critics to be 
the finest in camp here") met them on the field of battle. If the tone 
of the letters was over-confident, it was also over-loyal, if such a thing 
was possible, for the most passionate language was employed to paint 
the agony and universal death that would ensue ere the old fiag should 
be permitted "to trail in the dust." But this "over-confidence" and this 
"over- loyalty " revealed the true state of the heart, and proved the sol- 
dier boys equal to the trying dangers of the hour. Letters came from 
the "Warren Guards," thanking the ladies of various parts of the county 
for luxuries, clothing and blankets which had been sent to them at In- 
dianapolis. The Republican of May U said: 

The ladies of this town are for the Union to a man. They have made and sup- 
plied red Hannel shirts for one company from this county, and are ready to provide 
in the same loyal and charitable way for anotlier whenever it becomes necessary. 

On Saturday, May 11, a rousing war meeting was held at the court 
house to organize a company of Homo Guards. R. M. Allen was chair- 
man; W. P. Rhodes, Secretary. B. F. (iregory, H. M. Noiirse and B. 
S. Wheeler prepared articles of as.sociation for the com|)any. While Mr. 
May delivered an eloquent address, about thirty volunteers api>ended 



120 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

their names to the roll of the company. The meeting adjourned to re- 
assemble again the following Monday night, on which occasion, amid, 
great loyalty and enthusiasm, the enrollment was increased to about 
seventy men. The officers were elected as follows: James M. Rhodifer, 
Captain; L. S. Hitchens, First Lieutenant; and Peter Mahn, Second 
Lieutenant. About this time, companies of home guards were organized 
at Pine Village, Rainsville and Marshlield. A company of cavalry was 
organized in the neighborhood of Crow's Grove in May and June. A 
grand military parade of the County Home Guards occurred at Rains- 
ville early in June. 

The Campaign and Return of the Warren Guards —The Warren 
Guards, Capt. Bryant, became Company B of the Tenth Regiment, which 
rendezvoused at Indianapolis. The organization was scarcely com- 
pleted ere Capt. Bryant was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 
regiment and Dickson Fleming was appointed Captain of Company B. 
The regiment left Indianapolis on the l9th of June, having been mus- 
tered in April 25. It moved to West Virginia, and early Id July partici- 
pated in the battle of Rich Mountain, where the Warren County boys 
displayed their valor in a brilliant charge on the enemy, routing him 
and capturing his guns. Affer various marches and a great deal of fa- 
tigue duty, the regiment returned to Indianapolis, where it arrived on 
the 2Sth of July. The citizens of Warren County made extensive prep- 
arations to receive the boys on their return. A public meeting was 
held at Williamsport, July 31, to complete the arrangements. H. M. 
Nourse was Chairman and W. P. Rhodes Secretaiy. B. F. Gregory 
stated the object of the meeting. B. F. Gregory, George Hitchens, S. 
F. Messner, J. H. Brown and B. S.Wheeler were appointed a committee 
to prepare the dinner. J. H. Brown was selected to deliver the welcom- 
ing speech at the depot. The following resolution was adopted: 

Resolced, That the Warren Guards and other members of the Tenth Regiment, 
the military companies of Warren County, and all the citizens of the county, are 
invited to attend a picnic at Williamsport on Saturday, August 3. 

All necessary committees w^ere appointed. West Lebanon also made 
arrangements to receive the boys in a fitting manner. Jesse Harper was 
to welcome them with a speech. The officers and men of the company 
were to give an account of their army experiences. Nourse, Brown, 
Cobb, Park and Gregory were announoed to speak. A splendid dinner 
was to be enjoyed. The northern part of the county also decided to 
welcome the boys with speeches and a line dinner. All these pro- 
grammes were carried into effect. How hapj^y it made all to see broth- 
ers, husbands, fathers, lovers in their blue uniforms, and hear their 
loved voices recount the stirring scenes of active war! 

A Democratic Meeting. — The Democrats of Williamsport and vicin- 
ity hxed a day in August for a big political meeting and advertised that 
distinguished speakers from abroad would be present. But for some 
reason the expected orators did not arrive and the meeting was trans- 
formed into a Republican jubilee of the most enthusiastic description, 
in which all loyal Democrats participated. Among the speakers were 
Dr. Whitehall, Rev. C. Hall and H. M. Nourse. A resolution was passed 
condemning the course of Senator Bright in Congress. 

Re-organization of Company B. — Late in August, Lieut. Levin Mil- 
ler was authorized to re-organize Company B, and the work was ac 
tively begun, quite a number of the old boys re-entering its ranks. 



IIISTORV OF WARREN COUNTV. 121 

though the majority were new men, anxious for a taste of war. An im- 
mense war meetin<; was held in the courthouse, Auc:just 31, to till up 
the Company. Enlistment offices were opened in all parts of the county. 
Schoolhouses wer^ tilled with loyal assemblages which listened to tiery 
words from farmers and mechanics. The meeting at Williamsport was 
one of the largest ever in the i)lace. Delegations in wagons, drawn 
often by six horses, and men on horseback and on foot, came through the 
dust from all parts of the county, led by stirring bands of martial music, 
adorned with national colors and dressed in holiday attire, while through- 
out the long ranks numerous banners and mottoes waved in the bright 
sunshine. All was loyalty and enthusiasm. Hon. Jaines Wilson was 
orator. A short time before this meeting, the Republican said: " War- 
ren County has 200 men who have gone into other regiments in other 
counties, and we have not a representative now in the field. " 

This knowledge was sufficient to lend additional activity to the en- 
rollment of Lieut Miller's company. By the oth of September, the 
number was almost raised, and a meeting was appointed for Monday, 
September 9, to complete and organize the company. The fact that 
about 200 men had gone out of the county to enlist, entering the Tenth, 
Fifteenth. Twenty-tirst and other regiments, did not embarrass in the 
least the enrollment of men in Lieut. Miller's company. On Monday, 
September U, the full number of men was secured. The following 
officers were commissioned September G: Levin T. Miller, Captain; 
i John P. Neiderauer, First Lieutenant; Henry C. Johnson, Second 
Lieutenant. Within a few days, the company moved by rail to Indianap- 
olis, followed by the tears and loving farewells of friends. It became 
Company K, of the Thirty-third llegiment, three years' service, and was 
mustered in aboiit the middle of September, and soon afterward took the 
field. 

Continued Enlistments. — Capt. Miller's company was nn sooner oflf 
than the enlistment of men was renewed. Capt. Schobey began raising 
volunteers for the Fortieth Eegiment. Lieut. Col. Blake of that regiment 
attended several meetings, delivering speeches and urging on the work. 
Col. Wilson also spoke at various places in the county. C. V. White and 
many citizens of the county were also active. Between thirty and forty 
men were secured for the Fortieth Regiment, entering Company I, and 
being mustered December 2L Before this, however, during the month 
of September and October, William Cameron, Moses L. Burch and 
others, had secured nearly a full comjnmy in the county, and about the 
middle of October the members had elected Cameron, Captain, and Burch, 
First Lieutenant. S. T. AN'alker, H. P. Downing and W. K. Stafford 
had assisted in raising the company. The officers of this company were 
mostly from Fountain County. Warren County soldiers enlisted and 
commanded bj Fountain County officers! Although the company was 
completed in October, ISGl. it was not mustered in until the latter part 
of February and the first of March, 1802. By that time many changes 
had taken place. Other officers and men from other counties bad come 
in, but finally the men were named Com|)any H and were assigned to the 
Sixtieth Regiment. A big war meeting was held at ^\'illiams])ort dur- 
ing the firs^ week in February, 1S<)2. to .secure additional men for the 
Sixtieth. Major Temi)leton, Dr. Walker and R. C» Gregory, of La- 
fayette, were present to secure recruits. B. F. Gregory publicly prom- 
ised to pay each of the first three men to volunteer $5 per month ivs lo*ng 



122 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

as they remained in the service. That number of men came promptly 
forward. Dr. Messner then offered to give any single man $25 or any 
married man ^50 to become the next volunteer, providing the man went 
from Williamsport, the offer not to be binding until the proposition of 
Mr. Gregory was filled. These offers tired the occasion with enthu- 
siasm. Dr. Messner' s offer was accepted. H. R. Pomeroy, Kent & 
Hitchens, Isaac and A. S. Jones, H. D. Thomas and J. H. Bonebrake and W. 
M. Haynes each offered $25 to each of the next six men who would volun- 
teer. The offer was instantly taken up. A " pony purse" of $20 was made 
up by Al Johnson, George Minier,S. D. Landon, W. P. Rhodes, John Canon, 
James Park and others, and another vohmteer was secured. The re- 
cruiting officers from abroad remained several days, obtaining in that 
time about twenty volunteers, all of whom went into the Sixtieth. The 
Republican said: 

* * * * jyjj. Gregory deserves the highest commendation for the active part 
he has taken in procuring recruits — working indefatigably since the first arrival of 
the recruiting officers — besides the praise due him for leading off in a generous and 
patriotic offer. * * * * 

In March, H. P. Downing and others secured about fifteen additional 
recruits for the Sixtieth. No doubt the earnest and successful efforts 
made at this time were the means of clearing the county from the draft 
of the following October. After this, during the months of April, May 
and June, but little was done to secure additional men for the war. 
Great interest was felt, however, in all the army movements; and when 
intelligence was received that some great battle had been fought, friends 
waited with anxious faces for news from their loved ones. Many a loyal 
heart was crushed when the sickening details of some bloody battle were 
received. Boys were brought home and buried. Others came home to 
die of frightfvU wounds or fitful fever. But loyalty did not falter. 

Enlistments tinder the Calls of July and August, 1862. — On the 2d 
"of July, the President called for 800,000 men. the quota of Indiana 
being eleven regiments. The Republican of July 10 contained the fol- 
lowing: 

The President of the United States has made another call upon the patriotism 
of the people, and eleven regiments have been called for from Indiana. Our patri- 
otic Governor has made an eloquent appeal to the citizens of the State to come forth 
and maintain for the State the high character which her brave sons have won for 
her vipon fields of strife. Responses from thirty counties have been received, and 
Warren County will not be behind them in action. Col. Bryant is alreadj- recruit- 
ing a compan}^ m this countv. He is a tried soldier, and no doubt his companions 
in arms will gladly rally again around their former leader. * * * One month's 
pay in advance and $25 of the bounty. Soldiers of Warren County, forward 
march ! 

The next issue of the paper published a call for a war meeting to be 
held at the court house the evening of July 19, to take immediate steps 
to raise the county quota under the call, the recruits raised to be as- 
signed to the Seventy-second Regiment. Appended to this call was the 
following announcement: 

If a company of soldiers to the number of sixty-four privates can be made up 
in Warren County in fourteen days from this date, I will donate to said company, 
to be distributed equally among the private soldiers only, the sum of $100, to be 
paid when mustered into service at La Favette, Ind. B. F. Gregory. 

July 16, 1862. 

This and similar propositions served to fire the county with the nec- 
essary zeal. The County Commissioners met and appropriated out of 
the county treasury the sum of $10 for each man who should volunteer 



HISTOliV OF WAKRKN COUNTV. 123 

under the call and bp credited to the coiiuty. The Rejmblican ca ■ e out 
in the most stirring leaders, callinj^ for men, recounting the offers of 
bounty and regular pay, and dnpicting the disgrace of the draft that 
would ensue unless the quota was tilled. 

The War Meeting of ,Saf unlay, Jnhf l->. — The Republican said 
this was one of " the lai'gest and most enthusiastic meetings ever wit- 
nessed in Warren County." Men of all parties who favored a contin- 
uance of the war were present. Jesse Hodrick was made Chairman, and 
1\. M. Allen, Secretary. B. F. Gregory stated the object of the meeting 
in a liery speech that was received with tumultuous applause. A com- 
mittee of three, J. H. Brown, B. F. Gregory and INIadison Fleming, was 
appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. In 
a few minutes, the following were reju^rted, read, and adopted amid 
thundering cheers and the deep roll of the drums: 

Resolved, That in the opiuion of this assfinhly of the people of Warren County, 
a more vi<jorous policy should be adopted by the administration than has hitherto 
been pursued; that tiie property of rebels should l)e eonfiscatad; that nej^roes should 
be used in building intrenchnients and fortitieations and in every way that their 
services can be made availal)le; that the army of the Union should be supplied 
from the tields. barns and warehouses of the rebels. 

Resulted, That the Constitution and the American Union ought to be preserved 
at every hazard. * * * ***** 

Renolced. That we recommend that the County Commissioners appropriate a 
certain simi for each volunteer under the present call from the county. 

The assembled multitude then listened to eloquent speeches from 
Jesse Harper, J. H. Brown, Col. Bryant, A. C. Durborow, Nourse, Mc- 
Cabe, Evans, Burch, Cronkhite, Park, and others. A vote was then ta- 
ken for the proper person to be commissioned Second Lieutenant to or- 
ganize the Warren County company. " The most intense excitement and 
enthusiasm pervaded the whole assembly, the like not having been sees 
at any former period since the commencement of the rebellion. " The 
following donations were received to be paid to the private soldiers who 
should enlist under the call: B. F. Gregory, §100; Kent & Hitchens, 
SlOO: Elijah Cronkhite, 850; Jones & Bro., 850; J. E, Hedrick. S50; S. 
Cronkhite, §20: A. C. Durborow, SIO; A. Suhler, §10; J. B. Lebo, §10; 
H. J. Thomas, §10; A. B. Green. §5; William Haynes, §5; total, §420. 
Ransom, Oxer, and others, martial band, played the national airs. 
About twenty volunteers were secured, and the meeting adjourned to the 
evening of the 21st. 

The Meeting of the 21st. — At the hcur appointed, the people again 
assembled at the court house, without regard to party or sex, and reports 
were called for from those v.-ho had l)een ap])ointed to solicit volunteers, 
when it was found that about thirty-hve had appended their names to 
the enlistment roll. It was reported that other meetings had been held 
at Rainsville, Pine Village, Mar.shtield and al.so elsewhere, and that 
about as many more had enlisted, thus raising the company to about 
seventy men. The paper exultingly stated that no drafting (jflficcr need 
visit Warren County. The meeting was almost as enthusiastic as that 
of the evening of the Saturday before. S])eeche8 were made by Col. 
Bryant, Gregory, Nourse, Harper, McCabe and others. The paper re- 
ferred especially to the speeches of Gregory and Harper. Of the latter, 
it said: 

It is useless to attempt to give a sketch of the speech witii wliich Mr. Harper 
enfTtained the audience. It was ehxiuent, humorous, lauglial)le, .severe, argument- 
ative, convincing, i)atrii)tic, inimitable and Jesse Ilarperisli. The aucUence were at 

8 



124 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

one moment convulsed with laughter, and the next a sudden stillness like that of 
the grave was the result of some patriotic burst of eloquence. 

At this meeting a few additional volunteers were secured. 

The Call of August 4, 1862. — This roused the county into a degree 
of activity before unknown. Public meetings were held everywhere; 
large subscriptions were raised to influence volunteers to come forward; 
eloquent speakers thundered from every schoolhouse and church; glee 
clubs enlivened the occasion with select and stirring music; the thrilling 
notes of lifeanddrum were heard; beautiful ladles with bewitching smiles 
passed round the fatal enlistment rolls; old men, long past the prime of 
life, insisted on going out to tight their country's battles; all was loyality. 
activity and enthusiasm. The following card, dated August 21, 1862, 
and pixblished in the Republican, explains the results of the efforts of 
the citizens. 

As Warren County has nobly responded to her country's late calls for troops to put 
down the rebellion in the land by making up four companies of 404 men and send- 
ing them at once into the service, I would suggest to all the females of each town- 
snip in this county, botli young and old, to form themselves into benevolent war 
societies, whose object shall be to raise funds, solicit donations, prepare fruits of all 
kinds for fall and winter use, furnish socks, shirts, drawers, and any and all other 
articles that would be of service to the soldiers or the soldiers' family at home. Let 
the patriotic ladies of old Warren come to the rescue at once, and set an example 
to others worthy of imitation. B. F. Gregory. 

This card reveals the extraordinary interest and activity under which 
the county labored. In slew of the sacrifices made, too high praise 
cannot be given the county for its efforts to end the great war. Under 
the calls of July and August, 1862, aggregating 600,000 men, Warren 
County furnished by the 21st of August, 404 men and dispatched them 
promptly to the field. If there is another county in Indiana that did as 
well compared with the enrollment and population, it would be inter- 
esting to know where it is. But the enlistment was not yet over, for in 
the issue of the Republican of August 28 was another call for a war 
meeting to be held at the court house September 1, to secure additional 
volunteers. All who had been enlisting men in all parts of the county 
were requested to be present to compare labor and see if the county had 
cleared herself from the impending draft. Hon. James Wilson was ad- 
vertised to speak. This meeting was held, was very enthusiastic, and a 
few more names were secured. Under the calls of July and August, the 
county raised not less than 425 men. Beat that, if you can, any other 
county in the State! These men went mostly into the Seventy-second 
and Eighty-sixth Regiments. Quite a number went as recruits into 
companies from the county then in the service. Company F of the Sev- 
enty-second was wholly from Warren County. Its officers were: Moses 
Bruch, Captain; James L. Daiton, First Lieutenant; O. E. Harper, Sec- 
ond Lieutenant. Company I of the same regiment was almost wholly 
from Pine Village and Rainsville, and was commanded by Jesse Hill, 
Captain: Ira Brown, First Lieutenant; John Watts, Second Lieutenant. 
Men from Warren County were in other companies of the same regi- 
ment. These men were mustered during the first two weeks of August, 
1862. Company D, of the Eighty-sixth, was entirely from the western 
part of the county, its first officers being Lewis Stevens, Captain; Jack- 
son Hickson, First Lieutenant; Harris J. Gass, Second Lieutenant. 
Company E of the Eighty-sixth was also wholly from the county, the offi- 
cers being Philip Gemmer, Captain; George Hitchens, First Lieutenant; 
John R. Moore, Second Lieutenant. About thirty men from the county 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 125 

were in othei" companies of the Ei<:fhty-sixtb. The last two companies 
{D and E), were mustered in (D) about the middle of August, and (E) 
on the 4th of September. About two-thirds of Company G of the- One 
Hundredth Regiment were raised at Pine Village, Rainsville and Inde- 
pendence. The men were intended for the Ninety-eighth Regiment, 
and were mustered in from the lOth to the 2l8t of August. The first 
officers Avere G. O. Behm, of La Fayette, Captain; William Burnside, of 
Pine Village, First Lieutenant; Elijah Young, of Pine Village, Second 
Lieutenant. During the de])arture of these five companies for the held, 
the interest in the county ran to fever heat. The air was rife with thrilling 
military preparations. A farewell dinner was given to each comj)any, and 
the blessings of all followed the gallant bo3's. At no other time during 
the war was the county as a whole so intensely aroused as while these 
extensive preparations were being made. People scarcely slept, so nu- 
merous were the meetings at night and so fervently had patriotic senti 
ments taken possession of all. Great was the sorrow Avhen the hour of 
parting came! Many separations were the last on earth. The cup of 
sorrow was di'ained to the dregs. 

The Draft of October G, 180'^. — The energetic action of the citizens 
freed Warren County entirely from this draft, it being one of the only 
fifteen counties in the State to furnish its quota or better. The following, 
taken from the Adjutant General's report, shows the military situation 
in the county on the 20th of September, 18G2: Total militia, 1,420; 
total volunteers, 1,180; total exempts, 281; total volunteers in the serv- 
ice, 1,180; total subject to draft, 1,189. The di-aft was at first fixed 
for the middle of September, but was postponed to give the counties 
all necessary opportunity to clear themselves. The following draft offi 
cers were appointed, though, happily, their services were not required: 
Draft Commissioner, B. F. Gregory; Provost Marshal, William Crow; 
Sui'geon, C. R. Boyer. At this time, there was a most excellent feeling 
pervading the whole county. All rejoiced that the draft had been es- 
caped. A Democratic meeting held at the court house, on which occa- 
sion several speakers from home and abroad took occasion to excuse the 
South for the rebellion, criticise the administration and denounce the 
war, did not disturb the universal loyal sentiments, or shake in the 
least degree the determination to vigorously prosecute the war. Politics 
in the county ran high during October and November, but, of course, the 
Republicans swept all before them. 

EnlLstmentfi during IsCH, — During the winter and spring of 1808, as 
the county had more than furnished her (juota of men under former calls, 
little attempt was made to recruit. In April and May, a few boys left, 
going into the companies that had been sent out befoi'e, but no con- 
certed action was taken l)y the county as no calls were made. At length, 
on the 15th of June, 1808, came the call for six months' men, and 
A\'arren County made immediate j)reparations to answer with a full 
company. Meetings were held at Williamsport, Pine Village, Rains- 
ville, West Lebanon and elsewhere, and in less than three weeks the nec- 
essary number of men were secured and organized. The tirat officers 
became Samuel C. Fisher, Captain; William Henry, First Lieutenant; 
William Moffit, Second Lieutenant. The company was largely from 
the northern part of the county, and a number of them had belonged to 
a militia company that had been partially organized in that vicinity. 
The boys were mustered in on the 17th of August and became Company 



126 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

H of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment. The regiment first 
moved to near Detroit, Mich., to do provost duty, but finally in Septem- 
ber was ordered into Kentucky. 

The Call of October, 1863. — As this call required 129 men from 
Warren County, the citizens were inspired to renewed efforts. Various 
recruiting stations were opened, and soon the column of names began to 
multiply. About twenty recruits were obtained for the Thirty-third 
Regiment and a few were sent to the Tenth. Not less than thirty men 
went from the county into Companies F and I of the Seventy-second, and 
about twenty more joined the Eighty-sixth. Between fifteen and twenty 
entered Company K of the Eleventh Cavalry. Others continued to en- 
ter other regiments during the winter months of 1863-64. The quota 
was not wholly filled until the calls early in 1864 inspired the county to 
a renewal of the old fire and interest. It will thus be seen that under 
this call no fully organized company was sent from the county. The 
Companies whicla had previously gone from the county and which had 
become depleted by battle and disease, sent home recruiting officers, and 
to the calls of these men flocked the new volunteers. 

The One Hundred Days' Service. — The call of April 23, 1864, for 
85,000 one hundred days' men brought out a full company. Enlistment 
offices were opened in several places, and by the 27th of April, about fifty 
men had been secured at Williamsport, and nearly as many more in Jordan 
Township; the former being known as the Union Guards and the latter 
as the Joi'dan Rangers. Preparations were made to unite the two frag- 
ments into one company, and a large meeting was called at the county 
seat for that purpose. The meeting was held early in May, the two 
fragments were consolidated, and the following officers took command of 
the company. William P. Rhodes, Captain; Peter W. Fleming, First 
Lieutenant; John H. Messner, Second Lieutenant. The company was 
assigned to the One Hundred ?nd Thirty -fifth Regiment, ranking as 
Company B, and was mustered into the service May 24. After this, 
until July, 1864, a few men left the county, going into the regiments 
containing Warren County companies. 

The Call of Juhj 16, 1864.— This call for 500,000 men staggered 
the county, but the loyal went resolutely to work to fill the quota. At 
this timi^, the county had an excess over all calls of 117 men. This num- 
ber taken from the quota of 267 men assigned to the county, left 150 men 
to be furnished. But the county had done so well at the beginning of 
the war, had sent off man after man far in excess of their quota, and had 
so nearly exhausted her strength, that she now began to discover that 
some extraordinary effort would have to be made to meet the emergency, 
if success was to be achieved. At last a meeting was called at the court 
house, to devise means to raise the men, and thus escape the impending 
draft, Dr. E. L. Booth was made President, and Lewis Rhodes, Secre- 
tary. Capt. James Park, Provost Marshal of the Eighth District, was 
called out, to explain fully to the large assemblage the details of the 
conscript law. This was done, amid breathless stillness. A resolution 
was adopted, that each citizen liable to the draft should pay into a com- 
mon fund the sum of $15, the same to be applied in securing volunteers; 
and a committee of one was appointed to solicit contributions in each 
township, the following being the amounts thus donated. Pine. $760. 
Mound, $1,115; Medina, $1,005; Warren, $665; Liberty, $1,040; 
Adams, $640, and Prairie, $675; total, $5,880. The county was thus 



HISTOHV OP WARKE.N COUNTV. 



127 



willing to pour out money as well as men. At this time, the conscript 
officers of the Eighth District, to which Warren belonged, were George 
Nebeker, Commissioner; James Park, Marshal, and Z. B. Gentry, Sur- 
geon. Notwithstanding all efforts, the county could not escape, and 
quite a htvavy draft took place in October, over the greater portion of the 
county. How many were drafted cannot be stated. The county was 
credited with thirty-five drafted men, twenty from Moimd and fifteen 
from AVarren, but the di'aft actually took place in Pine, Prairie, and per- 
haps other townships as well. At the last moment, even after the name 
had been taken from the wheel, an opportunity was given the drafted 
man to volunteer, and was embraced until the number of about one hun- 
dred and twenty-five to be drafted was reduced to thirty-five. The fol- 
lowing statistics from the Adjutant General's report, prepared on the 
81st of December, 1864, though not wholly free from error, are not far 
from correct: 





1 
o 

Is 

I. 00 
V -1 

t3 . 
O "- 
3 >> 


o 

a _ ■ 


o 
"5 

|2 
5 '* 

¥ 

34 
23 
35 
29 
22 
17 
22 
27 
21 
20 
17 

267 


« 

a> 

"O 

-O 

a 

1 . 

cry 

_ c 

80 
54 
71 
67 


CREDITS 
BY VOLUN- 
TARY EN- 
LISTMENTS 


Credits by draft. 

Total credits by enroll- 
ment and draft. 


<a 

a- 
o 




2 

108 
31 
33 
64 
46 
34 
35 

* 


a 

•s 




TOWNSHIPS. 




a 

1 

> 


& 


Washington 


33 

22 
26 
27 
17 
17 
22 
26 
21 
19 
18 

?48 


13 

9 

10 

11 

7 
7 
9 
10 
8 
8 
7 

99 


97 
52 
42 
53 


11 !... !i08 




98 


Pine . .." 


2 

5 
14 
12 
2 
2 
3 
4 
9 
2 

66 


....54 

20 67 

.... 67 

46. 

.... 41 
15 53 
.... 63 
.... 53 
.... 47 
.... 42 

35 641 


23 

31 

3 


"s 




Mound 


4 




Steuben 




Pike 


46 34 
41 39 




^Medina 


7 
15 
19 


* 




Warren 


53 
63 
50 
47 
42 


36 
60 
49 

38 
40 




Liberty 




Adams 


3 


Jordan 








Prairie 










Total 


614 540 








4 


31 





















The Call of September 19, 1S64. — There seemed to be no end to the 
demand for men, but as all instinctively felt that the rebellion would 
soon be crushed, the titmost efforts were made to fill the quotas. The 
only way to raise the necessary men was to offer enormous bounties, 
which was accordingly done. Many recruits were obtained in December 
and January, nearly all of whom entered the companies then in the serv- 
ice from the county. A number of men, sufficient to form about three 
full companies, thus entered the older regiments. New men did not, 
usually, want to enter the veteran regiments, as there was but little 
chance for promotion; it was greatly desired, on the contrary, that they 
should enter the older regiments, which had seen active service, and 
which, if they could be recruited to the lawful size, would still be much 
more available for the field than newer troops, owing to the experience 
through which they had pas.sed. During tlu^ month of February. 1S()5, 
nearly a full company was raised for the One Hundred and Fiftieth 
Regiment Small s<[uads from Tippecanoe, C'arroll, and other counties 
were added to raise the number to the lawful limit. The following were 

*Mo account given. 



128 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



the officers: William Moffitt, Captain; John H. Messner, First Lieu- 
tenanl"; John H. Coulter, Second Lieutenant. The county quota under 
the call of December 19, 1864, was 133 men; this was reduced somewhat 
by a surplus which had been furnished previously. The recruiting in 
February, March and early in April, 1865, was actively pushed. Dur- 
ing the latter part of March and the first of April, about sixty men were 
enlisted in the county for the One Hundred and Fifty- fourth Regiment. 
A few were in almost every company in the regiment, the greatest num- 
ber in any one company being seventeen in Company G. Among the 
recruiting officers were Capt. James Park and Lieut. J. A. Canutt. 
Early in April, 1865, the Republicmi said: 

From late information, Warren appears to be out of the draft. Pine has fur- 
nished her men; so has Mound, Prairie and Liberty. Medina has been out some 
days. If any are laclting in the county, they are in Adams and Warren, and may 
be a few in Jordan. But if any are lacliing, the efforts now making will clear the 
county. We are glad to see it, for we would have felt bad to have had Warren 
drafted, and all the other counties of the district go clear on volunteers. Every- 
thing is moving on right. 

On the 14th of April, 1865, all efiforta to raise troops in Indiana 
were abandoned. At that time the following quotas and credits of War 
ren County, under the call of December 19, 1864, were made out by the 
authorities at Indianapolis: 





"3 

2 

"p 
S 
w 

a 
8 


e 

o 

i-i - 

a en 


i 

If 

3 
CO 


G 

i 


CREDITS 
BY VOLUN- 
TARY EN- 
LISTMENTS 


4f 
g 

Q 

.a 




'"a 

" 

Eh 


C3 
0) 

a 





>H 



a 
.2 
'3 




TOWNSHIPS. 




a 


m 

"S 

> 


3 

3 
CO 


Washington 

Pine 


179 

109 
121 


'22" 


15 
15 




15 


22 

26 

11 

1 

8 

16 

20 

14 

5 

10 


19 
25 
11 


"{' 


3 


22 
26 
11 


19 
25 
11 


3 








Mound 


1 






Steuben 


140 11 

78 1 

73 8 

104 16 

125 20 






Pike 










1 




Medina 


7 
16 
20 
14 

5 
10 

127 




1 
3 


8 
19 
20 
14 

5 
10 

135 


8 
19 
20 
14 

5 
10 

131 








Warren 








3 


Liberty 

Adams 










113 
85 
57 

1181 


14 

5 

10 

138 














Jordan 














Prairie 
















1 


7 


3 




1 




Total 


133 


' 


18 



The Fall of Atlanta. — On Saturday evening, September 3, 1864, an 
immense Union meeting was held at the court house, to publicly attest 
the joy of the community over the fall of Atlanta. Bells were rung, 
anvils and muskets fired, and the omnipresent small boy was out with 
his usual ample collection of ear-torturing instruments. Finally, the 
train came in, bearing a confirmation of the welcome news. Williams - 
port could scarcely contain herself. The citizens were in ecstacies. 
The triumphant march of Sherman's grand ai'my down from Chattanooga 
through the South from one success to another, and with but a com- 
paratively small sacrifice of life, had been anxiously watched fi'om War- 
ren County; and now, when the long series of successes culminated in 
the capture of the most important city in the heart of the Confederacy, 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 129 

the joyous sentiments could not be repressed, and only found vent in ex- 
tensive and prolonf^ed utterance. Capt. James Park and Hon. B. F. 
Gregory attempted to talk to the audience, but it was like conversing 
with the ocean in a storm. The faint glimmerings of the dawn of peace 
could at length be discerned. 

The Union Soldiers' Picnic. — This was on Saturday, October 8, 1804, 
and had been extensively advertised. Vast preparations had been made 
to entertain the crowd that was sure to assemble. The day dawned 
clear and bright; scarcely a cloud was to be seen, and the mellow haze 
of the genial Indian summer day induced the farmer and the mechanic 
to put aside their accustomed labor, to pay a proper tribute to the 
meritorious public services of their soldier neighbors. National banners 
were flung out from all the public buildings, and from many of the 
private residences, and the citizens prepared to enjoy the day. At last 
the delegations from the country began to arrive, coming in wagons, 
carriages, on horseback and on foot, in long lines, headed by bands of 
martial music, with gay bannei's, streamers, mottoes and escutcheons 
waving over all. Almost the entire county tiu-ned out to enjoy the oc- 
casion. Hundreds of soldiers were present, in bright military dress, at 
home on furlough from the active scenes of war, or perhaps just ready to 
go out to join their comrades in the service. At last, when all the long 
delegations had an-ived through the dust, and had begun to wonder 
what was the programme of the day, the Chief Marshal and his assist- 
ants, with red scarfs, appeared on horses, lind formed the numerous 
lines into one long line of teams, fully three miles in length, and 
marched the grand cavalcade, amid the wildest enthusiasm, through the 
principal streets to the fair ground, where the ceremonies of the day 
were to be enacted. Williamsport had never before witnessed a j)ageant 
80 brilliant and imposing. Wagon loads of young ladies, adorned with 
national colors and crowned with garlands of late flowers and autumn 
leaves, passed through the surging streets, drawn by four and six horses. 
A company of soldiers was quickly organized, and marched around be- 
fore the admiring crowd in all those beautiful changes of military evolu- 
tion which so stir the hearts of tbe beholders. Eloquent and patriotic 
speeches from McMullen and Hull were enjoyed, as was also a picnic 
dinner of the choicest viands the country could produce. The Republican 
said: "Such a gathering has not been in this city of rocks since J856." 

The Williaiiiftport Literanj Society. — The county seat settled a few 
very important questions during the winter of 1864-05, to which a refer 
ence in these ])ages will not be amiss. Nearly all the prominent citizens 
joined the society for mutual improvement, in the beneficial encounters 
of debate. The question, " Renoli-ed, That the present wai" will improve 
the morals of the people," was decided almost unanimously in the nega- 
tive, there being but one voice in the atfirmative. A little later, the 
question, " lie-solced, That all men are created equal," was decided un- 
animously in the negative. The real sentiment leading to the last de- 
cision was the hostility to the negro, and not because the house thought 
that all men were }iot created e<iual. The j)oor colored man was yet in 
bad odor. 

Milifari/ (Jjjirers frota Warreii Count y. — Tenth Regiment, three 
months' service; Captains, J. R, M. Bryant and Dickson Fleming; Firet 
Lieutenants, Dickson Fleming, Levin T. Miller; Second Lieutenants, 
L. T. Miller, John F. Compton. J. R M. Bryant became Lieutenant 



130 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Colonel of this regiment. A. C. Walker and J. V. Anderson were Assist- 
ant Surgeons of the Fifteenth Regiment. Tbirty-third Regiment, Cap- 
tains, L. T. Miller, J. P. Neiderauer, H. C.Johnson; First Lieutenants, 
■-^ J. P. Neiderauer, H. C. Johnson, William Norduft; Second Lieuten- 
ants, H. C. Johnson, J. W. Slauter, Thomas Graves. J. P. Neiderauer 
became Lieutenant Colonel and L. T. Miller, Major. Sixty-third Regi- 
ment, H. M. Nourse, Major; A. C Walkei", Surgeon. Seventy-second 
Regiment, Captains (F), Moses Burch, J. L. Dalton; First Lieutenants, 
J. L. Dalton, Johnson Parker; Second Lieutenants, O. E. Harper, J. 
Parker, Moses Nowls; Captains (I), Jesse Hill, John Watts, W. H. Mc- 
Murtry, R. A. Vance ; First Lieutenants, Ira Brown, W. H. McMurtry, 
R. A. Vance, R. C. Clark; Second Lieutenant, John Watts. W. H. Mc- 
Murtry, R. A. Vance, H. C. Cassel, G. J. Foster. Eighty- sixth Regi- 
ment, Adjutant, E. D. Thomas; Surgeon, Joseph Jones; Captain (D), 
Lewis Stevens; First Lieutenants, Jackson Hickson, H. J. Gass; Second 
Lieutenants, H. J. Gass, J. G. DeLurk; Captains (E), Philip Gemmer, 
J. R. Moore, H. M. Billings; First Lieutenants, George Hitch ens, 
J. R. Moore, M. J. Haines; Second Lieutenants, J. R. Moore, M. J. 
Haines, Stephen Cronkhite. One Hundredth Regiment, Company 
G, First Lieutenants, William Burnside, Elijah Young; Second 
Lieutenants, Elijah Young, Asa J. Fisher. One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Regiment (six months). Captain, Samuel C. Fisher; First Lieutenant, 
William Henry; Second Lieutenant, William Moffitt. Eleventh Cav- 
alry, Captains, A. D. Lee, Cyrus Romlne; Second Lieutenants, Cyrus 
Romine, VV. H. Coon. One Hundred and Thirty-tifth Regiment, Cap- 
tain, W. P. Rhodes; First Lieutenant, P. W. Fleming; Second Lieuten- 
ant, J. H. Messner. One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment, Captain, 
William Moffitt; First Lieutenant, J. H. Messner. 

County Bounty and Relief. — The rebellion had no sooner begun than 
the citizens, individually and through the County Commissioners, began 
pledging themselves to provide for the families of volunteers. Shirts 
and blankets for the first volunteers themselves were bought with monej'' 
from the County Treasury. Sundry individuals donated generous sums. 
This was as early as April BO, 1861. During the fall and winter of 1861 
-62, large amounts were paid out to the families at home, about $1,300 
boing thus expended in January and February alone. About the middle 
of April. 1862, in response to a proclamation from Gov. Morton, an 
aid society was organized at Williamsport, with B. S. Wheeler, Pres- 
ident, and S. F. Messner, Secretary. A committee for the county seat, 
and sub committees for the townships were appointed. Physicians and 
nurses were appointed to go to the field, if necessary, to care for the 
wounded sons of Warren on the bloody held of Pittsburg Landing. 
Contributions in cash ran up to about $600 at this time. Washington 
Township raised $93; Pike, $28; Adams. $51; the others unknown. 
Large quantities of delicacies and comforts were packed securely in boxes, 
and forwarded to the field hospitals. Washington Township alone sent off 
eighty-eight rolls of bandages, eighty-five pillow sacks, eight boxes of 
fine linen lint, twelve dozen small baudages, twenty-seven bed sacks, 
thirteen flannel shirts, twenty-four pairs of drawers, one large box of 
lint, one large box of undershirts, drawers, bandages, sheets, etc. At 
the same time, a very large box of canned strawberries, blackberries, 
raspberries, gooseberries, currants, cherries, tomatoes, etc., and jellies 
and jams, and bottles of cordial, was sent with the clothing. All por- 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 131 

tions of the-couufcy did as well in proportion. Not loss than SI, 500 in 
money and necessaries was sent ont of the county at this period. This 
excellent charity was repeateil at intervals, during the warm months of 
1862. Early in December, the ladies organized an aid society at Will- 
iamsport. and immediately similar branch organizations sprang up in 
almost every schoolhouse. The officers of the society at Williams})ort were 
Mrs. B. F. Gregory, President; Mi.ss H. Johnson, Vice President; Mrs. 
Scott Hitchens, Secretary; Mrs. Dilts, Auditor; Mrs. Fannie Hall, Treas- 
urer. All the nece.ssary committees and directresses were appointed. 
Contributions in money and provisions for soldiers' families, to the 
amount of $58, wore received for the week ending December 11. About 
the Ist of January, 18()8, the young ladies of Williamsport organized a 
"Knitting Society," the officex's being Carrie Cox, President; L. Haines, 
Vice President; Sallie Jones, Secretary; MoUie Canutt, Treasurer; 
Mollie Wheeler, Celia Schoonover, and Mell Minier, Donation Commit- 
tee. Liberal donations for buying yarn were secured. A festival was 
held in January, which netted the society about S30. During the 
months of January, February and March, a number of other festivals, 
lectures, donations, etc., were the means of obtaining about §200 in cash, 
and several large boxes of clothing and provisijns. But the exertions 
during the latter part of 1863 were not so great. It was in this year — 
the darkest for the Union cause while the war continued — that many of 
the best citizens lost heart and hope, and feared, if they did not predict, 
the jjcrmanent dissolution of the Union. The Army of the Potomac 
could do nothing with the wily rebel leader confronting it; the letters 
from the boys in the lield were discouraging, and the secret treasonable 
combinations in the Noi'th were multiplying, and numerous bloody out- 
breaks were occurring. But after the fall of Vicksburg people felt 
easier. The star of hope was again in the ascendant, and efforts to re- 
cruit men and secure donations of money, clothing, etc., were joyously 
renewed. The military committees appointed during the war for the 
townships saw that no soldier's family suffered for the necessaries of 
life. Lecture bureaus were established, and the proceeds went into the 
treasuries of these societies. A lecture and festival in the s})ring of 
1864 netted about SIOO. The churches were very active in this direc- 
tion. In the autumn of 1864, after listening to an eloquent sermon 
from Rev. B. Winans, the citizens of the county seat donated $141.67 
for the Sanitary Commission. At this time, the societies all over the 
county were actively at work. By June. 1862, so much had been paid 
out by the county to soldiers' families, that the Commissioners became 
alarmed, and issued notice that all soldiers would be expected to send 
home part of their wages to their families. In July, a county bounty 
of ^10 was paid to each volunteer under the last call for 300,000 men. 
Soon afterward, all soldiers' families in need of assistance were ordered 
paid 50 cents a we«^k for women and 2'} cents a week for children. In 
June, 1863, the county bought §^5,000 worth of State bonds that (lov. 
Morton was compelled to issue, to carry on the expenses of the State. 
Under the call of October, 1863, for 30l),bOO men, the county offered S40 
bounty to each volunteer who would enter the service from Warren 
County. At the same time, needy soldiers' wives were ordered paid 
$3.25 per month, and children $1,10 i)er month. In February and 
March, 18^4, the county bounty was raised to $100, The Commissioners 
were obliged to issue $5,150 in bomls to meet the demand for money 



132 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

paid as bounty. For the year ending May 31, 1864. $10,966.07 was 
paid to Vvar families, and $11,970 to volunteers. In December, 1864, 
women were paid $5 per month, and children $2 per month. The county 
bounty during the last two months of the war was $400 to each recruit. 
For the year ending May 31, 1865, the county bounty paid was $37,466, 
and the relief $14,407.75. Prior to about the year 1868, the county had 
paid out a total bounty of $73,456, and relief $39,081.08. During the 
same period, all the townships paid out what was called " township 
bounty" to the amount of $48,530.50, and relief, $7,371.50. Thus War- 
ren County paid out, in bounty and relief, the grand total of $168,- 
439.08. 

Opposition to the War. — Of course the county had its disloyal ele- 
ment — the element that persisted in wearing butternut breastpins on 
public occasions; that shouted for Vallandigham or Jeff Davis when 
there was no danger of " having a head put on them;" that asked you 
the pertinent question, "Do you want your sister to marry a nigger?" 
and when you wovild answer "No," would chuckle, as if they had an- 
swered the demand of the colored race for freedom. A great many dis- 
turbances of a minor nature occurred in the county, over questions 
gi'owing out of the war. One of the first acts, early in 1861, was to take 
an avowed secessionist from his house and compel him to take the oath 
of allegiance. Savage, bloody fights occasionally took place. Even 
women met at lonely cross roads to settle imaginary political insults. 
Eye-witnesses testify that such encounters were tei-riffic. The air would 
be filled with mysterious articles of apparel, piercing, horrid yells would 
resound, and the sod would be torn up as if a Kansas tornado had visited 
the spot. Treasonable secret societies were organized, and even public 
mass-meetings were held to denounce the war and the administration, 
and partially encourage a resistance to the enlistments and the drafts. 
The less said on this subject the better; it should be buried forever, 
without hope of resurrection. 

Lincoln' s Second Inauguration. — Early in March, 1865, the citizens 
of Williamsport and vicinity, and many from other portions of the 
county, met at the court house to celebrate the second inauguration of 
President Lincoln. Bells were rung, anvils firod, buildings decorated, 
banners flung out and a general time of joy and congratulations ensued. 
Speeches were delivered by Durborow, Rice, Steele and others. In the 
evening, although the roads were very muddy, a large crowd assembled 
to witness the illumination. Buildings were illuminated from cellar to 
garret, and a huge bonfire was built on the streets. A most enjoyable 
time was passed. 

The Close of the Rebellion. — When the news was received that the 
army of Northern Virginia, under Gen. Lee, had surrendered to Gen. 
Grant, on the 9th of April, 1865, the joy of the people rose like a tem- 
pest, and found quiet only in long-continued jubilees. There was scarce- 
ly a neighborhood in the county where the citizens did not assemble to 
mingle their rejoicings. Williamsport went wild. Dignity, old age, 
self-esteem, sex — everything was forgotten in the gladness that filled all 
hearts, and all shouted themselves hoarse over the glorious news. The 
citizens met at the court house the evening of the 10th of April. Every- 
body wanted to do something; a perfect tumult seized the meeting; the 
ancient confusion of tongues seemed to have been re-enacted; but all 
was done with the most intense manifestations of joy. Glee clubs sang 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 138 

until their voices sounded like the tomb. Three times threr^ and a ti<;or 
resounded for everythinj^. The demonstrations were carried far into 
the night, and were revived again for several days. 

The Assassination of President Lincoln. — Before the joy over the close 
of the rebellion had ended, the painful news was received that Lincoln 
had been assassinated. The revulsion in public feeling was sicbming. 
Many a man and woman had learned to love the name of Abraham Lin- 
coln He had led them through four long years of darkness and death 
— had been the cloud by day and pillar of lire by night through all the 
starless gloom of war; and now. when the sunlight of victoiy had 
lighted the national heart with boundless joy, and every eye was dim, 
and every knee was bent in grateful thanksgiving, to have the beloved 
Lincoln cut down so shamefully and untimely was indeed bitter and hard 
to bear. Scores burst into tears, as if they had lost their dea)'est friend. 
All business was suspended, and the citizens were notified to assemble at 
the court house, where^ speeches were delivered in eulogy of the beloved 
dead by Joice, Durborow and Gregory. A. C. Durborow. J. H. Brown 
and W. P. Rhodes were appointed a committee to draft memorial resolu- 
tions, and the meeting adjourned until evening, when a much larger 
audience assembled a+ the Methodist Chm'ch. Over the altar was hung 
a fine, life-sized portrait of the murdered President, around and over 
which were immortelles of evergreen and the sable trappings of death. 
A long series of resolutions was adopted, two of which were as follows: 

Resolved, That wo look with detestation and horror on tlie awful crime of trea- 
son, which, baffled in its aims, has sated its revenge in the blood of the chosen 
ruler of the nation. 

Resolred, That while we mourn over the untimely end of our late President, we 
recur with pride to his noble traits of character, kindness of heart and sympathy for 
the oppressed, which will inscribe liis name on the page of history as the friend of 
the people and the benefactor of mankind. 

Short and touching eulogies were delivered by J. H. Brown, B. F 
Gregory, W. P. Rhodes, Revs. Steele and Joice and others, and a 
mournful psalm from David was chanted by a select choir. Several days 
elapsed before the universal distress passcvd away. The news of the capt- 
ure of Jeff Davis in petticoats at length revived the public heart. 

Return of the SoldierBoi/s. — During the warmer mont);is of 1805, the 
soldiers retxu-ned from the wai", and were met with open arms and throb- 
bing hearts by loved ones and friends. The flag the} had carried 
through so many bloody campaigns was returned to the citizens, who 
had presented it to the brave boys before they went away, so proud and 
valiant, four years before. The shattered companies were usually re- 
ceived publicly, with formal ceremony, and tine swords, or other elegant 
mementoes were presented to those who had done some specially distin- 
guished service. Many a boy who had gone away so bright and brave, 
with a mother's kiss upon his brow, was left in a patriot's grave, far down 
in the Sunny South. Others left limljs among the magnolias or cypress 
swaiiii)s, or returned with fearful scars and broken constitutions. Some 
were brought home and buried by loving friends. Their graves may be 
seen in the county's cemeteries, where th(* grass sj)reads its carpet of 
green velvet, and where clusters of bright flowers are patiently watched 
by-faithful hearts. The county is doing a mo.-^t excellent work in plac- 
ing neat marble slabs over the preciotis du.st of the brave boys. It may 
be said that the citizens usually observe Decoration Day. The heroes 
must not be forgotten. 



134 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

A public reception was given the returned boys at Williamsport, July 
27, 1865, on which occasion a larcre,crowd gathered. Capt. Park was 
President of the Day. The Williamsport Brass Band furnished tiae 
music. The soldiers were mustered and marched around, to show the 
perfection at which they had arrived in field evolutions. Hon, James 
Wilson was the princiqal orator, delivering a long, eloquent, welcoming 
address. Cols. Miller and Kirkpatrick, of the Seventy- second Regiment, 
spoke in high terms of the Warren County boys. The Marshdeld Glee 
Club sang thrilling war songs. A large meeting was held at West Leb- 
anon, to welcome the returned soldiers, and probably at other places in 
the county. 

Summary of Troops from Warren County. — It is next to impossible 
to give the names of every regiment containing men from Wari'en 
County. An attempt will be made, however, to give the approximate 
number of men sent by the county to the field. According to the report 
of the Adjutant General, the county had furnished, by the '20th of Sep- 
tember, 1862, a total of 1,180 volunteers. Using this as a basis, and 
considering that the county afterward filled her various quotas, the total 
credits can be obtained, at least approximately. The quota of June, 1863, 
was about 40 men; that of October, 1863, was 129 men; that of February, 
1864, was 248 men; that of March, 1864, was 99 men; that of July, 
1864, was 267 men, and that of December, 1864, thft last call of the 
war, was 133 men. Adding these numbers together, 1,180, 40, 129, 
248, 99, 267, 133, and a grand total of 2,096 men is obtained. In ad- 
dition to this, at the close of the war, as will be seen by the table a few 
pages back, the county had furnished a surplus over all calls of seventeen 
men; this, added to the above total, gives 2,113 men. This is certainly 
a remarkable showing, and it is not far from correct. Of course each 
man was counted as oftfen as he enlisted. If a man sei'ved in the three 
months' service, and then in the six months service, and then in the one 
hundred days service, and then in the three years service, he was 
counted four times, to make up the above total of 2,113 men. 

Battles in which Warren County Men Participated. — The Tenth 
Begiment was engaged at Bich Mountain, Va., July, 1861; Mill 
Springs, Ky., January, 1862; Corinth; Chaplin Hills, or Perryville, Ky., 
October, 1862; Chickamauga, Ga., September, 1863; Mission Bidge, 
Ga. , November, 1863; Dallas, Ga., May, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain. Ga., 
Junej 1864; Atlanta, Ga., August, 1864. 

Thirty- third Begiment was engaged at Wild Cat, Ky., October, 1861; 
Cumberland Gap, Ky., "June, 1862; Thompson's Station, Tenn., March. 
1863 (whei'e 400 were captured and 100 killed and wounded); Besaca, 
Ga., May, 1804; Cassville, May, 1864; New Hope Church, May, 1864; 
Golgotha Church. June, 1864; Gulp's Farm, June, 1864; Kenesaw 
Mountain, June, 1864; Marietta, Ga., July, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, 
July, 1864; Chattahoochie Biver. August, 1864; Atlanta, August, 1864; 
Columbia, Tenn.. November. 1864; Averysboro, N. C, March, 1865; 
BentonviUe, N. C, March, 1865. 

Fortieth Begiment — Stone Biver, December, 1862 (losing 9 killed, 
63 wounded and 13 missing); Chickamauga, September, 1863; Lookout 
Mountain, November, 1863; Mission Ridge, November, 1863; Dallas, 
May, 1864; New Hope Church, May, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June, 1864; 
Chattahoochie Biver, August, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, July, 1864; 
Besaca, May, 1864; Atlanta, August, 1864; Franklin, November, 1864. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 135 

Sixtieth Repfiment — IVIunfordsville, September. 1864 (where seven 
companies were captured); Arkansas Post, January, 1803; Port Gibson, 
May, 1863; Champion Hills, May, 1803; Black Kiver, May, 1803; 
Yicksburg, June, 1803; Jackson, July, 18()3; Corteau Plains, La.. No- 
vember, 18G3; Sabine Cross Roads, La., April, 1804; Carrioii Crow 
Bayou, November, 1804. 

Seventy-second Regiment — Hoover's Gap, Tenn., June, 1803; Rock 
Springs, Ga., September, 1863; Cbickamauga, September. 1863; Moores- 
ville, Ala., November, 1803; Atlanta campaign, numerous skirmi.shes; 
Ebenezer* Church, Ala. , April, 1865; Macon, Ga., April, 1805; Selma, 
Ala., April, 1805; West Point, Ala., April, 1805. 

Eighty-sixth Regiment — Stone River, Dficember, 1862; Chickamauga, 
September, 1803; Lookout Mountain, November, 1803; Mission Ridge, 
November, 1803 (where the regiment was the storming column); Rocky 
Face Ridge, May, 1804; Resaca, May, 1804; Adainsville, May, 1804; 
Kingston, June, 1804; Pickett's Mills, June, 1804; Kenesaw Mountain, 
June. 1864; Chattahoochie River, August, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, July, 
1864; Atlanta, August, 1804; Jonesboro, September, 1804; Lovejoy's 
Station, September, 1804; Franklin, November, 1804; Nashville, De- 
cember, 1804. 

One Hundredth Regiment — Yicksburg, June, 1803; Jackson, July, 
1803; Mission Ridge. November, 1803; Graysville. November, 1863; 
New Hope Church, May, 1804; Resaca, May, 'l 804; Dallas, May, 1804; 
Kenesaw Mountain, June, 1804; Decatur, July, 1804; Chattahoochie 
River, August, 1864; Atlanta, August, 1804; Jonesboro, September. 
1864; Lovejoy's Station, September, 1864; Bentonville, N. C, March, 
1865. 

One Hundred and Sixteeiith Regiment— Blue Springs, October, 
1863; Walker's Ford, December, 1863. 

WARREN county's ROLL OF HONOR. 

The following, though imperfect, and doubtless containing errors, is 
compiled with much care from the Adjutant General's reports, and from 
the recollection of several boys who served in the regiment. It is the 
best list that can be given. t 

Thirtjj -third Regiment — John Q. Goodwine died at Savannah, Ga. , 
March, 1865; Henry C. Gibson, died at Nashville, Mai'ch, 1864; 
Thomas J. Goodwine, killed at Atlanta, August, 1864; Marcus L. 
Hatten, killed at Peach Tree Creek, July, 1864; Samuel J. Williams, 
killed at Peach Tree Creek. July. 1804; Samuel Lee, died at Indian- 
apolis, January, 1804 (in the Eleventh Cavalry); Robert Ford, died 
at Crab Orchard, Va., 1801. 

Fortieth Regiment — Richard Bunce. drowned in Tennessee River, 
April, 1802; Lewis H. Bunnell, kilhul at Mission Ridge, November, 
1863; Joseph Kerr, killed December, 1804; John Riggs, died at Bards- 
town, Ky., January, 1802; John C. Steedmau, died at home, October, 
1804. 

Sixtieth Regiment — C. J. Clinsing, died at Milliken's Bend, April, 
1863; W. M. Allen, died fit Bowling Green, Ky., July, 1862; G. M. 
Briggs, died at Lome; Columbus Bookwater, died at Indianapolis, June, 
1862; H^nry M. Bowman, died at New Orleans, February, 1864; Perry 
J. Coffett, killed at Corteau Plains, November, 1863; William H. Cook, 
died in Warren County, October, 1863; J. M. Crane, died at Milliken's 



136 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Bend, March, 18GB; John F. Jackson, died at Memphis, Tenn. ; A. C, 
Johnson, died at Warrenton, Miss., June, 3 863; Dudley R. Potter, sup- 
posed to have died at St. Louis; John H. Shimp, died at Young's Point, 
February, 1863; Levi Swarts, died at Thibodeaux, La., September, 1864; 
Isaac J. W. Waldrip, died in Warren County, October, 1863; Matthew 
Warbritton. died at Young's Point, February, 1863; John T. Welch, died 
January, 1863, of wounds; M. V, Williams, died at Barry's Landing; 
John H. Davis, died at Vicksburg, December, 1863; Jacob Hessler, died 
at St. Louis, May, 1863; William Landen, died at St. Louis, March, 
1864. 

Seventy -second Regiment — Elisha Cadwallader, died at Bowling 
Green, Ky.., November, 1862; Charles J. Burch, died at Gallatin, 
Tenn., January, 1863; David Aldridge, died at Scottsville, Ky., Decem- 
ber, 1862; Luther Briar died at Murfreesboro, April, 1863; Thomas 
Casad, killed at Rock Spring, Ga., September, 1863; Daniel Crowell, 
died at Louisville, April, 1865; John M. Hewitt, died at Castalian 
Springs, Tenn., December, 1862; Elisha J. Holycross, killed at Rock 
Spring, Ga., September, 1863; Benjamin F. Laban, died at Bowling 
Green, December, 1862; Samuel M. Liggate, died at Gallatin, Tenn., 
December, 1862; George W. Mathis, killed at Rock Spring, September, 
1863; Henry E. Millhollen, died at Murfreesboro, March, 1863; Jasper 
N. Millhollen, died at Murfreesboro, March, 1863; James C. Moore, died 
at Scottsville, Ky., December, 1862; John A. Nixon, killed at Rock 
Spring, September, 1863; Benjamin F. Pugh, died at Gallatin, Febru- 
ary, 1863; William Pugh, died at Louisville, November, 1862; 
Josephus M. Pugh, died at Bardstown, November, 1862; George W. 
Pugh, died at Louisville, November, 1862; Harvy Schoonover, died of 
wounds at Chattanooga, September, 1863; William Warbrittnu, died at 
Scottsville, December, 1862; George Brooks, killed at Rock Springs, 
September, 1863; Henry Ogboru, died at Murfreesboro, April, 1863; 
Andrew Rater, died at Gallatin, February, 1863; John M. Roach, died 
at Gallatin March, 1863; Alfred Burt, died of wounds at Chattanooga, 
January, 1864; Jesse Hatcher, died January, 1865; James Kidney, died 
at Marietta, Ga., August, 1864; Samuel H. Bowlus, died at Columbia, 
Tenn., July, 1804. 

Eighty-sixth Regiment — John D. Brown, died at Nashville, January, 
1863; James S. Butcher, died at Nashville, March, 1865; Martin V. 
Simmerman, supposed to have been lost on steamer Sultana; Charles 
W. B. Gilg«r, died at Nashville of wounds, J-nuary, 1863; Jackson 
Jacobs, died of wounds at Stone River, January, 1863; Anson High, 
died in prison, Richmond. Va., January, 1863; Samuel S. Good, died at 
Nashville, February, 1863; William Pye, died at Perryville, October, 
1862; Elias Brady, died at Chattanooga, December, 1863; John Beaver, 
died at Annapolis, Md., February. 1863; Archibald Goats, died at Silver 
Springs, November, 1862; Thomas J. Freeman, died at Bowling Green, 
November, 1862; Joshua Gerard, died at NashviUe, February, 1863; 
James Guest, died of wounds at Nashville, January, 1863; Wallace B. 
Hanks, died at Nashville, February, 1863; Nathan Hickman, died at 
Nashville, March, 1863; John Krise, died at Nashville, March, 1863; 
William Lamb, killed at Stone River, December, 1862; Robert Maw- 
hereter, died at Nashville, January, 1863; Thomas J. McCartney, killed 
at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July, 1864; William Oglesby, died at Mur- 
freesboro, March, 1863; Nathan C. Pringle, killed at Stone River, De- 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 137 

cember, 1862; John Richards, died in Andersonville Prison, September, 
1864; J^mes E. Ruloson, di^d of wounds received at Mission Ridge, 
November, 18G8; Lewis Stutzol, died at New Albany, Ind., January, 
18C3; Lysandor Sweeny, died at Nashville, March. 1805; Samuel Alex 
aJider, died at Indianapolis, April, 1S62; Frederick Sheets, died at 
home, November, 1804; Isaac Sellers, died at AVilliamsport, Ind., 
October, 1804; Abram Fisher, killed at Stone River, December, 
1802; John M. Shipps, died at Murfreesboro, February, 1803; 
William Anderson, died at Nashville, January, 1808; John Bain- 
bridge, died at Bowling Gre; n. November, 1802; Edward H. Barkshire, 
died at Nashville, January. 1803; William F. Bush, died at Danville, 
Ky., November, 1802; Henry M. Butler, died at Nashville, January, 
1803; James H. Clinton, killed at Stone River, December, 1802; Will- 
iam M. Crawford, died at Camp Dennisou, Ohio. December, 1802: John 
H. Crawford, died at Silver Springs. November, 1802; Luke Cronkhite, 
died of wounds at Louisville, August, 1804; Hem*y C. Cronkhite, killed 
at Mission Ridge, November, 1803; William H. Crow, died ai Louis- 
ville, Jun«, 1803; Oliver M. Evans, died at Nashville, January, 1803: 
William B. Fleming, killed at Stone River, December, 1802; Milton 
Gallamore, killed at Mission Ridge, November, 1803; Peter Griner, 
died at Nashville, March, 1805; B. H. Henderson, died at Nashville, 
January, 1863; William C. Hunter, died at Nashville, February, 1803; 
James D. Johnson, died at Nashville, January, 1803; John A. Johnson, 
died January, 1803, of wounds received at Stone River; Solomon Eighty, 
died at Knoxville, January, 1804; Samuel Rosebraugh. died at Gallatin, 
January, 1803; Watson C. Swank, died October, 1802; John Wilson 
died at Louisville, November, 1802; Harrison H. AVoodard, died at 
Murfreesboro. May, 1803. 

One Hundredth Regiment. — Cornelius Hunt, died at Calhoun, Tenn., 
January, 1804; George N. Campbell, died at Atlanta, January, 1804; 
George Doty, killed at Mission Ridge, November, 1803; Alfred Gerard, 
died at Colliersville, April, 1803; Amos Gaskill, died at La Grange, 
Tenn., January, 1803; William D. Little, killed at Mission Ridge, No- 
vember, 1803; Allen Miniear, died at Camp, Sherman, Miss., August, 
1803; James U. Nelson, killed at Atlanta, Ga., August, 1804; Thomas 
W. Powell, died at Indianapolis, May, 1805; Charles Wakeman, died 
at Scottsboro, January, 1804. 

Miscellaneous. — William W. Goodwin, died at Bridgeport, Ala., 
Juno, 1804 (One Hundred and Thirty-fifth); William Goodwino, died at 
Frederick, Md., March, 1804 .(One Hundred aud Fiftieth); William H. 
Hann, died at Wheeling, Va., March, 1805 (One Huncb-ed and Fiftieth); 
James S. Young, died at Frederick, Md., April, 1805 (One Hundred 
and Fiftieth); W. D B. Wright, died at Indianapolis. April, 1805 (One 
Hundred and Fifty-fourth); Leander M. Scott, died at Indianapolis, 
May, 1805 (One Hundred and Fifty- fourth): Samuel Lee. died at In- 
dianapolis, May, 1805 (Eleventh Cavalry). 



138 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 



EDUCATION IN WARREN COUNTY. 



BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED. 



THE EARLY SCHOOLS. 

At the time of the creation of Warieu County, and foi' a number of 
years afterward, the State of Indiana was not blessed with the common 
school system of to-day. The constitution of the State provided for the 
sale of certain lands in each county, to be used in the maintenance of 
Common schools, but aside from that means children were mainly edu- 
cated at the expense of their parents, in the old " subscription schools." 
The county was no sooner organized than advantage was taken of the 
constitutional provision for the sale of such lands (Sections 16). and as 
early as 1828 the County School Commisioner was notified to advertise 
the sale of such sections near Williamsport, near Independence, near 
Lebanon, near Gopher Hill and perhaps elsewhere. This was accord- 
ingly done, and small portions of such sections were sold, and the pro- 
ceeds used to pay the pioneer teachers, build and maintain the old log 
cabins first used as schoolhouses. The first schools of the county were 
taught in 1828, the expenses of which were paid by private subscrip- 
tion. The heaviest expense then fell on the families containing the 
greatest number of children, and these were usually the families least 
able to sustain such expenses, and as a necessary conseqiience in that 
early day, the children grew up without the advantages of education. 
The first schoolhouses of the county were rude log dwellings, which had 
been deserted by som« family that had found the hardship of settling 
the new county too great to be borne, or log dwellings in which the fam- 
ily still lived, one corner in the single room of which would be fitted up 
with rude clapboard seats and desks. Testaments were the first readers, 
and mediocres the first teachers. Ability to road, write and cipher con- 
stituted the sum and substance of a teacher's qualifications. Schools were 
started in the most thickly populated sections, no districts having been 
created, nor any school money from any source, except private subscrip- 
tion, having been provided. The proceeds from the sale of school sec- 
tions were positive blessings to the pioneer children. 

Several schools were taught in the county in 1829 — one at Williams- 
port, one at Gopher Hill, one near West Lebanon, one at Independence, 
one in the vicinity of Green Hill, and perhaps others. Every one was 
a subscription school. It is time to retract the statement made above 
that all early teachers were mediocres. Several men very prominent in 
subsequent affairs of the county were amongst the earliest teachers. Col. 
Lucas, Perrin Kent and others taught some of the earliest schools in tlie 
county. Col. Lucas taught many terms in the vicinity of his home in 
the southwestern part. He was very severe with the offenders, as all 
early teachers were compelled to be, owing to the size and roughness of 
the young men who attended, and more than one middle-aged man in 
that part of the county can to-day tell of the hard " lickings" they re- 
ceived at his hands. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 139 



SCHOOLHOUSES AND SCHOOL FUNDS. 



After the old dwellings which were first used for school purposes, 
came the renowned pionoor lo<jf schoolbouses, with their huge chimney, 
their windows of greased paper and their seats and desks made of clap- 
boards or rough, unplaned plank from some early saw mill. In the 
thirties, quite early, fitber school funds were provided. In 1884, the 
profits ari.siug from tho management of the State Bank were reserved as 
a school fund. This was called the bank school fund. Tbe fund from 
the sale of school sections was called Congressional school fund. In 
February. 1S.37, the act of the Legislature became law, which provided 
for the distribution, to the various counties, of the surplus revenue fund 
donated to the several States by the United States, by virtue of an act 
of Congress approved June 23, 1836. This fund, distributed to the 
several counties of the State, was. to be loaned out to the citizens of the 
county, and the annual interest was to be distributed to the various town- 
ships for the support of common schools. It will be seen that, as yet, 
no taxation for the support of common schools had been levied upon 
property, and that the support of such schools, aside from the special 
funds, fell upon the families having children, and not upon those having 
money or property and no children. Such taxation, at that day, was re- 
garded as unjust (that is, taxation upon property for the support of com- 
mon schools). Many men withuiit children and with large wealth — 
men of to-day— take the same view. Such men, if financially poor, 
with many children, would be sure to think otherwise — " circum- 
stances alter cases." Besides the school funds above referred to, for 
the support of the common school, there were various special school 
funds, as the county seminary fund, the university fund, the saline 
fund and the bank tax fund (not the State bank fund), all of which were 
provided to support special school institutions of the State. Tho Con 
gressional school fund and the surplus revenue fund have ever since been 
the life-blood of the common schools. The fund was to be loaned in the 
counties upon good security, and was to draw 7 per .centum interest an- 
nually, payable in advance, and was not to be loaned for a period longer 
than five years. In 1844, the surplus revenue fund at interest 
amounted to $6,303.93, which at 7 per cent interest would furnish about 
$440, to be distributed to the townships. As' the Congressional fund on 
interest amounted to $8,649 02, the total annually distributed to the 
towuships at that time amounted to about $1,100. Several Congressional 
townships were not organized until comparatively late years, and by that 
time their school fund at intere.st had so accumulated, that the interest 
itself had become a large fund, which was put out at interest as fast as 
it accrued. Various amendments and supplementary enactments were 
passed after the funds above-mentioned w^re reserved for the uses men- 
tioned. Alany important alterations wore made at the time of the revis- 
ion of the statutes in 1843, but under the constitution of 1816 no system 
of free schools could be supported by public taxation. During the latter 
part of the forties, the question of tree public schools began to receive 
serious consideration all over the State. B. F, Gregory and others were 
earnestly in favor of the measure, and did much to mold public opinion 
in that direction. Mr. Gregory was County School Commissioner late 
in the forties, and so earnest had been his efforts to improve the schools 
of the county that, when he went out of office in 1849, the County 



140 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Board had 'spread upon the records the following resolution of 
thanks : 

Resolved, That the thanks of this board be, and they are hereby tendered ta 
Benjamin F. Gregory, Esq.. late School Commissioner, for the prompt and efficient 
manner in which he lias discharged the duties of his said office, to the satisfaction 
of the board and of the community, whose educational interests he has had iu 
charge. 

In August, 1848, while Mr. Gregory was yet in office, the county was 
called upon to vote upon the question of having free common schools. 
Nine hundred and fifty- six votes w«re polled in favor of such schools, 
and one hundred and fifty-seven votes against the same. The vote 
throughout the State was equally satisfactory, and accordingly, when the 
constitution was revised in 1850, the General Assembly was authorized 
" to provide by law for a general and uniform system of common schools, 
wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all. " In 
accordance with this constitutional provision, the General Assembly, by 
an act approved June 14, 1852, provided " That there shall be annually 
assessed and collected (for the use of free public schools), as the State 
and coitnty revenues are assessed and collected, on the list of property 
taxable for State purposes, the sum of 10 cents on each $100." This 
was the great beginning of the present free school system — one of the 
most important eras in the history of the State. At the same time, by 
the same enactment, and in accordance with the new constitution, the 
school funds known as Congressional, surplus revenue, bank tax, com- 
mon school, saline, county seminary and all other common school funds, 
were constituted a perpetual fund for the support of free public schools. 
At the same time, important alterations and additions to the management 
of common schools were adopted. From that period to this, various 
special school funds have been created, until, at the present time, the 
county school fund is in the condition given in tabular form in another 
chapter of this volume. 

In 1853, there were twenty -three schoolhouses in Warren County, 
and in 1878 there were eighty-three. A few frame schoolhouses were 
erected in the thirties, and quite a number in the forties; but for all the 
loncy period up to about 1854 log schoolhouses were decidedly the rule. 
At the latter date, however, under the impulse given to education by the 
new school law, frame houses began to succeed the old log ones, and by 
1878 there was not a log schoolhouse in the county, and of the eighty- 
three buildings nine were of brick and seventy-four were of wood. 
Teachers' institutes were first held during the sixties, and the first 
oratorical contest among the teachers of the county was in February, 
1883. 

HIGH SCHOOLS. 

It is impossible, in the space at the command of the historian, to detail 
the establishment and subsequent management of the county schools. Quite 
a respectable volume might be written of the affairs of each school district. 
It will be sufficient to say that Warren County has excellent country 
schools, and those in the villages and towns will compare favorably with 
any in the State in places of no greater population. The schools of 
West Lebanon and Williamsport are fully up to the standard of the 
times. The present brick school building at West Lebanon was erected 
in 1867, at a cost of about $6,000. It has four commodious rooms, 
with accommodations for about 240 pupils. The large, square, two-story 



HISTORV OF WARIIKN COUNTY. 141 

brick school building at Williumsport was coDstructed in 1S74, and is 
said to have cost about ^12,000. It is a credit to the towu. Consider- 
able trouble has been exjierieuced with the teachers (or, perhaps, rather 
with some of the patrons), but the pr-jsent capable Principal. W. K. 
Walker, is pouring oil on the troubled waters, and creating order and 
harmony out of chaos. Rainsvill^, Pine Village, Independence have 
good schools. The present two-storied frame schoolhouso at Kainsville 
cost about Si, 200, and was erected about 1875 or 1870. Pine Village 
built a tine frame schoolhouse in about 1879, the cost amounting to about 
$1,000. Marshtield has had to enlarge her schoolhouse. The schools 
mentioned in the preceding pages were })ablic schools, but there is not a 
neighborhood in the coimty where private schools have not been taught. 
But it is now necessary to notice the private and special school institu- 
tions of the county. 

THE WARREN COUNTY SEMINARY. 

An early law of the State of Indiana provided that certain tines be- 
fore Justices of the Peace and in Circuit Courts should be paid into a 
fund that afterward, when the aggregate had reached a specified amount 
(§400), might be used in building a county seminary. This was long 
before the present system of common schools was adopted, and was re 
garded with great favor by the majority of citizens throughout the State. 
It was designed to be the next step above the ordinary subscription 
schools of that day, and to bo an institution to prepare students, who so 
desired, to enter college. A Seminary Trustee was appointed, whose 
duty was to take care of the funds as they accumulated. The enactment 
of the Legislature creating the county, provided that 10 per centum of 
the proceeds of the sale of county lots shoul^Ji go into the seminary fund. 
The tirst Trustee was Daniel 11. Parker, appointed in November, 1829. 
Fines for assault and battery, fur stealing, drunkenness, profanity, etc., 
etc., went into the seminary fund. In November, 1881, the fund 
amounted to Sll.'JG.'f One of the tines included in this amount was as- 
sessed upon Rebecca Dawson for an assault and battery upon the person 
of Nancy Clemons — ^the tine being $1. B. Cheneweth was the Justice 
who levied the tine. He also levied another against Shuman and Sam- 
uel Barber, for (piarreling on Sunday. James H. Buel became Trustee 
in May, 1881; William Search in September, 1881: Nicholas Shaffer in 
1882; Jonathan AVashington in 1888, and Hiram Farmer in 1884. In 
January, 1888, the fund amounted to $47.78: in March, 1884 to 
S127.4-1; in May, 1885, to $158.27.^; in January, 1886,(0 $208.78|, 
and in September, 1889, to S898.77. Robert A. Chandler became 
Trustee in 1888, and George 15. Joiner in March. 1842. After 1848, the 
County Treasurer seems to have been Trustee. In January, 1841, the 
seminary fund amounted to S18G. 14; in December, 1841, to $570.01; in 
December, 1842, to $()18.40; in D(>cembor, 1840, to .$802.08; in May 
1848. to $870.80; in June. 1849, to $1,024.28. 

In June, 1848, B. F. Gregory and others i)etitioned the Countv 
Comujissioners to use the fund cm hand Tor the erection of a county 
seminary, which petition was favorably consithu-ed by the board, and the 
following connniltee was appoint(\l to purchase the best site that could 
be securi'd in the U)wn of Williamsport as a ground for the building : 
B. F. Gregoiy. C. R. Boyer, J. H. Bueli, J. R. M. Bryant and J. J. 
McAlilly — all excellent men. About this time, a delegation from Leb- 



142 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

anon, headed by Delos Warren, petitioned the board to have the site 
located at that town, but the petition was not favorably regarded, and 
was linally denied. The above committee bought three lots in Williams- 
port, with the understanding that payment for the same should be paid 
out of money which had been subscribed for that purpose. This arrange- 
ment was made in order that all the seminary fund on hand might be 
used to defray the expense of constructing the building, the cost of 
which would, even then, according to the estimate made, considerably 
exceed the amount on hand. The scheme continued to mature, and 
early in 1850 the contract of erecting the building was awarded to Rich- 
ard Treadway, who agreed to do the entire work for $1,699. This was 
nearly $700 more than the fund on hand, and the Commissioners, in 
order to complete the house as designed, issued ^ seminary orders " for 
the additional amount, which orders were to be paid as the fund accu- 
mulated. The structui'e was of brick, was two stories high, and, after it 
had been painted and penciled in August, 1850. was a handsome edifice. 
The inside work was not wholly completed until December, 1850, at 
which time the building was formally accepted of the contractor, who was 
then paid the last installment of the contract price. The name of the 
first teacher in this house cannot be stated. During the winter of 1850- 
51, the building was rented to the school district at Williamsport, and 
a four months' school was taught therein. District school was also 
taught in it the following summer. An enactment of the Legislature in 
1852, at which time the present common school system was founded, 
provided for the sale of the county seminary, and for the payment of 
the proceeds thereof into the common school fund. Accordingly, the 
building and grounds were advertised for sale. As near as could be 
learned by the writer, the building was not really sold until April, 1857, at 
which time Henry Regar bid it in for $700. This pui'chase included the 
land upon which the building stood — Lots 78, 79 and 82 of the West 
Addition to Williamsport. Some strong evidence was found that the 
building had been sold before, but if such was the case it was afterward 
forfeited. School was taught in it all the time. Mr. Goodwin con- 
ducted a high school in it for some time, and owned the building, or 
perhaps he rented it of Mr. Regar, or of the County Agent, whoever 
owned it. But the sale to Mr. Regar proved worthless, and the building 
reverted to the county. In July. 1862, the Trustees of W^illiamsport 
Lodge, No. 38, A., F. & A. M., purchased the property for $810. This 
proved to be a good sale, and after that date the building was the prop- 
erty of the Masonic Lodge. How the men who had advanced money to 
build the house were finally reimbursed cannot be stated. It will thus 
be seen that the county seminary, as such, was a total failure; but only 
because no sooner was the house completed and its management fully 
mapped out, than it was ordered sold by the Legislature, and the pro- 
ceeds ordered into the common school fund. Thus terminated what was 
expected to be a popular and successful institution of learning. 

THE STATE LINE CITY SEMINARY. 

In the year 1860, a stock company was formed at State Line City 
for the purpose of providing means to build a seminary. The town was 
then very prosperous, and from all appearances was destined to become 
a populous and important place. The enumeration had run up to about 
one hundred and fifty — far beyond the limits of an ordinary village 



HISTORY OF WAUUEN COUNTY. 148 

school; hut wLi.it projuptod tho citi/.eas to undertake the seminary proj- 
ect WHS the demand for a higher education than could be furnished by 
the town school. Many younj^ men and women in tho neij^hborhood con- 
templated attendin<^ school abroad, and the parents saw that it would be 
wise to provide at home an institution which would meet that demand, 
and which would, at tho same time, add materially to the worth and at- 
tractiveness of the prosperous youn^f town. The stock company was ac- 
cordingly formed, some of tlie stockholders bein^ Col. Iv F. Lucas, A. 
Y. Taylor, Perrin Kent, Darius Duncan, J. 11. Johnson, B. F. Mar[)le 
and James Lewis. Almo.st all the principal citizens of the town and 
surrounding country took stock in the institution. Elbridge Marshall, 
who became the first Principal of the seminary, was largely instrumental 
in working up the project. Col. Lucas donated about ten acres of land 
adjoining the town on the east to the uses of the seminary. Tho Town- 
ship Trustee gave about SOOO toward the cost of constructing the house, 
with the understanding that the lower story should be used, more or less, 
for the school district at the village. The building erected was a two- 
storied brick structure, about 40x'"')C) feet, and cost not far from S5, ()()(). 
It was an excellent building for the liitle town, and immediately after 
its erection school was begun by Mr. Marshall, who received his pay from 
tuition charged the pupils, and employed one or more assistants to help 
him manage the students — about one hundred and twenty-five — that at- 
tended. The greater number of the students came from a distance, and 
were thus obliged to board in town while they attended the school. The 
school was thoroughly graded, and in the department taught by Mr. 
Marshall could be secured all tho instruction necessary for entering col- 
lege. In this room, the most of the scholars paid tuition, while below, in 
the lower department, many of the scholars attended who belonged to 
the district, and who were free of tuition, owing to thecontra(!t with the 
Township Trustee, who had assisted in building the house. The semi- 
nary proved advantageous to the town, as its presence induced many 
worthy people to locate there who otherwise would have i)assed on to 
where school privi leges were better. For the throe years that Mr. 
Marshall conducted the institution, it was a ci'edit to the founders and 
to himself. The system was rigid, the course of instruction thorough, 
and the interest never diminished. Under this excellent state of affairs, 
intelligence and morality were at a premium, and the rough, immoral 
element that had infested the town was largely silenced, and more or le.ss 
of it driven away by the higher and better instincts which soon pre- 
vailed. That the seminary had much to do with this remains un- 
(|uostioned. At the expiration of about three year.'5, Mr. Marshall 
severed his connection with the sc^ninary, giving J. P. Kouts, who suc- 
ceeded in maintaining the reputation of the school established by Mr. 
Marshall. The attendance was even larger than before. In about 
1804, or perhaps 1805, tho stockholders, many of whom seemed to think 
that they ought to receive a high annual ])remium on their inve.strnent, 
concluded to dispose of the institution. It was accoi-ding sold to J. H. 
Braden, for what price is not remembered. If the writer is correctly 
informed, the Township Trustee still retained his interest in the house. 
"Sir. Braden bought it, jiartly as a speculation, but two or three years 
later sold the building and grounds to the Township Trust(^« (then Dr. 
Porter) for $2,7lM), taking township paper drawing 10 per centum in- 
terest in payment. The indebtedness ran on for some time, under the 



144 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

protests of many citizens of the township remote from the village, who 
had opposed the purchase of it by the Trustee. Finally the debt was 
paid, but the building cost the township, principal and interest, about 
$5,000. After this, the seminary was an ordinary graded school, owned 
by the township. When the village became incorporated, the building, 
under the laws of the State, became the, property of the town, and re- 
mained so through all the years until it was disused in ISS'^i, at which 
time the present two-storied frame building on the sqiaai'e was erected, 
at a cost of about $1,500. A portion of the old house was used in the 
construction of the new. During the past winter, Bayard Taylor taught 
the school — the first in the new house. It is stated that the school au- 
thorities had no legal right to erect this building on the public square, 
as such a course violated the contract with Mr. Casement, the proprietor 
of the town, who donated the lot for public, not school purposes. 
Trouble may result yet. 

THE WEST LEBANON SEMINARY. 

The building known by the above name was, in reality, a combined 
church and schoolhouse, built and designed to be managed by the Meth- 
odists at West Lebanon, or Lebanon as it was then — the old town. The 
lower story oE the structure was to be the young ladies' seminary, while 
the upper story was to be the class-room or church of the Methodist 
society. The funds were secured by subscription or donation, and, if re- 
ports are correct, the Township Trustee subscribed quite liberally, with 
the understanding that the children of the district might receive the 
benefits of the school. The building was erected about 1851 or 1852, 
but never came up, in importance, to the hopes of the founders. 

The first steps taken to erect the building were in 1849, when Delos 
Warren, Colbreath Hall, Edward P. Marshall, George Beymer and David 
Etnire were appointed Trustees of the Methodist Episcoj)al Church, to 
receive a deed for a grant of land, upon which was to be erected a 
" Female Seminary and Chapel " The original design was to make the 
building purely a seminary, with a chapel in the second story, and if 
reports are correct this design was kept in view until some time after 
the structure was completed, when iis failure as a seminary altered the 
intention of the founders and the fate of the building. 

A few terms were taught there while it was called a seminary, the 
teacher during the summer of 1853 being a Mrs. Snow, who had seen 
sixteen years of public teaching. The room finally degenerated into an 
ordinary district schoolroom, but after a few years was abandoned. The 
common school system was driving out the old subscription or tuition 
schools, and the day for the establishment of high schools had not yet 
dawned upon the inhabitants of Warren County. The common schools 
were so popular that they were regarded as amply sufficient for the wants 
of the county. It remained for this system of schools to develop a de- 
mand for something higher, and it did not take long. 

THE GEEEN HILL SEMINARY. 

The seminary at Green Hill was the result of church indulgence or 
design. An alteration in the territory of the conferences of the United 
Brethren in Indiana, and especially along the Wabash, and an increased 
population and demand for denominational schools, decided the Upper 
Wabash Confei-ence of United Brethren to locate a denominational school 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 145 

Bomewbere in the vicinity of Attica, and Green Hill, or Milford. as it 
was then, was selected for the site of the structure by the Conference 
Trustees, owing to its beautiful location and freedom from immoral sur- 
roundings. Another reason for its location at Green Hill was the fact 
that in the village was a strong class of United Brethren, who offered to 
donate liberally toward the erection of the building and the maintenance 
of the school. The biiilding was accordingly erected in 180*J, partly 
with funds furnished by the Upper Wabash Conference, and partly by 
donation from the citizens at Green Hill. The house is a large, two- 
storied brick structure, situated in a beautiful spot in the western part of 
the town. Its upper story is a chapel, and its lower story is divided into 
school rooms. It is said to have cost $9,000. The Rev. Mr. Stimpson 
became the first Principal, and within a comparatively short time an at- 
tendance of about eighty students was secured, many of whom came 
from abroad and boarded in the village. At this time, the school was 
very prosperous, and its excellent influence upon the town and surround- 
ing country soon became ap])arent. It was a means of giving a " tone " 
to the social intercourse of ttie citizens, that tended directly to the rapid 
promotion of advanced learning and morality. Boarding-hou.-!es sprang 
into existence to provide accommodation for the large number of stu 
dents in attendance. Assistants were employed to help the Principal. 
The higher department embraced the studies preparatory to a college 
Course. An excellent literary society was founded by the students, under 
the supervision of the Principal, who was untiring in his efforts to ren- 
der the seminary all that its founders had hoped, and one worthy of pa- 
tronage. The Principal often visited his students in their rooms, unex- 
pectedly, at night, in order to see whether the evenings were properly 
passed. The seminary has been in successful operation since, under the 
management of various Principals, among whom have been Revs. W. 
T. Jackson, Jones, Jackson again, Gregory, and the present competent 
professor. Mr. Thompson. But the attendance at the school has gradu- 
ally decreased as the years have passed, from what cause it would be 
difficult to state, until the pi*esent attendance does not exceed fifteen. 
For a time, under Mr. Jackson, and perhaps under Mr. Stimpson, it was, 
in many respects, superior to any other school ever in the county. The 
course of study was farther advanced; the system of study anil deport- 
ment was nearer perfect; the standard of intellectual, moral and .social 
development was higher, and nearer in accordance with the most progres- 
sive educational institutions of to-day. But the strong liberal tendency 
of the present — the tendency to discard strict sectarian lines or limits, 
and unite minds and hearts on the broad, brotherly basis of universal 
Christianity — has contributed mainly to the decadence of educational sys- 
iems controlled by sectarian rituals of religion. 

THE WILLIAMSPORT DEBATING SOCIETY. 

On the '22d of Janu»iry, 1840, pursuant to notice, a number of citi- 
zens of W illiamsport met at the schcjolhouse to organize a debating 
society. Benjamin Crow was made Chairman, and Buell, Boyer and 
■Crockett were a])[)ointed a comiuitti'e to draft a constitution and by-laws. 
This was done, and Buell, Campbell and Joiner wore appointed to revise 
such con.stitution and by-laws. Dr. E. Thomas was elected permanent 
President, L. W. Joiner, Secretary, and W. R. Boyer, Treasurer. The 
firftt (juestion debated was, " Is it morally right to inflict capital punish- 



146 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

ment in any case? " On the aflfirmation were Crockett, Gregory, Lucas, 
Campbell, Joiner and Thomas; on the negative, Buell, Crow, Boyer, 
Keifer and Shockley. After an. exciting discussion, the question was 
decided in the negative. At the second meeting, the constitution and 
by-laws were revised and adopted. All members were taxed 12| cents 
dues, to pay current expenses. The President was to hold office three 
weeks, and the Secretary four weeks. Meetings were to be held once 
each week. Religious subjects were wholly excluded and the affirmative 
was to have the opening and closing argument, and all speeches were 
limited to fifteen minutes. The judges were required to render their 
decision in accordance with the " strength of argument" only. Among 
the early members were Benjamin Crow, R. E. Crockett, E. S, Thomas, 
Lazarus Miller, James McDonald, B. F. Gregory, G. W. Lawson, L. 
W. Joiner, M. Gerard, E. F. Lucas, J. H. Buell, Erasmus Thomas, A. 
Shockley, R. A. Chandler, Jacob Keifer, J. W. Campbell, E. D. Thomas, 
W, R. Boyer, W. Harrington, John Higginbotham, J. C. H. IVlontgom- 
ery, John Cox, William Bittings, Peter Longmaker, John W. Dickson, 
J. H. Jordan, G. B. Joiner, Noble Pritchett, W. C. Harter and James 
Rowland. Here were many of the ablest men ever in the county. Many 
others joined later. The minutes of the meetings, yet in existence, show 
that all the questions were hotly contested, and often their debate ex- 
tended far into the night. Here was laid the foundation, much of it, of 
the oratorical and forensic efforts in the court house and throughout the 
country in after years. Few realize the benefits of a well-conducted de- 
bating society, such as this was. It inspires confidence, encourages ori- 
ginality and individuality, promotes intellectual celerity, fires the mind 
and heart to greatest effort, sharpens the tongue, amplifies the logic and 
tills the whole being with pungent sense, courage and audacity. 

The second question debated, " Is intemperance a greater evil than 
slavery?" was decided in the affirmative. The third, " Is imprisonment 
for debt just?" was decided in the affirmative. The fourth, " Have the 
blacks suffered more from the whites than the Indians?" decided in the 
affirmative. The fifth, " Is the invasion of a nation by enemies moi-e 
calculated to bind them together than municipal law?" decided in the 
affirmative. About this time, a committee was appointed to prefer 
charges against William Harrington for an alleged breach of the by- 
laws. The committee presented the following specified charges: " That 
the said William Harrington did, on the night of February 21, attend 
the said society in a state of intoxication: and that he behaved himself 
in a boisterous and uncivil manner; and that his conduct disturbed the 
harmony, peace and quiet of said society; and that when called to 
order by the President, hestdl continued, from time to time, to interrupt 
the debate; all of which was a direct violation of the by-laws of said 
society." Mr, Harrington pleaded "Not guilty;" whereupon a court 
was instituted to try the case. Crockett and Joiner were appointed prose 
cutors. Witnesses were introduced, and finally the charges were sus- 
tained. Then a motion to expel Mr. Harrington was made, Icut was lost 
by a majority of one. This being the night for the election of a Presi- 
dent, Mr. Harrington's name was then proposed for that office, amid 
great applause, and after a spirited ballot he was elected unanimously. 
His complete vindication of the charges was thus sustained. His elec- 
tion was most laughable, in view of his undoubted guilt of the charges. 
The action oJ: the society was wise, as he made an excellent President. 



HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 147 

Some time in March, the meetings were abandoned, but were revived 
in the following Augnst. when such (juostions as the following were dis- 
cusHed: " Ls man capable of self-government":'" "Are railroads a 
greater benefit to the community than turnpike roads":'" " Does civiliza- 
tion augment the Bum of human hap[)iness ":' " After the first three or 
four meetings, it was resolved to organize 

THE MOOT LEGISLATURE OF INDIANA. 

The society was to become the House of Representatives. Col. E. F. 
Lucas was elected Governor of Indiana; J. H. Buell, Speaker of the 
House, and G. W. Lamson, Principal Clerk. The members wore ap- 
pointed to represent the various counties of the State. A committee? was 
appointed by the Speaker to wait upon the Governor, and infoim him 
that the House of Representatives was organized and ready to receive 
any communication from him in his official capacity. Committees on 
Judiciary, Internal Improvement, Education, Ways and Means, Elec- 
tions, etc., were appointed. Joseph McDonald, of Marion County (yes, 
the justly illustrious Joseph McDonald of to-day), gave notice that he 
would introduce a bill for the abolishment of capital punishment; also 
one to memorialize Congress to repeal the land bill, the bankrupt bill, 
and reinstate the Sub-Treasury system of fiscal operations. Mr. 
Lucas, of Lake, introduced a bill for the incorporation of Williamsport,* 
which was referred to a select committee, consisting of Messrs. Lucas, 
Joiner and Keifer. Adjoui'ned. * * * House met, pursuant to ad- 
journment. House Bill No. 1, to abolish capital punishment, was passed 
to a third reading and finally laid upon the table till the next meeting, 
when it was made the order of the day. Mr. Joiner, of Vanderburg, 
introduced a bill regulating elections; referred to Committee on Elec- 
tions. Mr. Lucas, of Lake, introduced a resolution repealing certain dog 
laws, or dog-oned laws; referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. 
Mr. Joiner, of Vanderburg, introduced a bill to tax old bachelors. A 
motion to refer it to the Committee on Ways and Means was lost. Vari- 
ous laughable amendments were introduced, all of which were lost. A 
motion to re-consider the motion to refer the bill to the W^ays and Means 
Committee was lost. Various dilatory motions were made, but were lost. 
What finally became of that bill the legislative records fail to unravel. 
Adjourned. * * * House met pursuant to adjournment. The Gov- 
ernor's message was received, read, and ],OtK) copies were ordered 
printed. Mr. Keifer, of Jasper, introduced a resolution instructing the 
Ways and Means Committee to impiire into the expediency of causing 
each man who should get drunk, to dig out a stump on the court house 
square. The special committee to consider the bill on the incorporation 
of Williamsport reported favorably. On motion, the rules were sus- 
pended, and the bill read by its title, and was made the special order 
for the next meeting. The bill to abolish capital })unishment was con- 
sidered, amended, debated, went into committee of the whole, was re- 
ported back to the House, and at last tabled. Mr. G. B. Joiner, of Bon- 
ton, introduced a resolution to secure a levy of tax for the support of 
common schools,t and Mr. Lawson, of Sullivan, one to amend tho jus- 
tice act and one to extend the Wabash Canal on down the river to Torre 
Haute. Mr. Lyon, of Putnam, introduced a resolution to abolish petti - 

* 80 far an known, tliiH wai the flmt Httempt tn lncnr|H)rale the county past of Warren County, 
t ThU wai anticipating the action oftbo real Legiiilature about ten years later. 



148 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

fogging before Justice courts. The House went into committee of the 
whole to consider the incorporation of Williamspurt. with Dr. E. Thomas 
in the chair. The bill was considered by sections, and finally reported 
back to the House approved. On motion before the House, the bill was 
engrossed and read a third time. James McDonald, of Allen, moved Lo 
strike out all after the enacting clause: lost. The ayes and noes were 
called, and were as follows: Ayes — Dixon, Joiner, of Vanderburg. 
Shockley, Thomas and Lyon. Noes — Harrington, Lucas, Lawson, Joiner, 
of Benton, Keifer, McDonald, of Allen, and Mr. Speaker. So the bill 
did not pass. Mr. Gregory, of Vigo, introduced a petition from Sally 
Doolittle for a divorce from her husband, Jonathan Doolittle, which was 
referred to the Judiciary Committee. And so the record goes on. It is 
safe to say that the county seat, at no other time in its history, had an 
organization which furnished as much amusement and valuable instruc- 
tion as this moot Legislature. The meetings were so crowded at first that 
the Legislature adjourned to the court house, and even there standing 
room was at a premium. L. W. Joiner was full of dry, pungent wit 
and sarcasm, and constantly brought the House down with his sallies. 
Many of the others were not far behind him, but none surpassed him in 
provoking mirth. Elisha Hitchens was a member of this Legislature in 
1842, at which time he was the Representative from Wayne County. It 
was continued, during the winter months, for several years, and was re- 
vived in 1859. but it never recovered its former vigor or value. 



31ELIGI0N IN WARREN COUNTY. 



BY W. A. GOnDSPBED. 



EARLY CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS. 

THE early church history is very obscure, owing to the fact that such 
records as were kept at that day have been misplaced or per- 
manently lost, and about all the dependence that can be relied upon 
comes from the recollection of old settlers. Again, many of the old 
church organizations, after enjoying a few years of prosperity, went 
down to death without hope of resurrection, and the old records seem to 
have been bui'ied with them. Almost all the early church organizations, 
of whatever denomination, formerly belonged to the Upper Wabash 
Conference, or to the Crawfordsville Conference, or to the La Fayette 
Conference. It is certain that traveling ministers of the Methodist 
Episcopal, United Brethren, Presbyterian, Baptist, Universalist, Chris- 
tian and perhaps other chiu-ches, were in Warren County before 1830; 
and it is also certain that some of these denominations ^vere represented 
as early as 1826, the year before the county was organized. 

THE CIRCUIT RIDERS. 

So far as now known, the first minister of the United Brethren 
Chui'ch to cross the Wabash into Warren County was Rev. John Dan- 
ham, a typical pioneer circuit rider, and a man of deep piety and broad 



HISTOKY OF WARREN COUNTY'. 149 

culture for that early day. He journeyed on horseback to the vicinity of 
(ireen Hill (no town thor(> then), where he had learned that several earnest 
families of that church had settled and were waiting his arrival, to be 
formally constituted a church. 'A. few fatuilies had gathered at the cabin 
of William Bailey, early in the autumn of 1828, to listen to the new 
minister, who, after that, if he succeeded in organizing a class and 
creating sufficient interest, would become their ])ermanent minister for 
an indefinite length of time. The few that had assembled, perhaps about 
a dozen, saw the minister ai-rive on his tired horse, which he tied to a 
sapling, saw him take his saddle-bags and throw them over his shoulder, 
and walk toward the house. There was nothing about the a[)pearance of 
the man of God to inspire any one with a belief either in his piety or wis- 
dom. He was slouchy, threadbare, insignificant in stature, and to add 
to the general disappointment of his little congregation, he seemed to 
feel his inferiority, as far as appearance was concerned, for he shuffled 
in^o the room witliout recognizing any one, threw his saddle-bags on a 
stiind, took out a testament that had evidently seen hard service, and be- 
gan reading in a voice so low, puny and hesitating, that more than one 
smile of disdain might have been seen among his audience. He did not 
offer to open the exercises, after the usual manner, with singing and 
prayer, but as he advanced his voice took a firmer tone, his figure lost 
its bent and withered appearance, his eyes began to kindle with earnest 
tire, and erelong his audience were bent forward, with eyes fixed upon 
his face, intently listening to every word that fell from his lips. He 
finished the chapter, and then went on to point out the moral lesson he 
had selected. After sweeping on for perhaps twenty minutes, he was 
not the samd man that had entered the room a short time before. His 
voice thundered, and his eye, glowing with magnetic fire, was lustrous, 
and held his audience spell -bound. He was eloquent, logical and ex- 
tremely forcible, and the sentiments uttered were of the purest piety and 
the noblest humanity. His audience were wrought up to the highest 
pitch, and cried with joy over the holy pictures of Christian life and 
future happiness which he so skillfully painted. The result was that he 
immediately formed a class of the Baileys, the Davises. the Andersons, 
the Cooks, the Greens, the Magees, the Talberts and others. One month 
later, he visited the class again, and Mr. Bailey's house would not begin 
to hold all who had gathered to listen to the famous preacher. This in- 
cident is similar to thousands which occurred in early years. Many of 
the early circuit riders, though nido in manner and unattractive in ap- 
pearance, were men of imposing physical stature — especially when they 
■ were glowing with the inspiration of eloquence and religion. Occasion- 
ally would be found one who had received the most finished education 
in the classical and therdogical colleges of the East; but usually the 
early ministers were uncultured, though almost invariably they were 
men of great personal magnetism, the most earnest Christianity and 
masters of a rude, backwoods eloi^uence that found its way to all h(\'xrts. 
They w(ye just the men to lay the fuuudation of the Christian religion 
on the frontiers. In 1S2U -8i), Uev. Diiuhain hold a revival at Green 
HiM, which was largely attended, and which was the means of greatly 
strengthening the class. More than forty joined, and the int(»rest was 
of th(> most fervid description. This, in the end, proved one of the best 
religious classes ever ortranl/.ed in the countv. as it has endured to the 



150 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

preseat day. Their church was built early in the forties, and was used 
until the seminary building was erected in 1869. 

CHURCHES AT INDEPENDENCE. 

It is said that Rev. Fraley organized the first class of Methodists at 
Independence in about the year 1833.* The old schoolhouse was the 
church. In 1835-36, they had. a very extensive revival, when some 
thirty joined. The Universalists started up there about the same time 
the Methodists did, and for several years the two classes occupied the 
schoolhou.se on alternate Sundays. When the Methodists held their long 
revival in 1835-36, it threatened to interfere with the appointment of 
the Univeraalist minister. Rev. Mr. Manford. The Universalists insisted 
that they must have the use of the house on their iSunday. John Camp- 
bell, a prominent Methodist, asked Daniel Moffit, who was then a Direc- 
tor in charge of the schoolhouse, for the use of the house on the day in 
dispute, but the latter refused to interfere with the arrangement that had 
formerly been made, and the Universalists accordingly occupied the 
house. A few of the Methodists came out to listen to Mr. Manford, 
among whom were John and Jonathan Campbell, men of very earnest 
religious views. As the minister progressed, he began to give the 
Methodists some hot shots, as was the custom in the various pulpits of 
that day, and the members of that denomination who had come in began 
to wince under the Scriptural evidence he was heaping up in suppm-t of 
his views. At last, the scorching became so severe that Jonathan Camp- 
bell was no longer able to contain himself, and leaping to his feet, with 
excitement, he called the minister a liar. That brought the meeting to a 
climax, but through the efibrts of the minister harmony was soon re- 
stored, and the sermon was concluded without further mishaps. Mr. 
Campbell was taken to task, after the meeting, but he apologized for his 
behavior, and peace was again established. Among the early Method- 
ists at Independence were Samuel Thomas and wife, Mrs. Moffit, Mrs. 
Tripp, Frederick Ritenour, Daniel Doty, Mrs. Coates, Samuel Williams, 
Isaac Waymire and wife, and others. A class of United Brethren was 
formed at Independence in the thirties, which was visited by the same 
ministers as the class at Green Hill. Among the early members were 
Hiram Nichols, Alexander Waymire, Rev. David Brown, Jeremiah 
Davis, Valentine Bone, John Cowgill, Samuel Ware, Josiah B. Magee, 
John S. Talbert, and others. Their meeting house, built about the year 
1842, is said to have been the fii'st distinctive church building of any 
denomination constructed in the count^^ 

THE GOPHER HILL CHURCH. 

The Methodists organized a class at Gopher Hill, in the southwestern 
part of the county, about the year 1828, and for many years they met to 
worship in the famous old Gopher Hill Schoolhouse. This class was one 
of the largest and most enterprising in the county, but, unfortunately, 
but little can be told of it. Among the early members were the John- 
sons, Lucases, Taylors, Kents, Cunninghams, Clems, Riners, fswitzers, 
Joneses, Dixons, Russells, of Vermillion County, Cheneweths and many 
others. Rev. Buckles was an early minister of this class. Their union 
church was built early in th^ fifties, but the building long afterward 
passed to the exclusive control of the Methodists. 

* Do not underetaad that this was the first Methodist class orgaaized in the county. 



HISTOHV OF WARREN COUNTY. 151 

CHURCHES AT WEST LEBANON. 

The Metliodist class at Lebanon was organized about the year 1837, 
inHhe old schoolhouse, by Rev. Ansel Beach (probably). Among the first 
ineinbers were Jesse Swisher, Dolos Warrou, Rev. Colbreath Hall, Ed- 
ward P. Marshall, (xeorge Beymer, David Etnire, Zebulon Foster, Sam- 
uel Wood, Charles Hay ward, William B. Owens, Josiah J. Cooper and 
others. Rev. C. Hall was the second minister of this class; he has 
served it the greater i)ortion of the time to the present day. Perhaps 
no man ever a resident of the county has done more for the cause of 
religion than this respected and venerable old man. Many of the 
Methodist cla.sses in all parts of the county were organized by him. He 
will some day reap the rich reward he so justly merits. Their church 
was built not far from 1849, in the old town, and the one of brick, in 
the new town, about 18G7, at a cost of about $4,500. It is related that 
in this class, at quite an early day, while one of the pioneer preachers 
was laying down the law of the Gospel with effective and marked em 
phasis. a summer storm arose, and the deep thunder began to reverberate 
throughout the heavens. Several women pre.sent, who were timid and 
afraid of thunder, became very uneasy, which fact was soon noticed by 
the preacher. Thinking that he could remove their fears, he solemnly 
said. "There is no cause for alarm; it is the voice of God." Moses 
Lincoln, a very humorous and bright old fellow, who was seated in the 
amen corner, pondered for an instant over the statement of the minister, 
and then suddenly said, in a loud, though doubting, hesitating tone, 
" Why, I thought, it was thunder! " The narrator of this incident, the 
old settler, William Robb, did not state what effect thisi'emark had upon 
the audience or upon the minister. On another occasion, when Mr. 
Lincoln was among the audience which had assembled to listen to Rev. 
Mr. Shanklin, a Soul Sleeper, and after the minister had concluded his 
discourse, Mr. Lincoln was called iipon to close the meeting. The old 
gentleman slowly and solemnly arose to his feet, took his place with 
much dignity before the audience, and began in this wise: " It is cus- 
tomary for ministers, when they have doubts regarding the soundness of 
their doctrines, to call on some one, when they are through, to indorse 
what they have said. Pll close the meeting, but I want to state that I 
have one objection to the sermon, and only one — there is not a word of 
truth in it, and if the brother will come here next Sunday he will hear 
genuine Gospel truth." It is not related how this little difference ter- 
minated, but if. is safe to say that Mr. Shanklin still remained a Soul- 
Sleeper. The Christiafi Church at Lebanon was organized, it is said, in 
1828, and is, therefore, one of the olde.st in the county. For many years 
it was (if not the strongest) one of the strongest in the county, having at 
one time a membership of about two hundred and fifty. Their brick 
church was built in the old town early in the forties. The class is said 
to have been founded l)y Rev. D. D. Hall, a very earnest, capable man. 
Among the early members were Rev. Levi Fleming, Moses Lincoln, Rev. 
Daniel Shanklin and wife, Rev. Pugh and wife, Eli Woodward and wife, 
William Robb, Eleazer Purviance, Nathan Horner, Peter Fleming, 
Harvey Mcintosh, Isom Hiatt and many others. Their new church, in 
the new town, was erected about ISOl), at a cost of -St. 000. The class is 
at present large and prosperous. The Universal ist Cliurch was built 
about four years ago, at a cost of about Sl,20iJ. The membership is fif- 



152 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

teen. The minister is Eev. Mr. Grandy. At one time, the Presbyte- 
rians had a nourishing class at Lebanon, and their church was erected 
soon after 1850, but when the new town started up it was move 1 thither. 
Rev. Crosby was the minister at the time of the removal of the church. 
West Lebanon and vicinity have always had good church privileges. 

CHUECHES AT STATE LINE CITY. 

The Presbyterians at State Line City organized their class during 
the latter part of the fifties, among the early members being John Brier, 
Harry Ross and wife, Henry Stevenson and wife, C. Andrews and wife, 
Mrs. Frasier, Dr. A. M. Porter, Mrs. Lucas. Mrs. Carmichuel, Mrs. 
Dubois. Mrs. John Kerr, George Elliott and others. Revs. Bacon, Lit- 
tle and Steele were early ministers. Their frame church was erected 
about 1860. The Methodists, also, started up soon after the town was 
founded, and the class was composed largely of members who had former- 
ly belonged to the old Gopher Hill and other classes. A few of the early 
members were A. Y. "Taylor, Adam Myers, Mr. Frasier. Daniel Lope 
and family, David Shepard, Samuel Clem and family, David Clap and 
others. Rev. Samuel Beck was their minister when their frame church 
was erected, about 1863-64. Revs. Buckles, Joice and Foxworthy were 
early with the class. The Christian Church there was erected about 
1868, the class having been organized some time before. This is the 
only brick church in town. Among the early members were Asa Dun- 
can. M. P. Sennett, Robert Monell, John Braden, Joseph Braden, L. 
W. Denny and wife. Rev. Jacob Wright and others. Each of the three 
churches at State Line City cost about 12,000. 

CHURCHES AT MARSHFIELD. 

The Methodist Church at Marshfield was erected at the close of the 
late war, though the class was formed some time before under the min- 
istration of Rev. C. Hall. The house was built as a union church, but 
afterward the Methodists, in some manner, secured exclusive control. 
The Presbtyerians built their church about four years ago. Rev. John 
Mitchell was one of their ministers; he succeeded Rev. Moore. The 
Catholics lately built a small church in town. A Christian class was 
organized on Clear Branch, Washington Township, about twenty- live 
years ago, some of the members being J. H. Mcintosh, Charles Mc- 
Alister, J. H. Lincoln, Isaiah Bowlus, Elias Porter, J. S. Crawford and 
Bolivar Robb. No church was built. The Rogers Meeting House class, 
on Little Pine Creek, was established more than, forty years ago. Job 
Haigh, Thomas Johnson, Edward Moore, Thomas Boyer and Isaac 
Boyer were early members. The Friends had an organization in the 
northern part of the county nearly fifty years ago. The Gillman 
Church, in Steuben Township, was erected in the forties. Benjamin 
Gray, E. L. Gillman, D. J. Hiatt, Benjamin C. Griner and James Will- 
iams belonged. The "Free Hall," at Carbondale, was built in 1867, 
mainly by Dr. Wesley Clark, at a cost of about $1,800. All denomina- 
tions and outsiders in the neighborhood contributed. Mrs. Mary Clark 
often preached in the house. The Methodists have lately assumed con- 
trol of the building, but their claim is disputed. 

CHURCHES AT RAIN8VILLE. 

The Baptists organized a class at Rainsville in the thirties, and after- 



HISTORV OF WARREN COUNTY. 153 

ward, late in the forties, erected a rude chui-ch. It was a small frame 
building, now used as a barn. Among the membors were Bazel West, 
John Castle, Abram Buckles and wife, John Dinwiddle and wife, Mr. 
Swett and wife, Jacob Mills and wife, and George B. Swett and wife. 
In the latter part of the fifties, the clasn went down, and their church 
was sold to the Methodists. The Baptists have not since been per- 
manently revived. The Methodist class there was organized before 1840, 
and for years met in the old schoolhouse. The class was organized by 
Rev. William M. P'raley. Among the early members were Peregrine 
Garland. Milton Pearce, William Brown, Lewis Lewis, Jacob Morgan 
and others. The line frame Methodist Church there cost about $2,500. 
James Wilson and wife gave of this amount about $800; John Shaw- 
cross gave $50; Joseph Blancl.ard, $50; J. H. Keyes, $100; \N'esley 
Gray, $100; Sylvester Lewis, $50; Dr. Charles Hoffman, $50, and many 
others smaller amounts. Other members have been Dr. I. M. Smith, 
John Carpenter, John Bradley, Peter Gray, B. O. Carpenter, Fletcher 
Brook, Jacob Brown and others. 

CHURCHES AT PINE VILLAGE. 

The Methodist Church at Pine Village was built in 1845, before 
the town was laid out or started. The class was first organized in 
1831, at the house of Isaac Metsker. Among the earliest members 
were George and Elizabeth Nichols, Hester Dawson, Sarah Oxford, 
Sarah Lyons, George Campbell, Isaac and Ruby Metsker, Ruth 
Campbell, John Campbell, Lydia Campbell, and later were the 
Fishers, Andersons, Fosters, Halls, St. Johns, J. B. Campbell, Alfred 
Rose, J. J. Cooper, Thomas Julian, Thomas Hamilton, Eli Frasier, 
William Coldren, William Odell. William Hooker. Revs. James Mc- 
Cain and John C. French organized the class. Rev. Fraley served the 
class many years; other ministers were Cooper. Bredenburg, Armstrong 
and Farman. Meeting was held at the schoolhouse after about 1884, 
and since 1845 in their church. The Free Methodists are now bui Id- 
ing a church in the village. 

CHURCHES AT WILLIAMSPORT. 

5?t Within a year after the town became the county seat, circuit riders 
appeared and preached to the few who had made the village their abid- 
ing place; but it was several years before classes were regularly organ- 
ized and supplied at stated periods with ministers. In about 1833, Rev. 
Cooper, a Methodist circuit rider, organized a small class, among the 
early members being William Search and wife, Laurence Russell and 
wife, James Bell and wife, David Etnire, Jacob Etnire, Nicholas Shafer, 
Mr. Davis and a few others. After that, meetings were quite regularly 
held, either in the schoolhouse or in the old court house. An independ- 
ent circuit was established at AVilliamsport about 1837. In 1830, the 
Methodist Trustees were Colbroath Hall, Thomas Thomas. Thomas 
O'Neal, Charles Hall and J. P. B. McCoy. The County Commissioners 
agreed to donate a lot, 'upon which to build a church, provided the 
church was erected within three ytnirs, at which time a deed was to be 
executed for the land. In case the church was not built within the 
period stated, the lot was to go back to the county. The building was 
not erected ; the Commissioners extended the time, but still no house 
was built. The Trustees in May, 1843, were Elisha Hitchens. R. A. 



154 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

Chandler, Thomas Thomas, J. P. B. McCoy and H. N. Barnes. In 
1845, the Trustees, old and new, were Elisha Kitchens, Charles Hall, 
Thomas O'Neal, B. F. Gregory, Henry J. Parker and Morris Watkins. 
Kev. Joseph White was the minister at this time. He had served the 
class for several of the preceding years. Colbreath Hall had also served 
the class before, as he did also afterward. At this time the circuit be- 
longed to the Crawfordsville District. In May. 1846, the Trustees were 
J. R. M. Bryant, W. R. Boyer, Elislia Hitchens, Israel Hanley and 
George King. At this time they called themselves the " Free Church 
Association;" the object being to raise means from among themselves, 
from other religious organizations, aad from outsiders, to build a 
church which should be free to all orthodo.K denominations; but in this 
the class again failed, and was obliged to continue to use the old court 
house. This state of affairs continued until the last war, when the pres- 
ent Methodist Church was built. It was dedicated Sunday morning, 
July 17, 1864, by Rev. Dr. Bowman, assisted by Elder Gee. On this 
day, $1,400 was subscribed toward freeing the church from debt — that 
amount being the total indebtedness. Since then, the class has 
flourished, with growing strength, iiuancially and numerically. 

There were a few Presbyterians in town at quite an early day, who 
were occasionally preached to by traveling and neighboring ministers, 
and it is stated a partial class was at one time formed early in the for- 
ties. It was not until the 20th of December, 1850, that the present or- 
ganization was founded. Rev. A. F. White, LL. D., of Attica, con- 
ducted the services. The first members were Mrs. H. A. Ray, Mrs. Anna 
Brandenburg, Mrs. Elizabeth Schlosser, Mrs. Rebecca Pearson, Mrs. 
Dorcas Bryant and Miss Jane McCorkle. In 1851, Curtis Newell became 
the first Ruling Elder; Rev. Amos Jones was the first resident minister. 
Rev. Isaar De Lamater supplied the church after 1856, and until 1860. 
Rev. F. S. McCabe came on in 1861; Rev. J. L. King in 1862; Rev, 
W. N. Steele in 1863; Rev. W. Wilmer in 1869. For the past eleven 
years, VVilliamsport and Attica hsLve been associated in the support of a 
minister. At present, there are about seventy-five members. The church 
was erected about 1853. 

The Christian class was organized during the latter part of the 
sixties, and the church was erected early in the seventies. Rev. L. L. 
Carpenter preached the dedicatory sermon. Revs. S. R. Owen and Warren 
have since been the regular pastors. The first members were H. M. 
Billings, Sarah Billings, Martha Crawford, Amanda Woodard, William 
Robb, Abi Robb. Mary Dowler, Bolivar Robb and S. M. C. Robb. A. 
Romine, H. M. Billings and Boliver Bobb were chosen Elders. Later 
members were Justin Ross, Cyrus Romine, Mariella Ross and Ellis Ross. 
The present Trustees are Justin Ross, Bolivar Robb and Cyrus Romine, 
The class at present is not able to employ a minister. 

THE GRAND PRAIRIE HABMONIAL ASSOCIATION. 

During the decades of the forties and fifties, when the impression 
became general that mankind was, in many respects, unreg»merate and 
hopelessly drifting into moral and social turpitude, and when the iron- 
clad, ritualistic doctrines or orthodox denominations of religion were 
meeting persistent and semi-successful opposition, various moral organ- 
izations were instituted throughout the country, to afford man the means 
of escaping the evil which his course seemed to have provided. A sys- 



HISTORY OF WARUKN COUNTV. 155 

tern of social life, founded by Charles Fourier, and known as the 
" Fourier System," became very popular, as it appeared that the system 
was destined to encompass phases of human conduct which church or- 
ganizations could not reach, and at the same time check and control the 
tendency towarti liberal thought on the subject of morals. This system, 
and others. ditTering from it mainly in degree, was of the nature of in- 
stitutions called "communities," such as exist in a few portions of the 
country to-day. Among other things, the various systems provided that 
all property should be held in common, and controlled by a Board of 
Trustees, and that conduct and labor should be regulated by a constitu- 
tion and by-laws. Horace Greeley was an earnest advocate of the system, 
and became connected with many of the organizations instituted under 
it. Many other prominent men, in all parts of the country, identified 
themselves with the systems. In 1853, an organization of the kind was 
effected in the northern part of "Warren County, which organization be- 
came known by the' name at the head of this paragraph. Among those 
connected with it were John O. Wattles, Esther Wattles, Isaac Komine 
A. L. Child, Philander R. Child, Alvin High, Thomas Scott, George 
Brier, John Gass, Washington Waltz, Lucy M. Waltz, James R. M. 
Bryant, Leroy Templeton, Edgar Ryan and Charles High. Mr. Romine 
himself donated about ^2,000, in trust, for the uses of the community. 
The funds were placed in the hands of John O. Wattles, in trust, to be 
by him expended in the purchase of real estate and in the erection of build- 
ings, and after such purchase and labor the whole property was deeded to 
the Trustees, to be held in trust by them for the uses specified in the 
constitution and by-laws. The following is the deed to the Trustees: 

Know all men by these presents that we, John O. Wattles and Esther Wattles, 
his wife, of Tipperanoe County and State of Indiana, in consideration of the prem- 
ises and one dollar to them in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, 
do herebj' give, grant, convey, bargain and sell, to Horace Greeley, of New York 
City, Thomis Trusdale, of Brooklyn, N. Y., Edgar Ryan, Charles High and James 
R. M. Bryant, of Warren County, Indiana, Trustees, and to their heirs and assigns 
the following real estate to wit: The northeast quarter of Section 5, Township 23 
north. Ranged* west, containing KiO acres more or less; also the northwest quarter of 
the southeast quarter of said section, containing forty acres more or less; also the 
east three-fourths of the southwest (juarter of the southeast quarter of the same 
.section, containing thirty acres more or less; al.so the northeast quarter of llie south- 
east quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter and the east lialf of the 
northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section H, in the aforesaid township 
and range, containing 120 acres more or less, amounting in all to 350 acres more or 
less, together with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to have 
and to hold imto the said Greeley, Trusdale, Ryan, High and Bryant and their heirs 
and assigns forever in trust to and for the uses named, viz.: For the use and occu- 
pation of an association for educational and social reform purposes. 

The objects of the association, as stated in the constitution, were " to 
secure the education, elevation, j)urity and unity of its members, and, so 
far as may be, to forward the elevation, peace and unity of the human 
family, by means of the three following departments, viz., educational, 
agricultural and uiechanical, and these comV)ined and carried out in the 
social, in which d('])artment provision must be made for the culture of 
both mind and body of the nicnibers of the association and its depart- 
ments, and an op])ortunity afliorded on the domain for living the true life 
in accordance with the suggestions of ' Outlines of a Community Charac- 
ter.' " There was a Treasurer, a Secretary and one Chief of each of the 
above departments, to be elected by a majority vote of the members, and 
these oificers were to constitute a IBoard of Directors, which should have 

10 



156 HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 

charge of all the departments. Persons over eighteen years of age, of 
good moral character and free from debt, were eligible to membership 
after they had remained with the community one year. An inventory of 
the property of each new member was made out when he entered the 
community. Money was not allowed to accumulate in the treasury to 
a greater amount than $1,000. The land above-described was valued at 
$4,600. The school was to be called an institute or a college, and was 
to be controlled by the "College Council," consisting of seven members. 
All endowments were to be by donation, subscription, bequest or 
scholarship, to any amount not to exceed $200,000, which stock was to 
be divided into shares of $50 each. The first officers were CharJes High. 
President; Edgar Ryan, Corresponding Secretary; AlvinHigh, Recording 
Secretary; Thomas Scott, Treasurer. Two or three buildings were 
erected on the land above described, in one of which school was taught 
one or more terms. But the enterprise was not destined to long survive. 
The few members lost interest and faith in the success of the system, and 
finally all effort to carry on the system was abandoned. Just how the 
affairs of the association were closed up cannot be stated. 

In 1870, an organization called the " Warren County Humanitarian 
Society of Spiritualists," was instituted in the county, upon the follow- 
ing basis: " Whereas, The religious sects and denominations of the 
Christian world, after unremittent effort for 1,800 years, have failed to 
redeem man from the manifold evils incident to human life, and 
Whereas, The spirit of the age in which we live demands improvement 
and progress in the religious, political and social departments of life," 
etc, etc., this organization did but little beyond filing articles of 
association. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



WARREK COUNTY. 



WILLIAMSPORT,— AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

SAMUEL BITTINGER is a native of Franklin County, Penn.; was horn April 
28, 1838, and is one of six living children in a family of nine horn to Jacoh and Sally 
(Games) Bittinger. At the age of thirteen years, in company with a friend. Augus- 
tus Oler, he preceded his parents on a visit to his mother's relatives in Xorthern 
Ohio. Instead of returning to Pennsylvania, he and his friend, on their arrival at 
La Faj'ctte, took an inventory of their resources, and found only 25 cents hetween 
them and starvation. They replenished their jnirses for the time Itj- husking corn 
on the Wea Plains. For two j'ears, he was engaged in farm work, but in IH.IS came 
to Warren County, where he taught school for two terms and farmed in Medina 
Township until he had acquired sufficient means to eml)ark in tiie grocery trade in 
a small way at Poolsville. now Green Hill. He discontinued merchandising in 
1859, and started West on a prosj)ecting tour. The spring of 1805, after he had re- 
turned, he enlisted in Company 1, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. At the close of the war, he returned to his home in Medina Township, 
followed farming, and served as Township Trustee and Assessor until 1874, when 
he was elected Treasurer of Warren County, and re-elected, serving in all four 
years. Since that time, he has been engaged in the grocery and provision traflic in 
Williamsport, and is now looking after that and his farming interests in this county. 
Mr. Bittinger began poor, anil has acquired about 800 acres of land in Warren 
County and other valuable property through his own exertions. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has ascended to the Knight Templar deirree. 
In politics, he is a Republican. Was married in Warren Countj' to Mary E. Fen- 
ton, to their union having been born three children — Wallace, Oscar and Jessie. 

RICHARD W. CLAYPOOL, grain dealer, was born in Fountain County, Ind.. 
March 12, 1831, and is one of nine children who lived to years of maturity, and 
eight of whom are yet living, born to Wil.son and Sarah (Evans) Claypool, natives 
of Ohio. They emigrated to Fountain County, Ind., in 1824. Mr. Claypool died 
on the land he first entered in July, 187G, but Mrs. Claypool yet resides on this 

Elace, and in the house, which has been remodeled, where all her children were 
orn. Abraham Claypool, grandfather of Richard W., moved from Randolph 
County, Va., to Ohio, in 1778, for the purpose of freeing his slaves, as he was radi- 
cally opposed to the institution of slaver}'. Richard W. Claypool lived to manhood 
in his native county. In 1852, he came to Williamsport and embarked in the dry 

foods trade, but, in 1854, discontinued that and moved to Ludlow, Champaign Co., 
11., and took charge of the Illinois Central Railroad depot. He soon purciia.sed a 
farm, improved it, and, in December, 1861, came back to Williamsport. where he 
and a brother looked after the general interests of the family while four brothers 
were in the war. Mr. Claypool practiced law for sonu; time in Williamsport, but 
for the past seven years has been dealing in grain. Durini; his diversilied business 
career, he has accumulated comfortable surroundings. ite yet owns his farm of 
320 acres in Illinois, besides his town property' in \ViHiamsport. He is an inde- 
pendent Democrat, a Mason, and is the father of nine children. He was married, 
in January, 1855, fo Eliza T. Pearson, and the names of his children are as follows: 
Evans, Robert, Horace, Rollin, Lorenzo (decea.sed), Elizabeth, Jessie, Frederick and 
Mabel. 

HENRY DANNECKER is a native of the State of New York, was born in the 
year 1852, and is the eldest f)f a famil}' of four. His family moved to this county 
m 1865, where Henr}' received a conunon .school education. E.xcept five years passed 
at rock-quarrying, he has followed farming, having now seventy-two acres under 
good cultivation, with fair buildings and improvements. Henry has never mar- 
ried, his sister. Miss .Mary Dannecker. living with and keeping house for him. 

J. De hart, M. D., a native of Warren County. Ohio, was born May 10. 1841. 
and is one of eight living children in a familj" of nine born to Dr. Gideon and Ma- 



158 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

linda (Patten) De Hiirt, the former being a native of Ellzabethtown, X. J., and 
of Frencli ancestry. To escape a large practice which was undermining his health, 
Dr. Gideon De Hart moved with his family to Logansport. Ind., in 1853, prac- 
ticed there until 1865, and then removed to La Fayette, where he continued in active 
practice until his death, in 1873. His widow yet survives him and resides with her 
children in Western Indiana. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents 
until the breaking-out of tlie war, when he enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. Xot having attained majority, his father withheld his consent. He 
afterward succeeded in enlisting in the Forty-sixth Regiment, in 1862, but again 
was recalled by his father. The fall of 1863, he became a member of Company B, 
One Hundred Tvventy-elghth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and, being then of age, 
went to the front with his regiment; participated in the engagements of Resaca and 
all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, including the siege of that city; he fought 
in the battles at Pulaski, Franklin and Nashville: also in the battle of Kingston, 
finally joining Sherman's army at Goldsboro in March, 1865. April, 1866, Mr. De 
Hart was discharged as Sergeant Major; he returned to Indiana and recommenced the 
study of medicine under his father, which he had commenced in 1858; also studying 
dent"istry under Dr. Moore of La Fayette. He graduated from the Ohio DentalCol- 
lege at Cincinnati in 1869, and the succeeding four years practiced this profession 
and medicine at Chattanooga, Tenn. He then graduated from the Ohio Medi- 
cal College at Cincinnati; he came to Williamsport in 1875, where he has since re- 
mained as a practitioner of medicine, and has patients not only in and near Will- 
iamsport, but in many of the adjacent towns. Dr. De Hart was married in 1878 to 
Miss Joanna Wall, of Williamsport. He is a Republican, a member of the I. O. O. 
F. and of the G. A. R. 

JACOB T. ETN'IRE is a native of Butler County, Ohio, born in the year 1830, 
and is a son of Jacob and R. Etnire. His father came to Indiana in 1833, and en- 
tered land and settled in this township; our subject, during youth obtained such 
education as the county schools afforded. Later, he was married to Rachel Rush, by 
whom he has five children — Mary J., Celia C, William T., Charles C. and David; 
both daughters are married. In 1863, he entered the Seventy-second Indiana Regi- 
ment, and when that was mustered out at the close of the war he was transferred 
to the Forty-fourth, in which he remained until the fall of 1865. After his return 
he resumed farming, which his wife had carried on during his absence. Mr. Etnire 
has for the past five years been engaged in making tile; he is one of the leading men 
in his community. His son, William T. Etnire, was born in 1858, attended the com- 
mon school, and assists his father and brothers in the work of the farm. 

S. C. FISHER, attorney at law, is a native of Warren County, Ohio, born 
August 10, 1831, and is the eldest of eight children, five of whom are yet living, born 
to Alfred and Elizabeth (Campbell) Fisher, natives respectivelj" of North and South 
Carolina and of English descent. The fall of 1831, the family emigrated westward, 
and Mrs. Fisher having relatives in Fountain County, thej^ located near Attica and 
passed the winter there. During this time, Mr. Fisher crossed the river to Warren 
County and entered 160 acres of Government land in Adams Township. April 6, 
183'3, they located on this property, and here Mrs. Fisher died in 1856. Mr. Pishei' 
was next married in 1858, to Mrs. Abigail (Odle) Kidney, and lived on the land he 
entered for over fifty years. He died February 20, 1883, from the effects of a fall 
on the ice. S. C. Fisher lived in Warren County to manhood; was married, in 1854, 
to Miss Amanda L. Sewell, and from that time until the breaking-out of the war, 
was engaged in merchandising in Pine Village, his being the first dry goods store 
opened at that place. September 7, 1861, he enrolled his name as private in Com- 
pany H, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and on the 17th was mustered into 
service. He served as private and as a non-commissioned officer until July 17, 1863, 
when he was promoted over three ranking officers to the Captaincy of Company H, 
One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for merltorious'conduct. Six 
weeks after this lie was promoted Post Commissary at Tazewell in Eastern Tennessee; 
January, 1864, he was advanced to the position of Chief Commissary of the Depart- 
ment; the fall of 1864, he was discharged, his term of service having expired. Mr. 
Fisher served in eleven pitched battles, among them being Shiloh, Perryville, Fish- 
ing Creek and Fort Donelson, and was three times wounded. For a few years 
after the war, he traveled for his health, but in 1869 settled down in Williamsport 
and has since been engaged in legal pursuits. He is a Republican, and in Masonry 
is one of the first twelve man who took the thirty-second degree at New Al- 
bany, Ind., in 1868. He is a Camp Degree Odd Fellow and a member of the G. 
A. R. He and wife never having had children born to them, have adopted one child 
Ella — whom they have reared to womanhood. 

PHILIP GEMMER, Treasurer of Warren County, was born November 8, 1832, 
in Nassau, Prussia. His father, Justus Gemmer, was twice married— first to Chris- 



WILLIAMSI'OIIT, ANl> WASHINGTON TOWNSHII'— WARIIKN COUNTY. l')'J 

tin:i Beck, who bore him one son, T'hilip, and died in the ohl country, after wliicli 
Mr. Gemmcr marrictl Gratia Kincel. Philip, in 1S4(), eniiirrated with his father and 
step-motiier to the United States, local iu^ tirst in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. 
Thence the parents removed to Wabash CV)unty, Ind., and there died. The spriui,' 
of 18.10, Philii) (4emmer came from Ohio to La Gro, Wabush Go., Ind.. nnd for two 
3'ears was eniiajred in cabinet-makinn-, afterward iroin>f to La Fayette, where he 
continued this business for some time, lie tiien came to West Lebanon, Warren 
County, whence he moved to Marshtield two years liitv.r. At that place he enlisted, 
in April. ISdl, in Company H, Tenth IndianaVolunteer Infantry for three months, 
and durinu: this time was engaged in • he battle of Rich Mountain. After his dis- 
charge, he enlisted. August 4, 1862, in the Eighty si.xth Regiment, and was elected 
First Lieutenant of Company E. Before being mustered into .service, he was pro- 
moted Captain of his company, and a short time before starting on the Atlanta 
campaign was commissioned Major of the Eighty-si.\ih. He was actively engaged 
in the battles of Painesville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Athm- 
ta, Franklin, Nashville, and in the pursuit and capture of Bragg's army. Maj. 
Gemmer received his discharge June 11, 1865. After the war, he engaged at Marsh- 
field two years at merchandising, and then in a warehouse at WilliaWisport. He 
afterward moved on a farm near the county .seat. He was elected to theTrea.surer- 
ship of the county in -1878, and re-elected, .serving in all four years. Maj. Gemmer 
is a Republican, a member of i the Masonic order and the G. A. R., and has been 
three times married. His tirst wife, Maggie Moore, bore him one son. Frederick L.; 
and his second wife, Lydia E. Smith, two children — William H. and Lydia E. His 
present wife was Minerva E. Fleming, and the result of their union is one .son, 
George A. 

WILLIAM N. GIBSON is a native of Tennessee, born June 18, 1833. whose 
parents were Martin and Margaret Gibson. He received his education from the 
common schools, and came to Warren County, Ind., when he was eighteen years 
of age. In 1858, he was married to Maria F., daughter of James H. and Elizabeth 
Macintosh, to which union were born two chihlren— Lilla M. and Cora B. Mr. 
Gibson .settled on the farm on which he now resides in the spring of 1W2. He has 
a fine proper!}*, with many and various improvements, all of wliich was accpiired 
by hard lal)or and frugality. Mr. Gibson has taken an active part in all moral and 
social improvements, and is an esteemed citizen. He and his family are members 
of the Cliri>;lian Church. 

THOMAS J. GRAVIES, Recorder of Warren County, was l)orn August 31, lH3r), 
in Ross County, Ohio, and is a sou of Willis Ross, who was a native of the Old 
Dominion, and was twice married. To the first marriage was born one daughter, 
but both she and the mother are now dead. Jane Carothers was his second wife, 
and to this union were born eight children. In 18.")!, the famil}' came to this coun- 
ty, but after a number of years removed to Benton County, Mo., where the mother 
died in 1876. In 1877, the father returned to Warren County, but while on a visit 
to a daughter in Vermillion County, 111., in 1879, took sick and died. Thomas J. 
Graves lived with his parents until the age of thirty-five, eng.iged most of his time 
in agricultural pursuits. August 12, 1862. he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-si.xth 
Indiana Volunteers: was elected Fifth Sergeant, and, on his discharge, July 19, 
1864, held the rank of First Sergeant. Mr. Graves participated in a number of se- 
vere engagements, among which were Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, 
and, November 25, 1H63, in the last-named battle, was twice wounded. After the 
color-bearer had been shot down, another seized the Mag. but he, too. .soon fell u 
victim to rel)el bullets. Sergt. Graves then bore the fi.ag aloft, and. altliough twice 
wounded, succeeded in planting it on the top of the ridge, the first of the entire 
Union arm}'. He was honoral)iy tlischarged July li*. 1864, and immediately returned 
to Indiana, where he was engaged in farming until his removal to Missouri in 1869, 
where he still continued that vocation until he again came to Warren County, where 
he has since resided. Noveml)er 21, 1877, Mr. Graves received a severe cut on the 
loft foot, which necessitated amputation .March IH, 1K7H, and al)out this time he 
received a paralytic stroke, which so afTected him as to render him comparatively 
helpless, and it was over a year before he could do a man's work. By tiie Repuldi- 
can party, he was elected to the office of County Recorder in 1879, with a majority 
of 1,H83 votes, and he is yet serving in that capacity. Mr. Graves is a m-mber of 
the G. A. R. and the Iv. of H. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church and 
the parents of five cliildren— Arthur L., Bertie Mc, Lewis W.. Julia M. and 
Cecil E. 

ELIAS HANES was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, J\dy 22. 1810. and 
while yet a lad came witii his jiarenls. Joseph and Margaret (Leslie) Hanes. to War- 
ren County, where he has since residil. He received a common school education, 
and on attaining his majority began life's battle on his own responsibility. January 



160 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

8, 1861, he married Miss Ella Ridenour, of Liberty Township, and after this event, 
engaged in farming in the same township. He continued this about nineteen years, 
then removed to Williamsport, and in partnership with C. H. Porch and B. F. Stat- 
tler, erected the Williamsport flouring mills and embarked in a general merchant 
and custom work. Mr. Stattler's interest was purchased shortl}^ after beginning 
operation by the other two partners, and the lirm of Hanes & Porch have ever since 
prosperously continued. The building is a two story and a half, not including a 
stone basement, is 46x34 feet, with an additional room attached, in which is a sixty- 
horse-power steam engine. The grinding is executed on what is known as the 
"gradual reduction system," and they have a capacity of one hundred barrels per 
twenty-four hours. They produce an excellent quality of flour, and are doing an 
average annual business of $70,000. Mr. Hanes, the senior partner, is one of the 
prosperous citizens of Williamsport; is a Democrat, and he and wife are the parents 
of one daughter — Ladessia. 

HENRY HELD, harness manufacturer, is a native of Germany, born October 
15, 1833, and is one of a large family of children born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Bow- 
man) Held, both of whom died in Massillon, Ohio. They emigrated from Germany 
in 1833, andthesame year settled in Stark County, Ohio. Henry Held was reared 
to manhood in Ohio; received a fair common school education, and at the age of 
fourteen began learning the harness maker's trade and doing for himself in Canton, 
Ohio. After serving four years as an apprentice, he began work as a joui'neyman. 
and in 1851 came to Williamsport; worked at his trade with his brother Jacob, who 
had preceded him to Warren County two 3^ears, and who had a shop at this place. 
For two 3'-ears, our subject worked for his brother, then became a partner, and, in 
1873, purchasing his brother's interest, became proprietor. He has since continued 
as such alone, does a good business, and besides owning good town property, has an 
interest in a farm of one hundred acres in Washington" Township. Mr. Held has 
acquired his present property entirely by hard work and industry. For thirty-two 
j'ears, he has been a resident of William.sport; he is a Democrat in politics.a member 
of both A. F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., and has been twice married. His first wife, 
Nancy Nirolh, died in 1868, leaving him three daughters — Ella, Kate and Nellie. 
His present wife, Helen Koehler. has borne him five children — Fred, Lucy, John. 
Edward and Flora. Mr. and Mrs. Held are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and esteemed citizens of Williamsport- 

ALVTN HIGH, deceased. If being old settlers, and among the most honored 
of her citizens would entitle a family to recognition in; the history of Warren County, 
the High family, indeed, could not well be passed without an extended notice. 
Charles D. High, father of the subject of this memoir, was born in Berks County, 
Penn., in 1807, and his great-grandfather was a native of Germany. In May, 1838, 
he came to Indiana,and located in Warren County, whicli was then in a state of nature. 
On the same day of his arrival, William Hunter and family also located here, and 
in December, 1828, witnessed the marriage of Mr. High and Elizabeth D. Hunter. 
The Hunter family were of Scotch-Irish descent. They moved from Greenbriar 
County, Va., to Ohio, in about 1806, where Mrs. High was born in 1808; thence to 
Kentucky and from there to Warren County. Ind., in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. High were 
hard working and worthy people; the parents of twelve children, ten of whom they 
reared to j'ears of maturity. Mr. High died October 23, 1864, but his widow is yet 
living in Williamsport at the ripe oldage of seventy-five years, the mother of three 
living children, the grandmother of twenty living children, and the great-grand- 
mother of six living children. Their children were named — Alvin, Austin, who 
served in the late war, and died of consumption, in 1881, leaving a widow and four 
children; Auson, a soldier of the late war, who died in Libby Prison in 1863, leaving 
a widow and two children; Ezra, who died wiien twelve years old; Catharine, Mrs. 
Gordon B. McClatlin; Indiana, who died in 1868. the mother of one son and the 
wife of John Hornedj^ Elizabeth, Mrs. Horace Crane; Charles, who ran away from 
home when fourteen j'ears old to go into the army, is married and resides in Kansas; 
William, a soldier of the latelwar, a graduate of medicine, and died in 1872; John 
R.. deceased; Anna, died in 1871, the "wife of A. Hinkle, and Daniel, who died in 
infancy. Alvin High, the eldest of this family, was born at Walnut Grove, Warren 
County, September 20, 1831, and up to his eighteenth year, assisted his parents on 
the farm. He was engaged in farming and teaching school until 1855, when for the 
second time he was compelled to relinquish active out door piu'suits by reason of ill 
health. He removed to Williamsport and embarked in merchandising, which he 
discontinued after a few years, and in 1861, became Deputy County Auditor. In 
1866, he was elected Treasurer of the county, and re-elected in 1868, both times as a 
Republican; besides the above, Mr. High served in various other positions of local 
honor and trust, and throughout all his official duties was an officer who gave un- 
bounded satisfaction. He was an ardent supporter of the temperance cause, was a 



WILLIAM3P011T, AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 161 

member of both Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternities and was married October 7, 
\Srt2, loMiss Sarah M. Hawkins, who was born January 13,1834. To this raarriaM, 
tlie followinj;: family w;is horn: Clarissa F., Mrs. W. U. Yeagy, Truman H., Charles 
M., deceased, and Alice, deceased. 

ELISHA IIITCHENS. Postmaster, and one of the few of our remaining 
pioneers, wjus born m Chillicothe, Ohio, August 10, 1806. He was educated and 
married in Ross County. Oiiio, his wife being Mary King. Learning the black- 
smith trade, he followed that occupation until about 1828, when he embarked in 
merchandising in the northern part of his native county. In 1H3'2, he removed to 
Logan County, Ohio, and continued business there until the fall of 1836, when he 
came to La Fayette, Ind., and became a partner in a general store for a short time, 
and then returned to Logan County. In 1841, he came to Williamsport, where for 
some time he was engaged in clerking. In 1846, he opened a general store in part- 
nership with his present son-in-law, continuing the same up to 18,55, when he dis- 
posed of his interests, and two years later he and a partner established a grain trade 
in Marshfield, which thej' carried on for some years. In 1852, he engaged in the 
same business in Williamsport, combined with the railroad agency, continuing the 
same until 1870. In 1873, he was appointed Postmaster. Although a man of over 
threescore and ten years, Mr. Hitchens has been one of the most active men ever 
in Warren County, and even j'et he takes an active interest in all public affairs. 
Flis wife died in August, 1879," after bearing him three children — Martha, now Mrs. 
William Kent ; Scott, deceased, and Sarah, now Mrs. L. T. Miller. Mr. Hitchens 
is a pronounced Republican, having joined that party in 1856. From 1840 to 1856 
he was a radical Abolitionist, and previous to that was a Democrat. For forty-two 
years, he has been a resident of Warren County, and throughout his diversified 
career he has occupied an upright and honorable position. 

JAMES M. HUNTER is the son of John P. and Elizabeth (Anderson) Hunter, 
who were among the pioneers of Warren County, and are now residing near West 
Lebanon. They were of Scotch and English descent, and natives, respectively, of 
Ohio and Virginia. The3-camc to Indiana in 1844, and settled in Jordan Township, 
then a part ot Libertj', and there engaged in farming until 1870, when they removed 
to where they now reside. The Hunter family are among the oldest of Warren 
County, and the inconveniences and hardships of a frontier life had to be endured 
in order to gain home and property. How successful they have been is illustrated 
by the fact of their owning over three thousand acres of land in and near Warren 
County, besides other valuable private interests. James M. Hunter was l)orn in 
Madison County, Ohio, June 10, 1843, and is one of eight children, seven of whom 
are yet living. lie was reared in Warreu Count}', and received a liberal education. 
He was engaged in farming until 1875, when he began the studv of law with his 
present partner, John W. Sutton. In 1876, he removed to Williamsport, and in 
Februarv, 1880, the firm of Sutton & Hunter was established, and is now among 
the leading legal firms of Warren County. Mr. Hunter is a member of the National 
Greenback party and of the Knights of Honor, and be yet owns '276 acres of land 
in Warren County. He was married, October 17, 1872, to Miss M. J. Stump, and 
they are tiie parents of one son, Schuvler C. 

JAMES L. JOHNSON (deceased), father of the present Clerk of Warren 
County, was a native Kentuckian, born in 1800. He was a hatter by trade, and at 
an early day moved to Brown County, Ohio, where he plied his trade successfully 
until 1835, then emigrated westward and located at Williamsport. He was a man 
well qualified for western life by having a robust constitution and an indomitable 
energy, which at all times are the chief re(iuisites of the i)ioneer. He entered about 
700 acres of Warren County land, but, instead of tilling this, was engaged in mer- 
chandising at Williamsport, and became one of the wealthiest men of the county ; 
but he was not allowed to enjoy this long, for in about 1H47 he was attacked by one 
of tiie previilent disorders of the day, which caused his death. His widow survived 
him until 1H.5(), when she, too, died. This lady was twice married, lier first husband 
being a Mr. Wright. To her marriage witii Mr. Johnson six children were born, 
five of whom are yet living, the youngest being Henry C. Johnson. This son was 
born in lirown Coiiiity, Ohio, December <i, is;54 ; was reareil in this county, and lias 
known no otiier home than tliis. In December, 1851). he married Miss Eli/.al)eth 
Tebbs. Early in IHfil, he went to Indianapolis, and for si.x months served as Deputy 
Clerk of tiie S>ipreme Court, but he tiuMi resigned his position, returned home, and 
assisted in recruiting Company K, Thirty-third Imiiana Volunteer Infantry, of which 
he was elected Se(;ond Lieutenant. The summer of IM*;:], li(> was advanced to First 
Lieutenant. ;ind later to tiie Cajitaincy of his company. Was in a numlier of hard- 
fouglit battles, among wliieii were Wild Cat, Cumberland Oap and Tliomjison's 
Station. At tiu! last-named engagismenl, he was captured, and for siven weeks was 
an inmate of Libby Prison, lie was enabled to rejoin his command in time to par- 



162 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ticipate in all the movements of the Atlanta campaisjn, part of the time as Aid of 
Gen. Coburn, but afterward as Aid to Col. Dustin. At Savannah, he resumed com- 
mand of his company, and from that time participated in all the movements of 
Sherman's army until the close of the war, including:? the grand review at Washing- 
ton. Siuce 186"), he has been Deputy in the County Cleric's office the greater part of 
the time, but in 1878 he was elected as principal to thisoifice, and in 1882 re-elected. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson's marriage, six children have been born — Kate, deceased ; 
Louis H., Lillian, Anna, Harry and George W. 

HENRY C. JOHNSON, lumber merchant, is a native of Champaign County, 
Ohio, was born January 26, 1826, and he is the eldest living child of John and Mar- 
garet (Hultz) Johnson, natives respectively of England and Ohio, and of German 
descent. John Johnson served his adopted country in the war of 1812, and received 
a severe bayonet wound in the arm, from the effects of which he ever afterward 
suffered. The family moved to Vermillion County, 111., in 1829, and were among 
the first settlers of that locality, where they died. Henry C. Johnson was reared in 
Vermillion County, 111., receiving only such education as the pioneer schools of 
that early day afforded — when greased paper was usedjfor windows, the old-fash- 
ioned fire-places for warmth, and puncheons for seats. In 1851, he came to Warren 
County to follow the occupation of schoolmaster, and for many terms he was en- 
gaged ia this occupation and farming. In 1852, he married Helen M. Cronkhite, 
and in 1868 moved to Marshfleld, Steuben Township, and engaged in the grocery 
and provision trade for a time; but he afterward sold out his store and embarked in the 
lumber trade. In March, 1881, he removed to Williamsport, where he re-embarked 
in the lumber business, at which he has since been employed. Mr. Johnson is a 
Republican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of 
the M. E. Church and the parents of five children — Emma, now Mrs. Z. J. Stine- 
spring; Rebecca J., now Mrs. A. J. Clifton; Marv Ellen; LoraB., now Mrs. F. M. 
Wolfe, and Albert. 

P. W. LEWIS was born in Johnson County, Ind., February 17, 1830, and is 
one of ten children, four of whom are yet living, born to Thomas and Sarah (Ware) 
Lewis, natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia. The Wares were of Irish ances- 
tors, but for many years they have been identified in Virginian histor3\ Members 
of this family emigrated to Johnson County, Ind., as early as 1815, and here the 
parents of P. W. Lewis first met and were married. Thomas Lewis was born near 
Chillicothe, Ohio; came with his parents to Indiana in 1820, and after his marriage 
with Sarah Ware, he and family, in 1847, moved to Independence, Warren County, 
and made that their home until their respective deaths. P. W. Lewis learned the 
plasterer's trade with Peter Laberdee, a son-in-law of the French trader, Cicott. He 
remained with him two years, then passed one year at Attica, perfecting himself for 
his business. In the spring of 1864, he located in Williamsport. In December, 
1855, he married Sarah J. Schoonover, who was born on Independence Day, 1836, in 
Williamsport. Mrs. Lewis is descended from two of the oldest families of Warren 
County, viz. : the Schoonovers and Chrismans. Her father was Stephen Schoon- 
over, who came to Warren County with his parents previous to 1830; and her moth- 
er was Sarah Chrisman, who came with her father, Peter Chrisman, in 1832. P. 
W. Lewis has fought his way up from a poor boj' to a successful retired tradesman. 
In 1864, he entered the Government's employ in the Assistant Quartermaster's de- 
partment, and during the time of his service had charge of sixty-four mechanics. 
He is one of the public-spirited men of Williamsport; is a strong advocate of all 
temperance principles, a Republican, a Mason ; has served Warren County as Cor- 
oner a number of years, and in April, 1883, was appointed by Gov. Porter as Com- 
missioner to represent Indiana in the National Mining and Industrial Exposition to 
meet at Denver, Colo., in July, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have had born to them 
two children, both of whom are now dead- 

S. B. MATHIS, a native of Philadelphia, and one of the pioneers of Warren 
County, was born October 8, 1820; he moved with his parents to Champaign County, 
Ohio, in 1830, where he lived until he came to Warren County, in 1843. He is the 
eldest of eleven children, three only of whom are now living, born to Nehemiahand 
Catharine (Miller) Mathis. He was bound out when eleven years old to a farmer, and 
since that time his life has been almost wholly passed among strangers. July 13, 
1843, he married Sarah J. George, and settled in Western Indiana. For three years, 
they farmed in Liberty Township, then moved to the place Mr. Mathis yet owns, in 
Jordan Township, where they remained for upward of thirty-five years. In De- 
cember, 1881, they rented a part of the old homestead, which consists of 1,600 acres, 
moved to Williamsport, erected their brick store and hotel building, and are now 
engaged in the grocery trade and in keeping a hotel. When they first crossed the 
Wabash River, twenty cents was the sum total of their cash assets. They rented 
land and farmed under all those disadvantages and hardships of pioneer life, and 



WlLLIAMSrORT, AND WASHINGTON TOWNSFIIP— WARREN COUNTY. 163 

with their hard earned wages, invested in land from time to time until they are now 
among the heaviest land owners of the countv. Mr. Mathis was a Whig until 1856, 
was tlicn a Hcpuhlican ami now l»cl()n,i,'s to the National (Jrccnliack i)arty. He and 
wife have had horn to them thirteen children — Ephraini G., James E., William F., 
Eli W. S., Mary A., Catharine E., Samuel B., Almyretta, deceased, Miirsh T., de- 
ceased, Sarah J. and three that died in infancy unnamed. Mrs. Mathis was horn in 
Champaign County. Ohio, Feliruary 28, 1821, "and throughout her life has ably as- 
sisted hei lHisl)ai\d in all his ctTorts. 

GORDON B. McCLAFLlN, retired farmer, is a native of the Green Mountain 
State, horn Septeinher 22, 182."). His father was a native of Scotland, canie to 
America at an early day, and. when the Colonies resorted to arms in order to gain 
their freedom from Great Britain, lie served throughout the seven years of war and 
was honorably discharged as Lieutenant Colonel. Gordon B. is one of five children, 
three of whom are yet living, born to Arnold and Esther (Metcalf) McClatlin, and 
in 183<'>. they emigrated west to Indiana, and in September of that year settled in 
White County. Mr. McClaflin worked at ( arix'niering. shoe-making and plastering 
in connection with farming until his death in White County, in 1^48. His widow 
died in Warren County, in 1S81. Gordon McClatlin lived wilii his parents until 
twenty-one years of ago, then began doing for himself. Being the eldest of the 
family, he returned home after his father's death, and took his place in the care of 
the family until all had' arrived to jears of maturit}'. He received only a common 
school education and two different winters taught public schools. In 1850, the fam- 
ilv removed to Warren County, Ind.. and settled at Walnut Grove, where, in 1855, 
Mr. McC'laHin and Catharine "High were united in marriage. To their union have 
been born two sons — Charles and Ezra. In Feliruary, 1880, Mr. .McClatlin and wife 
moved to Williamsport, where they are j'et living retired. He is a llepublican in 
politics, owns 297 acres of good land in Wtirren County, besides the town property 
where they now live, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

WILLIAM ]SIOFFITT, County Auditor, was born in Adams Township, this 
county. January 15, 1883, and is one of eight children, seven of whom lived to ma- 
turity and only four of whom are yet living. The parents, David and Frances (Odle) 
Moffitt, were natives of Ohio, the former being of Irish descent. They were mar- 
ried in Ohio, and in 1831, came to Warren County, where they engaged in farming 
until Mrs. >Ioftitt's death, in 1871, since when Mr. MolHtt has lived retired in Wil- 
liamsport. William Moffitt, with the exception of two years, has always made War- 
ren County his home. In 1850, he married Mary E. Warner, a daughter of Daniel 
H. Warner, and in 1859 and 1860, was engaged in farming in Kansas. In July, 1863, 
he enlisted as a private in Company II. One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was elected Second Lieutenant. During their six months' term of 
enlistment they were located in Eastern Tennessee doing guard duty, but in Febru- 
ary Mr. Moffiit was discharged, and the winter of 18(i4 helped recruit Company G, 
One Hundred and Fiftieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was commis- 
sioned Captain, and their operations were in Viruinia. doing guard duty principally, 
between Winchester and Ilarjx'r's Ferry. ]\Ir. Moffitt was honorably discharged in 
August, 1865, and has since resided in Williamsport. The fall of 18(i5, he became 
Deputy County Auditor, and in 1868 was elected Auditor by the Republican party, 
and in 1872, was re-elected to this position. He served the four years after the ex- 
piration of his term of office as the Deputy of his successor, luit in 1880, was again 
elected Auditor and is now serving in that capacity. Mr. Mofiitt is a member oif the 
Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, is a K. of H., and member of the G. A. R. He 
is a Republican, and he and wife are tiie |)arenis of four eiiildren — Frances (Mrs. 
Frank Demmary). Clara J. (Mrs. John Hatton). David H. and Anna .M. 

A. NEBEIvER, County Superintendent, was born near Covinijion, Ind., Sep- 
tember 9, 1N38, and is one of eight children born to George and Mary (Steely) 
Nebeker. The family is descended from German ancestors, their advent in the 
United States having been previous to the Revolutionary war; liut our subject's 

frandfather married an English lady, and his f.ithrr a native lioni American ladv. 
lis parents were nativ<'s of Pickaway County, Ohio, and moved to Fountain 
County, Ind., at a very early day, and were here married in 1833. llis mother died 
in 1870, but his father yet lives iind resides in Fountain County. After attending 
the common schools of his locality, the subject of this sketch entered Asbury Uni- 
versity, but after four years' a|)plication in the classical <ourse of that institution, 
was compelled to relin(|uish his studies l)y reason of ill health. For a number of 
years, he was engaged in various occupations, but, in 1H6S, In- decidr-d on the 
teacher's profession as his vocation. He was steadily employed at this from ]8f)S 
until 1875, but in the latter year was appointed Superintendent of the Rui)lic 
Schools of Warren County. In 1877, he established himself in the drug trade in 



164 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Williamsport, at which he has since been engaged, and, in 1881, he was re-appointed 
County Superintendent, and is yet engaged in that capacity. Mr. Nebeker is doing 
a good trade in the post office building, is a teacher of sixty-nine months' experi- 
ence, is a Republican in politics, and a faithful and efficient officer as well as an 
esteemed citizen, and since 1868 has resided in Warren County. 

ROBERT PEARSON, a native of Maryland, was born April 13, 1808. Learned 
his trade of carpenter and joiner in Wilmington, Del. Married Rebecca Barnes in 
December, 1834, and the summer following emigrated to Indiana. July 8, 1835, 
they landed in Warren County, which has ever since been their home. Mr. Pear- 
son had been in this county in 1833, and had purchased 160 acres of land on Pine 
Creek, in Libertj' Township. They lived in Williamsport a number of months; 
there erected a cabin on their land and moved to that place. He hired the greater 
part of the improvements done here, while he worked at his trade. At the expira- 
tion of five years, they moved back to town, where they have ever since resided. 
Mr. Pearson was a fine mechanic, and many of the best buildings of the county 
were erected by him or under his instructions. After a wedded life of forty-eight 
years, Mrs. Pearson died, March 2, 1883, a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
They were the parents of five children— Eliza, now Mrs. Richard W. Claypool; 
George L. ; Carrie, deceased; John G., and Julia M., deceased. Of the children liv- 
ing, all reside in Williamsport. John G. Pearson was born at this place April 27, 
1846, and, after attending the public schools of his native town, became a student 
of Wabash College, and remained in the scientific department for three years. He 
then returned to Williamsport, and began the stud}^ of law with Maj. L. T. Miller. 
After reading with him two years he began practicing, having been admitted to the 
bar in September, 1871, and to practice in the Supreme Court of Indiana in Septem- 
ber, 1872. Mr. Pearson has met with considerable success, and is the present Mas- 
ter Commissioner of the Circuit Court of Warren County, having been appointed in 
November, 1882. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of H., is a Republican 
in politics, and one of Williamsport's progressive citizens. 

JOSEPH M. RABB, Judge of the Twenty-first Judicial Circuit of Indiana, is 
a son of Smith and Mary (Carwile) Rabb, and was born February 14, 1846, in Cov- 
ington, Ind., the third of seven children, five of whom are yet living. He was 
reared, from the age of six weeks to manhood, in Vermillion County, Ind. His 
grandparents were among the first settlers of Fountain Count}^ Ind., arriving there 
as early as 1826 and 1828. July 22, 1862, Joseph M. Rabb enlisted in Company K, 
Seventy-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry — afterward in the Sixth Indiana Cavalry — 
for three years, or during the war. His first campaign was with Gen. Nelson in 
Kentucky, in August, 1862, participating in the battle of Richmond, where he was 
taken prisoner. After being paroled, he returned to Indiana, remaining in camp 
for some time. Then, on being exchanged, again returned to Kentucky, and while 
doing guard duty was again captured. He was not long a prisoner until exchanged, 
after which he was placed under Gen. Burnside's command in Tennessee, and at- 
tached to the Ninth Army Corps as scout and courier. The summer of 1864, he 
joined Sherman's army in the campaign against Atlanta. Then returned to Nash- 
ville, participating in the battle of that place and the campaign against {"orrest and 
Wheeler. Until the conclusion of the war. Mr. Rabb remained on duty in Tennes- 
see, but after being discharged in June, 1865, came home and attended one term of 
school at Greencastle. In October, 1866, he began the study of law at Williamsport 
with Judge J. H. Brown, continuing the same until 1869, when he entered into ac- 
tive practice as a partner of his preceptor. After the death of Judge Brown in 
1873, Mr. Rabb practiced alone and in partnership until his election to his present 
position as Judge of the Twenty-first Judicial Circuit of Indiana in 1882. Judge 
Rabb is an unswerving Republican, and a member of the G. A. R. His marriage 
with Miss Lottie Morris was .solemnized June 11, 1872, and five children have 
blessed their union, only three — Clara, George and Fred— now living. The mother 
departed this life May 7, 1882. 

WILLIAM P. RHODES, senior partner of the law firm of Rhodes & Rabourn, 
was born July 17, 1833, in Tippecanoe County, Ind. He is the second born of five 
children, of whom James I. and Nancy (Forshee) Rhodes were the parents. His 
father was a native of the Old Dominion, and of Swiss descent; came to Ohio at an 
early day, where he married. Mrs. Nancy Rhodes is a native of Ohio and of French 
descent. In 1828, they moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where Mr. Rhodes died 
in 1860. His widow yet survives him and resides in La Fayette. William P. Rhodes 
was reared to manhood in his native county, and in 1854 entered college at Fort 
Wayne, where he remained two years. In 1858, he came to Williamsport, to em- 
bark in the practice of law, having previously studied his profe.ssion about two 
years in the office of Huff, Baird & La Rue, of La Fayette. In 1860, he was ad- 
mitted to practice in the Supreme Court. la 1864, he recruited Company K, One 



WILLIAMSPORT, AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 165 

Hundred and Thirty-fiftli Indiana Volunteers; was elected Captain, and went into 
active service in Tennessee and Alal)aina. On being mustered out of service in 
October, 1864, he returned to Wiilianisport and re-embarked in the practice of law. 
In 186(t. lie purchased an interest in the \\'<n-ri'n liepuhlicnn, and acted as its editor 
about one year, since when his occupation has been ciiietly in the practice of his 
chosen profession. In 1M70, he was elected to the Lower House in the State Lesris- 
lature from Warren County, and in 1872 was elected Slate Senator from Fountain 
and Warren Counties, lie formed his present partnersliip with with W^. L. Kabourn 
in 1882, and the firm of Rhodes & Kabourn is one of the best in Warren County. 
Mr. Rhodes is a Republican, a member of the Odd Fellows and the Knights of 
Honor, and his wife is a member of the M. E. Church. He was married, in Sep- 
tember, 1851», to Miss Mildred B. Dickson, who was born and reared in Wiliiams- 
Jort, and to their union have been born three sons— James L., Wesley D. and 
oseph W. 

JUSTIN ROSS. M. D., was born November 15, 1839, in Brown County, Ohio, 
one of eight children born to Josiah and Emily (Fergu.son) Hoss, of whom si.\ are 
yet living. His parents were natives of Ohio and of English descent. His grand- 
father and great grandfather came to Ohio at an early period. Meml)ers of tlie 
family settled near Indianapolis, Ind., where many of their descendants still reside. 
Dr. Ross' father was aiarmer and merchant, and with his family moved to Grant 
County. Ind., in 1851, but from there moved to different counties in the State, 
finally coming to Warren County in 1865, where they yet reside. Dr. Ross was 
educated in the common schools, and was engaged in different occupations until 
1864, when he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. D. Kimball, of Xenia, Ind., 
and after attending two terms at Rush Medical College, in Chicago, graduated. He 
first located at Greentown, Howard Co., Ind., but at the end oif one year came to 
Williamsport. Dr. Ross is the present United States E.xamining Surgeon for War- 
ren County, and is a member of the Indiana State Medical Association. It was 
largel)' through his infiuence that the bu.siness of Williamsport was removed from 
the old town to its present location above the railroad. He belongs to both the 
Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, in the former having advanced to the degree 
of Knight Templar. He is a stanch Republican and the Secretary of the Board of 
Health of Warren County. Dr. Ross was first married to Eliza Miirine, in 1861, but 
this lady died in 1866. To his marriage with Marietta Egbert, daughter of Dr. 
George Egbert, of Marion, Ind., three children have been born, only two — Hope 
and Arnet Earl — yet living. 

JACOB SHEFFER was born in Warren County, Ind., in 1840, and is a son of 
Nicholas and Matilda Sheffer. He was educated at the common schools of the day, 
and entered the volunteer army in 1862, being assigned to the Army oi the Cumber- 
land. After his discharge, he attended school most of the time' until the fall of 
1864, when he re-enlisted, was assigned to the army of the Potomac, and served 
until the close of the war. In 1873, he was married to Delphine Schlosser, by 
which union they had one child, Wilmer. Mr. and Mrs. Scheffer are industrious 
people, and promising members of their community. 

JOSEPH L. STUMP, Sheriff of Warren County, was born near Green Hill, 
this county, November 5, 1845, and is one of eight children, five of whom are yet 
living, born to Lemuel and Agnes (Brier) Stump, the former of (ierman and the 
latter of Scotch-Irish descent. Joseph Stump, grandfather of Sheriff Stumji, emi- 
^ated to what is now Fountain County, Ind., and entered the land on whicli Attica 
IB now situated. He afterward sold that jiroperty, and, in 1S27, settled in Liberty 
Township. Warren County, entering a large tract of land, and at an advanced age 
he departed this life, in 1H46. Joseph L. Stump was reared in Liberty Township, 
Warren County, where he received his education, and this has always been his 
home. In 1H62, he enlisted for the war, but was rejecrled by reason of his youth. 
February 2!», 1H64, he was mustered in Company H, il^eventy-second Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, as private, and was discharged at Indianapolis, Se|)tember 14. 1865. 
He was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, ])articipating in all the movements 
of his regiment, concluding with llie capture of Atlanta. After tliis, he was on 
special detailed duty for Gen. Garrard until April, 1865, when he rejoined his com- 
pany imder Gen. AVilson, and started on the "Wilson Raid " to liberate Anderson- 
ville j)risoners. Tliey only readied Macon, (ia., when the news was received of the 
collap><e of the Southern ("onfech-racy. Mr. Stump returned to his native county 
and farmed until 1H74, when lie l)ecame engaged in milling in Raiiisville. whicli he 
continued about three years, when ii<' recoinmenc(!d farming, at which he was 
engaged when he was elected Sheriff of the ('ounty in issi). In 1S82, he was 
re-elected, and is yet .serving in that capacity. Sheriff Stump is a member of the 
Masonic order. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor and G. A. R., 
and is a Republican. August 3. 1H65, was married to Sarah E. Jones. Si.\ children 



166 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

have been boru to this union— George, Gardella and Gertie, deceased ; and Nettie, 
Arthur, and James Marion yet living. 

JESSE SWISHER is a native of this county, born in the year 1843, and is a 
son of Jacob and Clarissa Swisher. He lost his father when he was six years old, 
and worked as a herder of cattle from that period until he was eighteen. He served 
two years as a soldier in the late war, a member of the Twenty-second Indiana Regi- 
ment; he took part at the siege of Atlanta, and was under Gen. Sherman in his 
memorable march in Georgia. His wife is Martha A. Mcintosh, daugliter of James 
H. and Elizabeth Mcintosh, to which union have been born three cliildren — Clarissa 
v., Warren C. and Harvey L. Mr. Swisher has a good farm, but without as many 
and convenient buildings and improvements as he desires; but he and wife are 
working diligently to that end. They have an interesting and promising family, 
and are members of the Christian Church. 



PIKE TOWNSHIP. 



G. W. BIGGS, farmer, is a native of this township, born March 15, 1833, and is 
a son of Josiah and Mahala (Garrison) Bigi^s; the fath'jr a native of Ohio, the mother 
of New Jersey, both of whom moved to Warren County, in 1839, and settled on the 
land now owned by G. W. and D. D. Biggs, where the father died, December 4, 
1844; the mother is still living, aged ninety-two years. G. W. Biggs received but an 
ordinary education at the district school, and at the age of twenty-one began farm- 
ing for himself. On December 27, 1866, he was married to Mrs. Mary J. Crawford, 
daughter of James H. and Elizabeth Mcintosh. This union was blessed with five 
children— Millie F., Fred W., AVilliam H., Essie E. and an infant which died un- 
named; of these, two are deceased. Mr. Biggs now owns 169 acres, of what was a 
part of the old homestead, which is well improved and one of the l)est farms in 
Warren County. He is a thorough Republican, and gave his first Presidential vote 
for Gen. Fremont; he is also a worthy citizen. Mrs. Biggs is a member of the 
Christian Church. 

DANIEL DUTTON BIGGS, was born in this township January 27, 1836, and 
18 the youngest of tlie eleven children of Josiah and Mahala Biggs. Josiali Biggs 
was one of the founders of the county, and a prominent citizen; our subject received 
his education in the first school of this county, a log building on the land of Dr. 
Daniel Dutton Hall, after whom our subject was christened. Mr. Biggs was mar- 
ried September 29, 1870, to Miss Ruth E. Mcintosh, a native of this township, 
daughter of J. H. and Elizabeth Mcintosh. This union was blessed wuth five chil- 
dren—Nellie, Charles H. (deceased, March 13, 1882), Lewis (deceased, March 3, 
1882), an infant (deceased, unnamed) and Clara. Mr. Biggs is a Republican, and 
gave his first Presidential vote for Lincoln, in 1860. He is an enterprising man,and 
a leading farmer of this county. In 1875, he built his present residence, one of the 
finest in the township. 

ELIAS A. BIGGS, jeweler and fancy goods dealer, was born in this county 
August 2", 1850, and is the fourth of the ten children of Reuben and Elizabeth 
(Ayles) Biggs, both deceased, the former in 1863, the latter in 1877. Mr. Biggs has 
gained by his industry and observation a good business education. When sixteen 
years old, he was bound to Messrs. Bell & Ward, of West Lebanon, to learn wagon- 
making, and when twenty, began business at Rob Roy. This, owing to ill health, 
he continued but two years. After visiting Michigan he came to West Lebanon, 
and, with a younger brother, commenced the bakery and confectionery trade, which 
after one year he abandoned for the jewelry and fancy goods trade. On May 28, 
1873, he was married to Miss Helena B. Crane, a native of Fourtain County, daugh- 
ter of Silas and Bell J. Crane, bv which union were born three children— Leota 
May, Ada B. (deceased August 26, ^1878), and Joseph N. Mr. Biggs is a Repul)lican 
and cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant; he is also a Freemason. He has 
budt the finest brick block in West Lebanon, or in tlie county, and is a man of great 
worth and enterprise. He has been Town Clerk and Treasurer. 

JAMES BREEN, dealer in boots, shoes and rubber goods, was born in Niagara 
County, N. Y., July 12, 1843, and is a son of Patrick and Bridget (Conroy) Breen, 
both natives of Ireland, who emigrated in 1838 and settled in Rockport, N. Y.; 
they were sixty-six days on the voyage. Mr. and Mrs. Breen moved to Delphi, 
Carroll Co., Ind., when James was four years old; the father died in Fayette 
County, 1873, the mother at Delphi in 1875. When our subject was fifteen years of 
age he went to learn shoe-making with John Dixon, at Delphi. In January, 1862, 



PIKK TOWNSHir— WARUEN COUNTY. 167 

he enlisted in the Sixteenth Artillery, and in August was wounded at the battle of 
Cedar Mountain; was taken prisoner at the Second Bull Htin and kept in Libby 
Prison tliirleen months, and was lioiiorably diseliarired at Wasliini^ton in Septemlier, 
IW). In 18(i(), he removed to Missouri and other States, wiiere lie remained three 
years, and returned to La Porte, Ind.; lliere lie worked at slioe-makini?, and was 
twice elected City Assessor. Afterward, he traveled as salesman for a Cincinnati 
house, and in 1N74 came to West Lebanon, and after two years eni^.itred in the boot 
and shoe business with J. II. Wilson, wliose interest he afterward ])ur(hased. and 
which business he now carries on. On February 2. 1H79, Mr. Breen was married to 
Miss Katie Bulirer. a native of Pulaski County. Ind. They are members of the 
Universalist Church, and Mr. Brcen is a Repnbrican. 

JACOB BHENNEK was born in Mont-^^omery County, Ohio, March 12, 1825, 
and is the second of the eiiflit children of John and Frances (Etnire) Brenner, both 
natives of Virginia: the former (lied Sept. i:}, ISSi, the latter Oct. 81, 1851. Mr. 
Brenner obtained some education from the common schools of Ohio and Indiana, 
and when he was twelve years old his parents removed to this township, where they 
purchased 204 acres. On December 22, 1S4T, Mr. Brenner was married to Miss 
Susanna James, a native of Fountain County, Ind., <laugiiter of Samuel and Cyn- 
thia James, pioneers of Fountain County. This union was blessed with seven ciiil- 
dren— Mary E., Cynthia F., John H. (deceased). Martha J., Jacob IL, William II. 
and Minnie M. In 1850, Mr. Brenner moved to Jasper County; where he purchased 
120 acres and remained seven years, after which he returned to this county and pur- 
chased a farm on Rock Creek. In Noveml)er, 18N]. he came to West Lebanon to 
reside; his farm is one of the best improved in the township. Mr. Brenner was a 
Whig, then a Democrat, and is now a Greenbacker. He is also a liberal and pro- 
gressive citizen. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. 

JOHN W. BROWN was born in Montgomery County, Ind., March 13, 1838, 
and is a son of Annaas and Dorcas (Gibson) Brown. The father of our subject 
being in limited circumstances, Mr. Brown's education was that derived from the 
district school, excepting, however, two years at a S(dect school. At the age of 
eighteen, he became an apprentice to the carpentering trade. Previous to coming 
to this county, he was married. Oct. 2. Is.'jS, to Miss Martha Beck, a native of 
Indiana, daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth Beck, both natives of South Carolina. 
This union was blessed with si.x children — Viola D.. Alonzo F. C., Laura V., Lula 
May, Nellie and Nova L., of whom Viola D. and Laura V. are deceased. After 
coming to "West Lebanon, Mr. Brown followed carpentering for sixteen years, and 
was town officer for fourteen years. On May 4, 1878, he became Postmaster, suc- 
ceeding Dr. A. C. Walker, lie also then commenced tl\e grocery business. Mr. 
Brown is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members of the 
M. E. Church. He is an uncompromising Republican, and gave his first vote for 
President Lincoln. He is also a member of La Fayette Comniandery, No. 8, having 
been made such in 1888. 

ASHLEY R. CADWALLADER, grain and commission merchant, was born in 
Monttromerv Countj-, Ind., January 11, 1M54, and is a son of Jesse W. and Minerva 
J. (Silver) Cadwallader, the former a native of Indiana, the latter of Ohio. Three 
brothers of the Cadwallader family came to America from Wales at the close of the 
seventeenth century. When Ashlej' was one j'ear old, his parents removed from 
Indiana to Ottawa, Minn., and thence, after five years, came to West I^ebanon, where 
they have since resided. Ashley's whole education was comprised in that obtained 
from the district school. He began teaching when he was seventeen years old, and 
attended two terms at Wabash College. His last teaching was at West Lebanon, in 
1878-79, when he was I'rincipal of the high school. Afterward, in partnership with 
his brother, he began mercantile business at West Lebanon, which was continued 
five years. In 1881, the firm erected the West Lebanon grain elevator ; this is now 
owned by Mr. Cadwallader, who is the largest grain merchant of the place. He 
was married, September Ut, 1877, to Miss Laura C. Fleming, daughter of James M. 
and Sarah C. Fleming. Mr. Cadwallader is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and Master of Lodge 852. He is. iwlitiejilly, a Republican ; a member of the 
Christian church and Superintendent of the Saiibath school. 

IRA \Y. CADWALLADER was born in Le Sueur County, Minn., March lit, 1858. 
and is the fourth of the thirteen children of J. W. and Minerva J. Cadwallader. 
When Ira was eighteen months old, his parents came to West Lebanon, in reduced 
health and circumstances, so that he obtained his education from the district and 
graded s<liools, and was obliged to assist in supi)orling the family l)y working during 
the summer season. After a few years, he began tiie grocery business at Craw-- 
fordsvilh- as a partner of his brother Ashley. In 1S78. the slock was moved to West 
Lebanon, and in 18N1 the firm built the West Lebanon grain elevator. In April, 1883, 
on account of increase of businesd, he sold his interest in the elevator, and bought 



168 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

his brother's interest in the store, and now he has a profitable business. Mr. Cad- 
wallader is a strong- Republican and temperance man. 

HENRY T. CALTON was born in Scott County, W. Va., June 7, 1820, and is a 
son of K. G. and Mary (Taylor) Gallon, both natives of North Carolina ; the former 
died in Warren County, Ohio, April 8, 1845, the latter in same locality March 17, 1848. 
Mr. Calton moved to Ohio when Henry was about fifteen years old, where he attended 
but one term of school. He be2:an life for himself when twenty-one years of a^e, and 
April 17, 1842, was married to Miss Sarah Nelson, dauirhter of Henry and Elizabeth 
Nelson, all natives of Oliio. This union was blessed by eleven children, four of 
whom died unnamed, the others being— John W., Mary J., William T., Orange 8., 
Luther L., Henry N. and George W. ; of these only three are living. In August, 

1845, Mr. Calton removed to Madison Township, Ind., where he remained two 
years, thence to Jordan Tonwship, where he pre-empted land, and thereafter con- 
tinued to bviy until he owned 400 acres. Mr. Calton was the first in this county to 
break soil by horse-power, his happiest day being when he found a plow to reach 
the prairie loam. In 1874, he moved to West Lebanon. Mr. Calton is a pioneer, a 
Rebublican, a Prohibitionist, and, as also his wife, a member of the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church. For eight years, Mr. Calton was Postmaster of Walnut Grove, 
and Justice of the Peace in Jordan Township. 

GEORGE W. CRAWFORD, farmer, was born in this township October 30, 

1846, and is the tenth of a family of eleven children. His father was a native of 
Ohio, and his mother of Kentucky. George W. Crawford's education was of the 
character taught in the district schools. In 1875, Mr. Crawford purchased the old 
homestead, consisting of 190 acres, and is one of the best farms in the county. On 
January 14, 1875, he was married to Miss Sarah Porter, daughter of Elias and La- 
vina Porter. To this union were born two children— Stella L. and Porter. Mr. 
Crawford is a man of intelligence and enterprise, and is a Republican in politics, 
having given his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant. Mrs, Crawford is a member 
of the Christian Church since 1870. 

THOMAS H. CRONE was born in Frederick County, Md., October 15, 1826, 
and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Leach) Crone, both natives of Maryland. The 
great-grandfather of Thomas came to America from Germany previous to the 
Revolutionary war, and was one of the first to form a settlement in the Middletown 
Valley. John Crone died in 1864, and Mrs. Elizabeth Crone in 1881. Thomas re- 
mained with his father, for whom he worked, until he was twenty-four years of 
age. On January 17, 1850, he was married to Miss Susan R. Blessing, daughter of 
George and Susan Blessing, both natives of Maryland. This union was blessed 
with seven children— George A., Chancellor L., Minor F., Loretta C, Esther A., 
Stella P. and John W. After marriage, Mr. Crone removed to Amherst County, 
Va., where he purchased 436 acres of land and remained five years; after which he 
returned to his native Stale and became a man of all work. In 1858, Mr. Crone re- 
moved to a farm two and one-half miles southeast of Lebanon, where he resided 
until 1881, when he moved to West Lebanon, at which place he now lives. Mr. 
Crone has 430 acres, and a well-improved farm, with a remarkably commodious barn, 
40x80 feet; cost, $1,400. Mr. Crone is a thorough Republican. 

C. V. FLEMING, retired merchant and farmer, is a native of Ohio, born June 
20, 1814, and is a son of Peter and Rebecca Fleming, the former a native of South 
Carolina. Mr. Fleming has acquired a practical education; yet, he never attended 
school one whole year. When thirteen years old, his parents removed from Preble 
County, Ohio, to Warren County, Ind., and settled in this township, where thej'- 
entered and purchased 240 acres. C. V. Fleming worked for his father until he was 
twenty-two years of age, after which he clerked in a store in Old Lebanon several 
years. Mr. Fleming was married February 8, 1835, to Miss Malinda A. Clifton, 
daughter of William and Elizabeth Clifton, all natives of Kentucky. This union 
was blessed with six children— Peter W., William B., James M., Mason T., Frank C. 
and Jerome; of these, three are deceased; William B. was killed during the late 
war, at the battle of Stone River. Mr. Fleming built the first business house in 
West Lebanon, and kept the first stock of dry goods, which he continued twelve 
years. In 1872, Mr. Fleming built his present residence, at a cost of $4,000. He is 
a Republican, a pioneer of this county, and is, as likewise his wife, a member of 
the Universalist Church, and a liberal citizen. 

PETER W. FLEMING, was born in West Lebanon, Ind., November 20, 1838, 
and is a son of Cornelius V. and Malinda A. (Clifton) Fleming. Mr. Fleming's first 
teacher was Rev. Mr. Hall, a Methodist divine; he also attended the general school 
of the place. From 1856, he clerked for his father, in a general store, until he was 
twenty-one years of age, when his father gave the store to him and his brother 
William (who was killed during the war at Stone River). Peter W. was likewise a 
soldier of the late war, having enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Thirty-fifth 



PIKK TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 169 

Indiana Tnfantrj', Maj- 4, 1H64. He was commissioned First Lieutenant, and honor- 
ablv discharijed September 21, 18r>4, after which he resumed mercantile business 
witli iiis father, having since added dry goods, boots and shoes, etc.. to the value of 
$10,000. Mr. Fleming was married, January T), 18(i(). to Miss C. J. Sinkes, daughter 
of James M. and Jane Sinkes. To this union succeeded one child — Leland IJ.; Mrs. 
Fleming died February 1!». 18(57: Mr. Fleming was next married, June 1, 1869, to 
Miss Arranna Craft, daughter of W. ;ind ]\Iary Craft, a native of Ohio. To this 
union were born three cliiidren, the Hrst and last dying in infanc}', the .second only 
living— Lois B. Mr. Fleming is Past ^Lister in the Masonic order, also a member of 
Covington Chapter, H. K. A. In politics, he is Republican, and was Postmaster 
during the Lincoln adminslration. 

FRANK C. FLE3IING, Treasurer of Warren County, was born in that county 
October 12, 1849, and is a son of C. V. and Malinda A. Fleming. Mr. Fleming's 
Bhare of education was obtained at the district schools, with one year at Asbury 
University. Wlieu twenty-one years of age. lie began mercantile business at West 
Lebanon, under the tirm name of Fleming Brothers, in which he has since been en- 
gaged. In 1871, Mr. Fleming was married to Miss Sarah Nye, a native of Charles- 
ton, Ohio, who died in October, 1872. Mr. Fleming was next married, June 3, 1881, 
to Miss Ella Wheeler, of West Lebanon, who died October 18, 1882. In 1876. Mr. 
Fleming was elected Township Trustee, and in 1882, Treasurer of Warren County, 
by a majority of 846. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a rigid Republican, having 
given his tirst vote for U. S. Grant. 

HON. J. FLEMING, physican and surgeon, is a native of Preble County, Ohio, 
born March 24, 1815. His father, Peter Fleming, was a native of North Carolina, 
his mother, Sarah (Caughey) Fleming, of Kentucky. His maternal grandfather 
came from Ireland during the American Revolution, through which he served, and 
during which he was wounded, taken prisoner and sold to the*Indians. Dr. Fleming's 
parents died when he was young. At fifteen years of age, he removed to Liberty, 
Union Co., Ind., where he learned the trade of a hatter, and became an expert at 
that business. After serving as clerk for one year, he began the stud}' of medicine 
with Drs. Cox and Holland, the former of whom was a brother-in-law. In 1839, he 
removed with Dr. Cox to Paris, Ohio, where they formed a partnership in medical 

fractice. This tvas di.ssolvedin 1843, when Dr. Fleming came to Warren County, 
nd., and located at Lebanon. Previous to this, July 10. 1842, he married Miss 
Mary Jamieson, who died in 1860. leaving four children — William H., Edwin, Hat- 
tie M. and Rufus. In 1863, Mr. Fleming married Mrs. Jane Gree; she died in 
1869. In 1872. Dr. Fleming was married to Mrs. Amanda Stephens, a native of 
Ohio. Dr. Fleming cast his tirst vote for Gen. Harrison, in 1840. He was a State 
delegate when the Republican party was organized, and has since been "a stanch 
supporter thereof. In 1882, he was elected Senator from Warren and Fountain 
Counties. He is a rigid temperance advocate, but not of a third party on that is- 
sue. Dr. Fleming is the principal jihysician in and founder of West Lebanon, 
which should have been namcdafter him. The Doctor is a Freemason, and religious- 
ly a Universalist; his wife is a member of the Cliristian Church. 

JAMES M. FLEMING (deceased) was born in Preble County. Ohio, June 30, 
1819, and was a son of Peter and Sarali (Caughey) Fleming. James M. Fleming re- 
ceived a very limited education, but by study and reading he became exceedingly 
well informed, particularly in politics and religion. When a lad, he went to live 
with his brother, Thompson, and when of sunicient age began to learn the trade of 
tanning, at which he worke(l for his brother until he was twenty-four years old. He 
was married, November 17, 1842, to Miss Sarah C. Hyde, a native of Hamilton 
County, Ohio, daughter of Obadiah and Sophia Hyde. To this union were born 
five children — Ariadne J., Wintield S., "Thomas C, Ann E. and Laura L. In 1843, 
Mr. Fleming came to old Lebanon and engaged in the tanning business; thence 
mov<d to Attica in 1846, and conducted a tannery some years; and thence to this 
townshii). where he jnirchased eighty acres, afterward living in Prairie Township, 
and in Kansas in 1878. when- he purchased a ciaitn ami died, at the home of his 
daughter, near Spearville, March 7. 1H79. Mr. Fleming was a member of the 
Masonic body; in politics, a Republican, and an honored and enterprising citizen. 
Mrs. Flemini: is a member of the Universalist Church. 

CAPT. DICKSON FLEMING (deceased), merchant and real estate dealer, son 
of Peter and Sarah (Caughey) Fleming, was born April 24, 1822, in Prei)le County, 
Ohio, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Capt. Fleming never attended school after 
he was twelve years old, but through his own eiurgy and perseverance ol)tained 
more than an ordinary education. He was a great reader, and gave special atten- 
tion to the subjects of finance, politics and religion. The early death of ids mother 
and the ill financial success of his father impres.sed him with the idea that to live 
was to work, and, accordingly, at twelve years of age, he supported himself by 



170 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 

working by the month on a farm. In 1848, he went to California, returning, how- 
ever, by reason of failing health, in 1850, and making his home in or near West 
Lebanon. The marriage of Capt. Fleming occurred March 4, 1852, to Miss Ann S., 
daughter of Ichabod and Eunice Howe. Mrs. Fleming was born in Hampden Coun- 
ty, Mass. Her mother died July 35, 1835, and father December 34, 1873. To the 
union of Captain and Mrs. Fleming were born two children— Fred and Allie. Fred 
died August 9, 1881. He was a young man of sterling qualities, and of more than 
ordinary intelligence, of much promise. Politically, Capt. Fleming was a thorough 
Republican. He enlisted in 1861, and re-enlisted in 1863, but, on account of ill 
health, was compelled to resign the command given him, and near the close of 1863 
he came home. Capt. Fleming was by faith a Universalist. Mrs. Fleming is a 
member of the Universalist Church, having joined in 1880. The death of Capt. 
Fleming occurred January 8, 1873. In his death, Warren County lost one of the 
most valued and representative men, and the community a highly honored citizen. 
Mrs. Fleming resides in West Lebanon, and is one of the most amiable ladies in 
Western Indiana. She is a great temperance advocate, and famed for her works of 
charity. 

WARREN D. FLEMING was born in this county, May 4, 1850, and is a son 
of James and Lucinda (Purviana) Fleming ; the former a native of Ohio, the latter 
of Tennessee ; the father died in 1853. the mother in 1877. The parents of Warren 
came to this township in 1837, and w^ere truly pioneers. Mr. Fleming received but 
little schooling, yet he has, by diligence acquired a practical education. After he 
became of age, he commenced the grocery business at West Lebanon, in company 
with R. P. Adams ; this, after three months, he renounced for farming, and in 1878 
purchased the family homestead, on which he began the manufacture of tiles, 
under the firm name of Fleming, Hamar & Co. On April 16, 1871, he was married 
to Miss Ettie French, by whom' he had one child, Harry L. Mr. Fleming, in 1883, 
began making tile by the steam-drying process, the firm having manufactured 
300,000 during that year, and has since increased its facilities for the work. Mr. 
Fleming is a radical Republican, and gave his first Presidential vote for Gen. 
Grant. 

ZEBULON FOSTER, one of the pioneers of Warren County, was born in Pike 
County, Ohio, August 19, 1808, and is a son of Richard and Rachel (Browning) Foster, 
both natives of Maryland ; the former died in Pike County, Ohio, in 1831, the latter 
in same county in 1856. Mr. Foster received what education he has in the subscrip- 
tion schools of Ohio. He worked for his father unil he was twenty-five, when he was 
married to Miss Caroline Ostrander on February 14, 1833, daughter of Dr. Edward 
and Margaret Ostrander. To this union were born twelve children — Edward, Rachel, 
Eliza W., Mary, William and Harriet : the others died in infancy. After marriage, 
Mr. Foster came to Warren County, where he built a cabin 16x18 feet, and entered 
400 acres, which he subsequently improved. Mrs Foster died June 3, 1871. On 
August 31, 1877, Mr. Foster was married to Mrs. Juliet Russell, daughter of Andrew 
and Ann Fleming. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Foster is a stanch Republican, and has been Township Trustee for 
five years. 

SAMUEL M. FRAME, ex-County Commissioner, was born in Preble County, 
Ohio. September 37, 1817, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Martin) Frame, 
the former a native of Virginia, who died in Preble County, Ohio, in 1847 ; the 
latter a native of North Carolina, who died in this county in 1831. In 1830, the 
parents of Samuel M. Frame removed from Ohio to this township, where they 
entered and afterward purchased eighty acres. After his mother's death, his father 
and he went to Ohio, where they remained until 1839. On October 11, 1838, he was 
married to Miss Vitriah Ammerman, daughter of John and Rachel Ammerman. 
This union was blessed with nine children — Eliza J., Celia, Rachel C, Mary M., 
Henry C, Minerva A., Elizabeth C, Samuel M. and John L. (deceased). In 1839, 
Mr. Frame returned to this county and purchased land, on which he lived until 
1882, when he moved to West Lebanon. Mr. Frame cast his first Presidential vote 
for Gen. Harrison, in 1840, but is now a stanch Republican. He has served as 
Township Trustee, and as County Commissioner from 1868 to 1881, nine iron 
bridges, a court house and asylum for the poor having been built during his term. 
Mr. Frame is also an Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members of the Soul 
Sleepers' Church. 

THOMAS GOODWINE (deceased) was born in Kentucky August 10, 1810, and 
was a son of James and Elizabeth (Snyder) Goodwine. The parents of Thomas 
came to Indiana (then the Northwest Territory) when he was five years old, locat- 
ing first in Jackson, then in Bartholomew, and came to this county in 1828. Mr. 
Goodwine was a soldier of the Black Hawk war. Thomas began the work for him- 
self when twenty-one years of age, his father having given him 340 acres. On 



PIKE TOWNSHIP— WAKREN COUNTY. 171 

August 27, 1834, he was m!irrie<l to Miss Elizii A. Bninl, a native of Ross County, 
Ohio, (Jauciitur of James ami Elizabeth Baird. This union was bh-ssed with ten 
children— James S., John (J., Wesiev. William W.. Rosalin, Elizabeth C, Jennie 
H., Thomas H., Julian and Scott \V.: of these, five are deceased. Mr. Goodwine 
died October 1, 187^. Mr. Goodwine had four sons in the late war — James 8., John 
C. Wesley and William W.. the last havini,' died at Bridijeport, Ala., and Wesley at 
home from wounds received in the service. Mr. Goodwine was a prominent citizen 
of this county, and wa-^ universally respected. Mrs. Goodwine resides on the old 
homestead, now more than si.\ty-four years of au^e. 

JAMES GOODWINE. land owner and stock dealer, was born in Kentuckj' June 
19, 1812, and is the third of the eight children of James and Elizabeth (Snyder) 
Goodwine. The elder Goodwine was a soldier of the war of 1812, also of the Black 
Hawk war; was a pioneer of Warren County, and for many years Commissioner of 
the same. When our subject was an infant his parents moved to Jackson County, 
Ind.. and thence to Bartholomew County, where Mrs. Goodwine died and James 
tirst attended school. Afterward, the family removed to what is now Liberty Town- 
ship. Mr. Goodwine died in this county in 18.)1. On August 15. \S'S'S. our subject 
was married to Mi.ss Sophia Buckles, a native of Ohio, daughter of William and 
Lois Buckles. To this union were born twelve children — Mary J., John, William H., 
James, Frank. Washington, Louisa L.. Christiana. Indiana. Marion. Horace and 
Fremont; of these, five are deceased. Mr. Goodwine's first land purchase was forty 
acres from his father, to which he has continued adding until he now owns 10,250 
acres, only ninety of which are not drained and improved; he has also given a good 
farm to each of his children. Mr. Goodwine handles from 1,200 to 1,500 head of 
cattle every year, and has 7,500 acres of pasture, and 1,000 acres of meadow land. 
Since 1874, he has been President of Warren County Agricultural Association. He 
is a liberal and energetic citizen, contributing freely to every worthy enterpri.se. He 
had three .sons in the late war — John (who died in the service at Savannah), and 
William and Frank (who were in Libby pri.son). He is a Kepublican, but liberal, 
and Mrs. Goodwine is a member of the Universalist Church. 

FREMONT GOODWIN (named after Gen. John C. Fremont) is a native of 
this county, is the son of James and Sophia (Buckles) Goodwine, and was born May 
22, 1857. When five years of age, he commenced attending school in afratne house, 
one half mile from the homestead, and continued until he was twelve years old, 
when Ills father sent l)im to Perdue University, where he entered the freshman 
class and remained for three years, but was taken from college against his wishes, 
and now he designs to complete a course iind graduate at some reputable institution. 
In 1878, Mr. Goodwin began teaching, at which he has continued, excepting a period 
of one year, during which he was agent of the Havanna, Rantoul it Eastern Rail- 
road. In 1881, he was elected Principal of the West Lebanon Public Schools. On 
August 15, 1878, Mr. Goodwin was married to Miss El tie A. Walker, daughter of 
Dr. A. C. and A. M. Walker. Mr. Goodwin is a radical Republican and temperance 
man. Mrs. Goodwin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

REV. COLBRATH HALL, pioneer minister of Warren Couniv, was born in 
the State of New York January 20, 1806, and is a son of Josiah and Plicbe (Dutton) 
Hall, both natives of Connecticut and deceased — the former in Butler County, 
Ohio, in 1830, the latter at same place in 1821. The parents of our subject .settled 
in Butler County, Ohio when he was nine years old, where he attended the pioneer 
school, and afterward, by diligence and perseverance on his part, he acquired a 
good education, and remained on the home farm until after his father's death. In 
September. 1828, he married .Miss Maria Horner, daughter of Nathan nnd ('ordelia 
Horner. To this union were; born two children— Adaline and Harriet, both de- 
ceased. Mrs. Hall died in March. 1836. Rev. Mr. Hall was ne.xt married Septem- 
ber 14. 1836, to Miss Sarah II. Hunt, daughter of Rev. William and Matilda Hunt, 
to which union were born eight children — Henrietta, Whitlield. William I., Jose- 
phine. Hiram I)., Marshal S., Sarah A. and Sarah F., of whom Hiram I), iind Sarah 
A. are deceased. In 1834, Mr. Hall came lo Jennings County, Ind., and traveled 
Vernon Circuit; in 1835, Lawrenceliurg Circuit ; and in 1H36 and 18.37, Winchester 
Circuit After living in old Lebanon six vears, he removed to his present home, 
where he has resided thirty-five years. Jtev. Mr. Hall was licensed a minister of 
the M. E. Church July 13, 1833, in Ohio, and was ordained at Lawrencel)urg, Ind., 
October 24, 1839, by Bishop Roi)erts. He has performed 550 marriages, preached 
4,000 times, and 700 funeral sermons. He has served five terms in the Legislature. 
He is a Republican, Freemason, and a representative man and honored citizen. 

ALEX IIAMAR, tile manufacturer, was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., 
February 10, 184.S. and is a son of Joseph and Amy (.McCrea) Ilamar, both of whom 
are living in Iroquois (bounty. 111. When Ale.x Ilamar was twelve years old, his 
parents moved to Vermillion County, 111., where he attended school during three 

I I 



172 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

winters, when the family came to this township, and thence removed to Adams 
Townsliip. wliere Mr. Hamar finished his schooling. In 1864, he enlisted in Com- 
pany G. One Hundred and Fiftieth Inliana Volunteers, and was discharged at 
Indianapolis in August. 18!35, from wliich time until about 1875 he has been engaged 
in thresliing and manufacturing tiles, i)eing the senior of tlie firm of llamar. Flem- 
ing & Co. On January v. 1870. he was married to Miss Mary A. Johnson, a native 
of this county. Mrs. Hamar had four brothers in the late war. three of whom were 
sacrificed. To this union was born one child, Luella (September 14, 1878). Mr. 
Hamar is a Republican, and gave his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant. Mr. 
Hamar came to West Lebanon in 1867. and has been Assessor of this township. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hamar are members of the Universalist Church. 

J. W. HAMAR is a native of Warren County, Ind., born April 10. 1858. and is 
a son of J. C. and A. T. (McCrea) Hamar. both natives of Ohio, and residents of 
Iroquois County, 111. When J. W. Hamar was fourteen years of age, he 
removed to Ohio with his parents, and received some education, mo-st of which 
was at V'ienna, 111., although he attended the normal school at Valparaiso one year, 
and also a short term at Sandusky. Ohio. In 1880. Mr. Hamar removed to West 
Lel)auon, and engaged in manufacturing drain tile, and is a junior member of the 
firm of Hamar. Fleming & Co. On March 23, 1882, he was married to Miss Clara 
E. Biser. daughter of Henry and Mary Biser. all natives of Maryland. Mr. Hamar 
is a Republican, and gave his first Presidential vote for Rutherford B. Haj'-es. He 
is a young man of great industry and enterprise. 

CHARLES HAY WARD was born in Baltimore, April 18, 1811, and is a son of 
William and Keziah (('oats) Hayward, both naiivesof Maryland; the former died in 
Clarke County, Ohio, October, 1853, the latter in 1848. Charles Hayward received 
some education in his native State, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to a 
house-joiner for five years. After finishing this trade, he removed to Cincinnati, 
thence to Vicksburg, and thence to Clarke County, Ohio, where he was married, 
April 23, 1884, to Miss Elizabeth E. Vickers, a native of Ohio, daughter of Richard 
and Celia Vickers. To this union were born five children— Sarah (deceased), Mas- 
tin, Celia K., James W. (deceased) and Ruth A. Jam-s W. was a soldier in the 
late war, of Company H, Second New York Cavalry, and was discharged September 
10, 1864; he was captured before Richmond, sent to Libby Prison, and died of disease 
contracted while in the service. In October, 1888, Mr. Hayward and family moved 
to Morgan County, Ind,, where he remained until 1840, when he came to Warren 
County and settled in Lebanon. In 1846, he bought 240 unimproved acres, which 
he improved, and in 1869 moved to West Lebanon. He is now a Republican, and 
was an Abolitonist; he is also a temperance man and a pioneer of this county. 

DAVID JAMES was born February 1, 1819, and is a son of Isaac and Gevenney 
(Dunham) James. When David was about eight years old, his parents moved to 
Cincinnati, where he attended school and worked in a fruit house. In 1837, he came 
to this township and county, and in the winter of 1839-40 tauglit in the Benson Set- 
tlement, and in the summer walked to Cincinnati to attend select school, thus con- 
tinuing three years. On July 28, 1844, he married Miss Mary A. Davis, daughter of 
John and Mary Davis, to which union was born one child— Theodore J.; Mrs. 
James died November 26, 1845. Mr. James was again married, September 19, 1816, 
to Miss Sarah J. Hurst, by whom he had three children— Mary H., John W. and 
Sarah G.; Mrs. James died March 30, 1852. Mr. James was next married to 
Miss Frances Sherwood, September 30, 1852. To this union were born four children 
—Michael W. .Elizabeth J.. Florence E. and Margaret A. Two years ago. Mr. James 
moved to West Lebanon. In 1850, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has 
mostly held said ottice since that lime. Mr. James is a Republican in politics, a 
prominent merchant, and one of the pion ;er sch)olmHters For twelve years, he 
carried on a store at Independence, Warren Township, where he was Postmaster 
from 1862 to 1870. Mrs. James is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

CHARLES E. JONES, grocer and queensware dealer, was born in Fairtield 
County, Conn., July 6, 1846, and is a son of D.ivid W. and Catherine M. (Judson) 
Jones the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Connecticut. Mr. 
Jones' was killed in the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1862. C. E. Jones taught 
school in his native State for four vears. when he emigrated to Lsike County, 
Ind where he taught four terms o'f school. In the spring of 1872. he was 
married to Miss Ella Handley, a native of Lake County, daughter of G. W. and 
Sarah Handley. To this union has succeeded one child— Eula C. (born May 31, 
1879). In 1875, he was appointed railwayagent at Alvin, 111., whence, after three 
years, he was transferred to West Lebanon, after which he accepted a like position 
with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Radway Company, whence, after one year 
and a lialf, he came to West Lebanon, and engaged in his present business, J..nuary, 
1882. Mr. Jones is a stanch Republican, and one of the prominent business men of 
his locality. 



PiKK to\vnsiiii"_\varri.:n county. 173 

JAMES KIMBALL. \Vaba9h, St. Louis & Pacific Raihvav Virent at West T M. 
anon, was l)orn in ( Iintoii Coiintv V Y \r..,r n m-ja i ■ •^^*-"^, "^ "'Si L.vb- 

came to West Li-banon. and in 1H61 h.- m rri,.,i m vj ^'"''.'^ L, ,.' ^^^- KiMit)aIl 

Coun.y. Ohio. Tliis union uas bk-ssed with siv cl dn n M./rV i Vr ' ^""'l','-'''^ 
beth H., Martha A.. Bo.ston H and 8- rih F M,! Ar T- , ^ "^- ^^'''^'''' ^^- ^''^-'*- 
the au.umn of 1886. Mr. Mcrntosh"pu?cit.cfhis p esem Ce^^'if^fs • "nnH-'- ?° 

M. S. and Sarah Greene, of W...st L^Iku on ' l?ter I is ma ^i^r^ Nlr' vf ''/^'" f 
contracted to nlana,^'e his father'.s farm until that paren s c catl ^ n 0< t<)b ^ iR-'i" 

aso,^!.^^.hoh SSakPoHc^'li^SS February 2 1813. and is 

of the Hevoh,tio..ary war Id"! Vn Wl t?-?'n n v^^n^ '"■""-;'' "''' "'''o'^ 

nineteen. His fathe^vas a\.u^ o^ O^. ' w,^ n^t d^ 1 in'^H.^ '^^^^^ 
of the war of 1812. His mother is still livinc.. a-'ed nim tv Uvo fTi ;' .''"'^^'f 
^Varren County with his step-father in 18:30 "ndXptflpVl i,,i\ . ^,''!'^/"V"« to 
township. On February;! I&: i'r Porter i^iLrred to Mr^^-'"'"'^ '" '^'^ 
native of Ohio, .humrhtei- of Thomas and Mary „?i^^' Five cldnn^^.I^^^^ ' 'iT''' ? 
thi.s UMion-Thomas J.. Pru.lence, Corn.Hu.s. James W and S r h F 'of "[""'T^"^ 

;;^^h:;^rfiei^IH^t "Is ^::;^;/^!:';^.;t ^-r rr^T- ^^^^^i^ 

»H- continued to add unii Ihe , is^sse.! not th n'^1^^^^^^^^ "^^'l^ '''''''"■ '" "''''^h 

farnjs in Pike Township II 'r>v h1 o W ."st L b^ M^n-h '"'iS^"' wf '"". ""^"^^ 

K;^is^^L!;;i;;.^v;;;.^^siSVh^^^^ 
inouc;^^Iun^.'T;.n,)''^>S^M"8H'';mi'r';"" ''vsr''^ "' '"".^"'^^- -- '-n 

Purvian,.e. 11^ ^--If^ 'U- was a'^o o "^^ 

::pn;-r;:!f^.i^^------ 

old. after which period he rec -ivJ:;;; Ilmre of'h!: I,.:;; 't " rii^'Xr";; ^ 

f^io-i -.£;t E-- 1 of^!^i-=;™9S'E^ 



;l^74 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

To .hi, union were 1>or„ ^ ^^S^^'^^"!^:^^^ STfi'rstto.e for 

Gen. Harrison riL Vermillion County. Ind., July 2b. 1848, and is 

the ,™n%St??h'^'SS. ™n bgn .o r,e,m,^^^^^ 

s;-^s^r^is=;aK 

tinned until he was ameteen, when he be^-an ^eacniu ^^^ remained 

study of law in the «<1^^« ^^^.^fj^^^.^f S^^^'li^u^^^^ and resumed teach- 

two years, when for want of mean^ he d,«^ Carithers. daughter of 

^'^l^tS^I^::^'^^^^^^^.:^^^^ oL'of the first lawyers 

"''DA^^YErW 'reed' Marshal, was born in Warren County O^o May 13, 
1841^^Ui^uSof h^childr^i^orn^^ 

natives of Lavvreneeburg ^^^ X^^.^'i-^^^^ Warren 

of Scotch-German deso^nL^^^^^ ^^ ilvsper County, where 

County Ind., in I860, ^^,'^,"^J^"fjn",';.;^^^^^^^^ November 7, 1865, to Miss Mary 

they still reside. <^^J^^^-ff 5'^.; Township this county, and daughter of James 
J. Schoonover, a native o^ ^iber y iownsmp, i^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ 

and Susanna Schoonover. J^^^^ ^,^^^4^'^^ ''^i^^^^^ Mr. Reed went to Iroquois 
M., Lura E., Nathan J-- ^^^ W 1 am ^- ^\ ^Jg^^^j^ed to this county. In 1880, 
County, I'V >'T" t'l fh mon In iulusri862 he enUsted in Company F, Seventy- 
he removed oWest^^^^^^^^^^^^^ '^^ Chickamauga, Atlanta campaign, 

second I^fJ'^"/Vn"A™Ssn which his regiment participated, excep one. He 
Selma, and all engagements in wu.lu "'o„pfi ;= ^ Republican, and a member 

".^^p'^rT''[n'mr"if ri^eiedlsT vo'^Js Jn'county contention.' for Recorder. 
?fe^w.4-e^ecteS iSI'haloTwIst Lebanon, May 7, 1883. Mr. Reed is an enter- 

P"''?5hSVTtEPHENS was born in Hamilton County Ind., April 24, 1849 and 

JOHJN U &iEirniii>o ci .x^r ,, n stenhens the former a native of Ohio. 

is a son of Henry and Mary R. ^ ^ ^'^/^ ^;Xd and he lived with an uncle until 

When John C. was ten Jears old his mothci du^d ami ue^^ ^^^^^^ ^_^ ^^.^ 

his father was again marnel I^'^^^^f ^^iJ^e^rattended the accessible schools, 
county and settled near West Lebanon, ^^hereh^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ .^ ^ ,^^^^^^ 

When fifteen yearsof ^^^O- he begc^n workm by t^ie ' . ^^^ finally in 

then in the Hitchermg trade fo^ten year, th^^ ^^^^^^ ^^. ^^-^ ^^^_ g,^^ 

.on ^- ^^^^^^ 

died at Dresden. Ohio, J^^/' ^f,*^: ";V„''j^t\'\n,^^ Dresden," Ohio, where he at- 

Walkor was three years of ^^e ^i^ paients move a 10^ ^^^^ ^^^^^.^^^^^ 

tended school and whe^ sixteen ^^^^ "^^^hi^ taUie, sent n ^^.^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ 

department ot ^^'i ^mve sUy of Pcnnsy W^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^_.^^^^^ .^^ ^ ^ 

afterward one year at the "J^^'^eraty 01 Medical University in 1845. 

drug store one year and f ^^/^i'^^^ed at the in e w i Miss Anna Sherman, 

In 1849. he came to Columbus, In 1 wheie ^*^^.^f ^°^f ,7i^,3,,i ,^,th five children- 
daughter of Asa and Amy Sherman This "^^'^'^l '^^'l^f,,,,, g. i^ 1850. he re- 
Emma L.. Jerome F. (deceased) Ettie A.. E.su^L. J^'»^ ^ ^^^^-^ ^i,, l^te war, 

moved to Rob l^-y,-"f/J,'^f ^^^^.^^ Assistant Surgeon of 

when, in July, 1863, he was eommissioneu u> ^^^ ^^^^^ 

the Sixty-third l^egime.it Indiana Volunt^^ers. and ^ ^^^^^^^^^ .^ 

he reiurned home I'l^l^*^^. |^f f V^ember of the Masonic fraternity, also a 
^^^■^SS:': M^. mis !s ^member of the Presbyterian Church. 






MOUND TOWNSHIP— WAiaiEN COUNTY. 175 



MOUND TOWNSHIP. 

CYRUS CUNNINGHAM, was born in Vtrmillion County. Ind.. December 15, 
1829, and is the only livini^ cliild of Tliomas and Eliza (Cunninnham) Cuunini^ham, 
tbree brothers, Nicholas, George and Jareii, being deceased. Thomas Cunningham 
was born in Ross County, Ohio, December, 1799; was by trade a tanner; moved to 
Vermillion County, in 1820. of wiiich he was one of the earliest settlers: managed a 
flat-boat on the AVabash and Missi.ssippi Rivers, until 1840, and died in 1846. Cyrus 
Cunningham left Vermil'ion County wiien lie was twenty-five years old, and came 
to bi.>< present location. He was married, Deceml)er 17, 1855, to Mary (Jlipiiant, 
which union was blessed with seven children— Horatio (decea.sed), Rcul)en, Walter 
M., C. v.. Marriet, Malinda and James. Mr. Cunningham's residence is three and 
one-half miles west of Covington, on his farm of over 1,400 acres, well drained and 
improved, producing good crops of corn, wheat and hay; he also raises and deals in 
stock. Mr. Cuningham having been born just over the line of the county, and hav- 
ing remained in the neighborhocjd. has had ample opportunity to note the transition 
of the country from a wilderness to a garden, and recalls many stories of his father's 
experience Avith the Indians. Mr. Cunningham has lived a (piiet, unambitious life, 
and is a high type of the true citizen, and is an industrious and thrifty farmer. 

F. G. DuIi()IS was born in Medina County, Ohio, January 16, 1836, and is one 
of the seven ciiildren born to Al)raham and Julia A. (Randall) DuBois, their names 
being — Abigail, Sarah, Wa.shington, Francis, Charles, Martha and William, of 
whom Abigail and Frank alone are living. Abraham DuBois was born in New 
York in 1799. lie was a farmer, but had given some attention to blacksmithing and 
stone masonry; he still lives in this township. At the age of twenty, F. G. DuBois 
came to this county, where he has made his home. He was married, Decemt)er 25, 
1829, to Caroline L. H. Kent, by whom he had two children— Rebecca K. and Mary 
F. G. Mr. DuBois resides one and three-quarters miles southeast of State Line City, 
on his farm of 300 acres (123 thereof being one and three-cjuarter miles southeast of 
Vermillion County, 111.). His land is fertile, well drained and improved, and adapted 
to corn, wheat, hay and oats; he also gives some care to the breeding of short-horn 
cattle. Mr. DuBois has a large frame dwelling, with good stables, fencing and the 
like. These improvements and po.ssessions are the result of close and well-directed 
lal)or and providence. Mr. DuBois is a much esteemed citizen and exemplary gen- 
tleman. 

J. R. JOHNSON, Sr.. was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Septembers, 1818, 
and is one of the nine children of James and Carley Ann (Clark) Johnson, their 
names being Thomas (deceased). Henry (deceased), John, George, Nancy, James, 
Polly, AVilliam M. (deceased) and Carley Ann (deceased). TJie father of our subject 
was born in Pennsylvania about 1799; was a farmer and stock-dealer ; was a soldier 
of the war of IHlvJ. and died in Steuben Townshij), Warren Co., Ind., where also his 
widow died in 1873. In October, 1828, J. R. Johnson was brought to what is now 
Kent Township, AVarren Co., Ind., by his parents, where they located for a short 
time, whenci- thev removed to Steuben Township, where liis father owned between 
2,000 and 3,000 acres. J. R. Johnson was married Novemlx-r 26,1840.to 8. B. Steeley, 
by whom he had one child— Elizabeth N. (deceased). Mr. Johnson resides two 
miles southeast of State Line Cit}', on 533 acres (seventy-three being three-iiuarters 
of a mile distant); he has also 1.50 acres of timber, two miles southeast, and -245, 
which are well improved, ailjoining Hooitstown, Vermillion Co., 111. Over 500 acres 
of these lands are under the best cultivation, producing largely wheat, corn, oats 
and hay. Stock-raising is a specialty with Mr. Johnson. From 1861 to 1872. he lived 
in what is now the tinesi residence in State Line ('ity, where lie was for several 
years in the dry goods business. In 1872. he erected a magnilicent brick residence, 
modernly furnished, costing f 10,000, from the observatory of which one may com- 
mand a delectable view of the splendid (;ountry. Mr. Johnson is one of the earliest 
settlers, and lias ac(iuired his j)ossessions by the hardest labor ami longest persever- 
ance, which will ever be to him a lasting monument. He is a Freemason and an 
Odd Fellow; he has acted as Justice of tiie Peace, County Commissioner and Town- 
ship Trustee. Mr. Johnson is a true gentleman and worthy citizen, highly esteemed 
by the community. 

J. W. KENT was born in Ross Count}', Ohio, June 24, 1824, and is one of the 
eight children of Perrin and Rebecca (Dill) Kent, whose names are Charlotte, Will- 



176 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

iam, John W.. Sarah, Thomas, Rebecca, Isabel and Caroline. William and John 
alone are living. Perrin Kent was born in Washington County, Penn., July, 1794. 
He was a practical and life-long surveyor, and made many government surveys, 
having located the line hetweenlllinois and Indiana. He was under Gen. Harrison 
in the war of 1812, and died in January, 1882, on his farm, where he had lived since 
1826. J. W. Kent came with his parents at an early age to Kent (then Mound) 
Township, Warren County, with whom he remained until he was twenty-four years 
old, and afterward became paymaster for the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad. 
After two years, he located in Steuben Township, Warren County, for fifteen years. 
October 1, ISoT, he w^^s married to Kate Wallace, by which union were born two 
children — Gertrude and Maxwell. Mr. Kent resides two and a half miles southeast 
of State Line City, on B12 acres; he also has a farm of 800 acres in Steuben Town- 
ship, and one of 760 twelve miles southeast of Danville, 111. His farms are almost 
exclusively pasture land, producing mostly hay, although he raises some corn. He 
has paid much attention to breeding Berkshire swine and thoroughbred short-horn 
cattle, and to the latter he now gives his chief devotion. In 18(35-66, he erected a 
brick residence at a minimum cost of $12,000, which was burned in May, 1880. In 
1882, he built his present residence, a magnificent frame structure, at a cost of 
$6,500; he is also erecting a fine brick residence in Danville, 111., to cost $15,000, 
the grandest in Eastern Illinois. In 1847, he was employed by Ellsworth & Co., 
land speculators, members of which company were Prof. Chauncey A Goodrich, of 
Yale College, the Schermerhorns, the Daytons, William Sigourney and others. Mr. 
Kent was in this service fifteen years, his business being to locate, improve and sell 
lands, during which time he gave attention to his own stock business. Mr. Kent's 
record needs no eulogy; it speaks for itself. He is a true Democrat, and one of old 
Mound's most prominent and successful citizens. 

ELISHA RODGERS was born in Connecticut April 14, 1812, and is the eldest 
of the eight children of Allen and Sarah (Warner) Rodgers, the names of the chil- 
dren being Elisha, Daniel (deceased), Jonathan M., Jahez (deceased), John, Han- 
nah (deceased), Mary and Samuel (deceased). Allen Rodgers was a farmer and 
cooper,, at which latter occupation he at one time employed several men. He 
removed to New Hampshire when Elisha was a child, thence to Hamilton County, 
Ohio, and in the fall of 1825 to Vermillion County, Ind., where they remained until 
Elisha came to his present place in 1836. Mr. Rodgers removed to Iowa between 
1855 and 1858, where he died. Elisha was married, in 1840, to Juliet Evans, by 
whom he had one child— Melissa. Mrs. Rodgers died June, 1849. He afterward 
married Mary Ann Moudy, by whom he had ten children, six of whom are living 
— Sarah, Emily, Martha, Lincoln, Rosa and Peter. Mr. Rodgers was an early settler 
of Vernullion and Warren Counties. He resides four miles northwest of Covington 
on a good farm of 393 acres, 200 of which are well cultivated, producing wheat, 
corn, oats and hay; he has also engaged largely in stock-raising. The site of this 
farm was once a flourishing city called Baltimore, at which period steamers plowed 
the Wabash, and railroads were almost unknown. Mr. Rodgers was Postmaster of 
this town for twenty-five years; he was also Trustee, Justice of the Peace and 
County Commissioner during the late war. In 1881, he built a fine brick residence, 
costing $5,000, and commanding a grand view of the Wabash River and adjoining 
country. Mr. Rodgers is an able and influential citizen, an advocate of temperance 
and education, having himself built on his premises a fine schoolhouse, a monu- 
ment to him and a blessing to the township. 

JOHN ROUSE was born in Scioto County, Ohio, August 16, 1826, and is one of 
the six children of Reason and Martha (Olehy) Rouse, the names of whom are 
Isaac, Rebecca (deceased), Edward, John, Dennis and Elizabeth (deceased). Reason 
Rouse was born in Delaware in 1796. In early life, he studied medicine, intending 
to be a phy.sician, which he afterward abandoned to become a farmer ; he died in 
Scioto County. In 1831, after his father's death, John went with his mother to 
Vermillion County, 111., where he remained until her death in 1832. when he 
returned to Scioto County, thence going to Vermillion County, and coming to this 
county in April, 1852. He now resides" three and one-quarter miles south of State 
Line City, on his excellent farm of 130 acres, well improved, and productive of 

food wlieat, corn, oats and hay. Mr. Rouse was married, December, 1847, to Phebe 
illers, who died in the following November. His second marriage was to Maria 
Purcell ; this union was blessed with twelve children, of whom are living Mary F., 
Sarah E., George W., Douglas, Marion and Joseph F. Mr. Rouse volunteered for 
the Mexican war, but his regiment was not accepted. He has lived in his present 
neighborhood for half a century. He has given much time to stock-raising, and 
has erected ample stables, as well as other iniprovements. During the late war, he 
was Register, and acted for two years. Mr. Rouse is au active and thorough Demo- 
crat, and au esteemed and enterprising citizen. 



KENT TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 177 



KENT TOWNSHIP. 

AMOS BROOKS was born in Troy. N. Y., Octobi-r 22, 1839. and is one of the 
five cliildiTn of Amos and Elizabeth (UphaniJ Brooks, the names of said children 
being Tlieodore, Francis, Jerusha. Elizalieth and Amos, of whom the lirst and last 
alone survive. The fatlier of Amos was l)orn in Massachusetts about 1793 ; was by 
occupation a tanner; was a soldier of the war of 1812, and died in Troy. N. Y., in 
1842. When our subject was three years old, he removed with his mother to St. 
Thomas, Ont. ; thence they moved to Detroit, Mich., and thence went back to 
Troy, where his mother died ; after remainlnic ten years, he removed to Kankakee 
County, 111., where he was a .schoolmaster. In 18(53, he came to this county and 
located at State Line City, where he tauyht four years, and thence, after three years, 
to his present place. >lr. Brooks was married June 19, 1862, to Rhoda Iliser, by 
whom he liad four boys — John W., A. Theodore, .Viva (deceased) and Paul P. Mr. 
Brooks resides one and a quarter miles south of State Line City, on his fine farm of 
157 acres (twenly-five of which lie one and a half miles southeast and fifty-two 
three miles southeast) ; the land is mostly under cultivation, well drained and 
adapted to wheat, corn, hay and oats; he also raises some stock. Mr. Brooks has 
made many improvements, having a comfortable frame dwelling and commodious 
stables. He is a Freemason, a member of the Christian Church, and an earnest 
advocate of education. 

PATRICK CAVANAGII was born in Ireland September 19, 1826, and is one of 
the eight children of Frank and Catharine (Pryor) Cavanagh, the names of which 
children were James (deceased), Patrick, Ellen, Barnard (deceased), Thomas, Francis, 
Stephen (deceased) and John (deceased). Frank Cavanagh was a farmer and stock- 
raiser; he also dealt in stock. After he was eighteen years old. Patrick farmed in 
Yorkshire four 3'ears, and thence went to Lancashire. He reached New York, 
January. 1819, and worked at brick-making some time; thence he removed to La Fay- 
ette. Ind., and remained two years, whence he took the "Wabash sliakes," on ac- 
count of which he traveled South. Mr. Cavanagh was married, July 10, 18.")3, to 
Mary Keegan, which union was blessed with nine children — Charles F., Mary, 
Thomas. Ellen, Julia (deceased), James, William, Harvey and Lewis. Mr. Cavanagh 
is conducting the onlj^ saloon in State Line City, where he has resided since 1859. 
He is a member of the Catholic Church, and universally acknowledged a true gen- 
tleman and a good citizen. 

ABRAHAM CLEM, was born in Butler County. Ohio, May 29. 1826. and is one 
of the four dnldren of Henry and Martha (Carmichael) Clem, the names of the chil- 
dren b'ing .\l)raham, Elsie, Harriet and Israel I). Ilenrj^ Clem was born near 
Lexington. Ky., about 1790; was a lifetime farmer, and died in Warren County, 
Ind., in 18")"). Abraham came to this county with his parents in 1829, since which 
he h IS lived witliin the boundaries of what is now Kent Township, and since 1853 
in his present location. Mr. Clem was married, November 21, 1848, to Margaret Ann 
Taylor, which union was blessed with eight children, five boys and three girls. Mr. 
Clem's residence is three miles east of State Line City, on a superior farm of over 
300 acres (sixty of which lie three miles southeast), only seventy-five of which arc 
not under good cultivation, with natural drainage, and well adapted to raising wheat, 
corn, oats and hay. In 1882, he commenced and finished a handsome and commo- 
dious frame residence, an ornament I0 the city. Mr. Clem is a Mason and a mem- 
ber of th<' .Mr'thodist Churcii, also an esteemed citizen. 

ROBKR T CR.VIG, was born in New York City January 4, 1824, and is the only 
living child of Abraham and Ann P^liza (Shei)par(l) Craig. Abraham Craig was a 
native of New York, a carpenter, and was killed by the fall of a building in the city 
of New York. When a boy, Robert l)ecame errand boy in a dry goods house, in 
which he served seven years; he afterward became apprentice to a blacksmith in 
Cat-<kill. After finishing his trade, he traveled and worked in many cities, having 
made the ironwork for the first carriage so finished in Fort Wayne, wiiich was an 
object of much (;uriosity; he was also the first of his craft in Toledo, Ohio, and in 
La Fayette, whence he removed to Covington and becanu: one of the (irmof Craig, 
Lewis it Co.. then the most extensive works on tiie Wabash, and after their destruc- 
tion by fire Mr. Craig met the liabilities of the firm. He was afterward in l)usines8 
for himself until 1H.")3, when he came to his present place, two and a (juarter miles 
southeast of State Line City, on a farm of liH) acres (sixty of which are timber, one 
mile southeast), about 100 being under good cultivation, well drained, and well 



178 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

adapted to the production of wheat, corn and oats; there are many improvements on 
this land. Mr. Craig laid the first tiling in the township, and was the first to use 
wheat and corn drills. September 18, 1851, he was married to F. C. Mitchell, by 
whom he had four children— Martha J., John (deceased), Marietta (deceased) and 
Robert M. Mr. Craig is an old Mason, a trusty man and honored citizen. 

ELIJAH L- GILMAN (deceased) was born in Brown County, Ohio. June 4, 
1816, and was one of the family of John and Lydia (Lindsey) Gilman ; the names 
of their seven children were Samuel. Elijah, Mary, John, Hannah, Daniel and 
Alice, the last of whom alone is living. When Elijah was about seventeen years 
old, his parents removed to Fountain County, Ind., where they died, and wliere our 
subject remained until after his marriage, when he came to this towns hip and resided 
until his decease. He had in his early life worked with his father at the wheel- 
wright business, but he afterward gave his entire attention to farming. He was mar- 
ried, November 9, 1837, to Martha Oxford, to which union two boys and five girls were 
born, named, respectively, John, Rachel A., Lydia (deceased), Mary, Josephine (de- 
ceased),Lindsey and Maria. In 1871, an accident befell Mr. Gilman, which resulted in 
his decease; he was endeavoring to cross a stream, near his residence, and, while jump- 
ing from one stepping-stone to another, lost his balance, which in striving to recover, 
he sustained dislocation of his hip-joint ; the principal cause of his death, however, 
was maltreatment of the case by incompetent surgeons. He was a noble gentleman and 
valued citizen, a member of the New Light Christian Church, and deeply mourned 
by friends and relatives. Mrs. Gilman is passing her latter days on her farm of 197 
acres (150 of which are one mile south), located four miles east of State Line City. 
She is one of the early settlers of Warren County, and a pioneer of Vermillion 
County (Ind.), having gone thither with her parents in 1831. 

GEORGE H. LUCAS was born in Williamsport, Warren Co., Ind., January 
29, 1845, and is one of the eleven children of Ebenezer F. and Charlotte D. (Kent) 
Lucas, the names of the living being John P., William K., George H., Rebecca E., 
James H., Thomas K., Lloyd S.. Kale B. and Charles. Ebenezer Lucas was born 
in February, 1807 ; he was a teacher, and afterward appointed Deputy Clerk of the 
Circuit Court of Warren County, arid in May, 1838, was commissioned by Gov. 
Wallace to fill the term of James Cunningham, deceased ; he was also Colonel of 
the Sixty-eighth Militia Regiment, and Deputy Surveyor. In 1844, he was chief 
engineer on the Wabash & Erie Canal, and afterward general superintendent. He 
died in August, 1871, having acquired both means and position. George H. Lucas 
came to this county with his parents when he was two years of age. Except ji few 
years' employment as a clerk, he has been a lifelong farmer. August 12, 1873, he 
was married to Kitt Delaplane, to which union were born four children — Harriet 
(deceased). Charlotte (deceased), James and Kate Clare. Mr. Lucas resides one mile 
east of State Line City, on his farm of 144 acres (eighteen of which are timber, two 
and a half miles southeast), well drained, fertile, and productive of corn, wheat and 
hay. Mr. Lucas has served two terms as Township Trustee. He is an Odd Fellow, 
and an esteemed and worthy citizen. 

WILLIAM R. MURPHY was born in this township June 12, 1836, and is one 
of the ten children of George and Mary (Shoemaker) Murphy ; of these children 
seven are living— John, Hannah, William, Gano, Martha, Gideon and Samantha. 
George Murphy was born in Ohio, 1802 ; was a farmer, and died in Warren County, 
Ind., in 1861. "William R. Murphy has made the old homestead his lifelong home, 
and has been enabled to note the transformation of this county from a haunt of 
wolves to a garden of civilization. He was married, August 1, 1861, to Maria E. 
Stanley, which union was blessed with nine children — Mary, Florence, Lucy 
(deceased), William, Martha, Elnora, Charles, Roberta and Walter (deceased). In 
September, 1864, Mr. Murphy was enrolled in the Fortieth Indiana Veteran Volun- 
teers, and was engaged in the battles of Franklin and Nashville ; he was discharged 
at New Orleans in July, 1865, when he returned home. His residence is five miles 
southeast of State Line City, on his 200-acre farm (twenty-seven of which are one 
and a half miles southeast) ; his land is improved and very productive, particularly 
of wheat and corn. Mr. Murphy is a prosperous farmer and a public-spirited 
citizen. 

A. M. PORTER. M. D., was born in Fleming County, Ky., November 24, 
1825, and is one of the seven children of Seth W. and Cynthia (Davis) Porter, their 
names being Albert, Austin, Morris, William D., Eveline, Jane and Seba; the 
daughters are deceased. Seth W. Porter was born May 29, 1791, at Snow Hill, Md. 
In his youth, he was apprenticed to a shoe-maker, and worked at that trade until 
middle age, after which he farmed until his death. He was under Col. Dudley in 
the war of 1812; was taken prisoner by the Indians, and after three months ex- 
changed at Montreal for a bob-tail pony. He died in May, 1870, in Boone County, 
Ind. Dr. Porter, with his parents, removed to Parke County, Ind., and thence to 



KENT TOWNSIIIl'— WARREN COUNTY. 179 

Boone County. He siudied medicine at Wabash, Ind., under Dr. Loo]). In Jul)', 
1847, he came to this county, and after two year.-* bei^an practicinif in .Jamestown, 
Boone County, and remained two and a lialf years. In tlie .sprini; of IH.Vi, he re- 
turned to Warren County, and located in this township, where he has since resided, 
comini? to his present location, near Stat; Line City, in IHj'.). After attending 
Waba-ih College, he received his first lectures, in 1847-4S, at the Indiana Medical 
College, th(;n located at La Porte, and afterward at the same institution in Indian- 
apolis, from which he received his degree. Dr. Porter was married, July 28. 18.10, 
to Eliza Layton, who died in February, IS")."); afterward, March Vi, 18H0, he mar- 
ried Maria Layton, by Avhom he had one cliild, Seba. Mrs. Porter died in 1861. 
His third marriage was to Isabella Calhoun, November 23, 186.'), by whom he had 
three children — Carrie (deceased). AllxTt (deceased) and Georj^e Seth. Dr. Porter 
is an enthusiast in his profession, and has two brothers, physicuins. lie is a Knight 
Templar Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Presbyterian. 

GANO SHOEMAKER was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 30, 1815, 
and is one of the thirteen children of Elias and Catherine (Co.v) Shoemaker, whose 
names were Michael, Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary, Ann, Abigail, Samuel, Elias, Gano, 
Louisa, Gideon, Samantlia and George, of whom Gano is the onlj' one living. 
Elias Shoemaker was born in Delaware in 1771; was in the war of 1812, our subject 
being named after his. commander. Gen. Gano; was a life-long farmer, and died 
about the year 1862, in Warren County, Ind. Gano was about six years of age 
when his parents moved to Union County, Ind. After eight years, he went back to 
Butler County, Ohio, and in 1842 moved to Louisiana, where he worked on the 
Atchafalaya Bayou for seventeen winters. In October, 1831, he first came to this 
county, but did not locate until March, 18.56, since which time he has resided here. 
Mr. Shoenuiker was married, September 27, 1858, to Harriet Clem, which union was 
blessed with seven children, those living being — Austin P., Albert R., Wilson S., 
George H. and Lucy A. Mr. Shoemaker resides four and one-half miles southeast 
of State Line City on his farm of 110 acres (40 of wiiich lie one half mile north- 
west), which is well drained and fenced, and produces good wheat and corn; there 
is also a good dwelling and ample stabling. Mr. Shoemaker is an excellent man, 
and a worthv and honored citizen. 

SAMUEL SONGER was born in Montgomery Cotmty, Va., February 10, 1810. 
and is one of the eleven children of Peter and Elizabeth (Sawyer) Songer, the 
names of which children were Susan, John, Jacob, Peter, Elizabeth, David, Sarah, 
Samuel, Lewis, Nancy and Mary. Of the.se, Samuel is probably the only one liv- 
ing. Peter Songer was a farmer, and came earlj' to Dearborn County. Ind., where 
he died when Samuel was a child, who remained in said county until he was nearly 
twenty years old, when he removed to Vermillion County, 111., and remained tiiere 
nearly thirty-five years. In the autumn of 1869, Mr. Songer came to this countJ^ 
He was married, August 13, 1829, to Sarah Parker, their union being bles.sed with 
eight children, the names of th(; living being Lewis, William and Andrew. Mrs. 
Songer died August 24, 18.")9, and Februarys, 1.863, he married Rachel A. Ruark. 
Mr. Songer resides five miles soutiieast of State Line City, on a good farm of 165 
acres, under fair cultivation, well drained, and adapted to the culture of wheat and 
corn. He has a good dwelling, commodious stabling, and other improvements. Mr. 
Songer is a wortliy citizen, and a member of the New-Light Church. 

I)AVID THANEY, was born in Warren County, Iiid., May 'y, 1849, and is the 
fourth of six children born to John and Margaret (Long) Thauey, such children 
bemir Sarah, George, Margaret, David, Henry (decea.sed) and Frederick. The father 
of David was born in Hes.se-Cassel, Germany, in 18 '."); he was in the main a farmer, 
though he had learned weaving and coopering; he died in Stuel)en Townshii), War- 
."•en Co., Ind., in April, 1880. David Tlianey resided in Steuben Township until 
March, 1880, when he came to his present home, two and a half miles south of 
Marshfield. He was married, September 2M. ls7."),to Marietta Briggs, who has liorne 
him two ciiildren — (iertrude an(l Claudius. Mr. Tlianey farmed with his father 
until 1874, after which he conducted a grist mill and saw mill in Steuben Township. 
On coming to this town.ship, he constructed a tile factory, having a capaciiy of 
5,000 feet of tile per day, and at that time the otdy one in the township. After hav- 
ing received a fair sclir)ol education, he iitteiided one year at Wali.ash College. Mr. 
Tlianey has lived within .1 r.idiiis of half a mile all his life. Hi- has greatly improved 
his farm, adding a comfortable thveliiiig, with commodious stabling; his chief prod- 
ucts are wheat, corn and hay, and he makes a specialty of stock, principally sheep 
and cuttle. Mr. Thaney is a successful farmer and an esteemed citizen. 



180 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



STEUBEN TOWNSHIP. 

V. W. ANDERSON, was born ia Clarke County, Ohio, April 23, 1831, and is one 
of the twelve children of James and Ruth (Vickers) Anderson, who were named 
Joseph, Peter, Mary (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased). William (deceased), Edward, 
Cecelia (deceased), Charles (deceased), Augustus, Howard, James L. and John. 
The father of Peter was born June 28, 1804. in Maryland; he was a farmer and stock- 
raiser, and died in 1871, in this township. P. W. Anderson, at the age of twenty-one, 
came to his present location. In April,. 18(31, he enlisted for three months in the 
Tenth Indiana Infantry, and was in the battle of Rich Mountain. In 1862, he re- 
enlisted in Company E, Eighty-sixth Indiana Infantry, as Sergeant; he was engaged 
at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Franklin, and in minor engagements; and was dis- 
charged June, 1865. Mr. Anderson was married October 31, 1867, to Sarah B. Mar- 
tin; they have three children— Nellie, Clifford and Gracie. He now resides three 
and a half miles northwest of Marshtield, on his farm of 18 ) acres (sixty acres of 
timber lying three and a half miles southeast); the 120 acres are well cultivated, well 
drained," well improved, and producing good wheat, corn, oats and hay; he also 
raises some stock for his own use. Inl876,he was elected Justice of the Peace, and 
re-elected in 1880. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Masonic order, the Grand Army 
of tlie Republic, and of the Baptist Church. 

ELIJAH C. BYERS was born in Washington County, Md., August 1, 1831, and 
is one of the five children of Samuel S. and Nancy L. (Bowers) Byers, the names of 
said family being— Ann (deceased), Jacob, Margaret, Elijah and Ellen (deceased). 
The father of our subject was born in Washington County, Md., October, 1801; was 
a weaver and dyer by occupation, which he followed until he was thirty-eight years 
of age. In the fall of 1838, he removed to Noble County, Ind., thence to Fountain 
and Warren Counties, residing in Washington and Pike Townships; after going to 
Missouri, in 1868, he came to this township, where he died in October, 1874. Elijah 
C. Byers came to this township in March, 1852, and since December, 1855, has lived 
on his farm of 275 acres (ninety-five of whicli are three-fourths of a mile west, with 
twenty of timber in Kent Township), 255 acres of which are under good cultivation, 
with neat frame dwelling, convenient stables and other improvements, such as or- 
chards, general shrubbery, etc.; this land produces good corn, oats and hay. Mr. 
Byers was married, Noveml)er 18, 1852, to Sarah A. Shankland, by wliom he has one 
child— William F. Mr. Byers is a member of the Church of God. Mrs. Byers hav- 
ing become a proficient taxidermist, her services have been secured by Prof. A. H. 
Alexander, of Hobokeu, N. J. 

JOSEPH C. CH AVERS was born in Putnam County, Ind., April 14, 1836, and 
is one of the ten children of Alexander and Phebe Chavers, the names of said fam- 
ily being Elizabeth (Cunningham), William, Sarah J., Jo.seph, Nancy A., Alexan- 
der, John A., Rebecca, Mary C. and Ellen, of whom Joseph, John and Mary sur- 
vive. The father of Joseph was born in Virginia in 1S06; came to Monroe County, 
Ind., about 1828, where he married. He died in Boone County in April, 1850. 
Joseph C. Chavers was taken to Boone County when six years of age, and re- 
mained there until 1852, when he came to this township. He has resided where he 
now is since February. 1864. September 8, 1857, he was married to Orilia Barnes, 
who died September 4, 1865. leaving three children— Mary A., Eveline and Adelia. 
September 25. 1866, he married Nancy A. Brinegar, by whom he had two children 
— William H. and Joseph L. Mr. Chavers' residence is five and three-quarter 
miles northwest of Marshfield, on his farm of ninety acres (forty being in Vermil- 
lion County, 111.), all of which is cultivated, fenced, with good frame dwelling, 
stabling, etc., and productive of wheat, corn, oats and hay. His place is also very 
beautifully ornamented. Mr. Chavers commenced his career without means, but 
has, by persevering industry, acquired his property, as well as the respect of all. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Church of God. He is also a 
much esteemed citizen. 

JOHN W. CHUMLEA was born in Knox County. Tenn., May 3, 1832, and is 
one of the two children of William W. and Jane (Anderson) Chumlea, their names 
being John and Rebecca P. (deceased). William W. Chumlea was born in Knox 
County, Tenn., in March. 1806. He was chiefly a farmer, but something of a 
mechanical genius, having worked at twelve different trades. While in Fountain 
County, Ind., he was Justice of the Peace and Townslup Trustee. He died at his 
son's house in December, 1880. The parents of John moved from Fountain County 



STEUBEN TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 181 

to Steuben Township in 1^54. where our subject has since resided, and since March, 
1875, on his present phice. He was marrii'd May 10, 1H60, to Anna E. Starry, froni 
which union have resulted six children — William, Lawrence \V. (deceased), Esther 
J. (deceased), Lizzie E.. Miles P. and Geor.i^e W. Mr. Clmmlea resides two miles 
northwest of Johnsonville, on his excellent farm of 18fi acres (HO of which lie three- 
fourths of a mile northwest), fenced and drained, and ada|)ted for wheat, corn, oats 
and hay. He also raises sufficient stock for his private use. In the fall of 1875, he 
erected a handsome frame dwelling, and his farm is well improved. Mr. Chumlea 
has served three terms as Township Trustee, and has been for years a Mason and 
member of the Christian Church. He has never sought office, and is a much 
esteemed citizen. 

MARSHALL COMPTON was born in Ross County. Ohio, March 4, 1811, and 
is the fourth of the six boys born to John and Catherine (Davis) Compton, their 
names heing— John, William (deceased). Garret (deceased), Marshall, Nelson and 
Jackson. The father of Marshall was a soldier of 1812, and was badly wounded in 
that war, after which he devoted his life to farming. While our sul)ject was a 
boy, he went to Pike County, Ohio, to learn the blacksmithing trade, al which he 
served six years, and afterward worked for fourteen years. In October, 1846, he 
came to this township, and purchased his present place. December 18, 1859, he 
was married to Nancy J. Nelson, which union gave i.ssue to three children — Alice, 
Charles and Jesse (deceased). Mr. Compton's residence is two miles north of 
Marshtield, on his farm of 346 acres (20 of which, in timber, are four miles south, 
with 40 in Pike Township). All except the timber are under good cultivation and 
improvement, and are well adapted to corn, wheat, oats and hay. He also raises 
horses, cattle and Berkshire hogs. Mr. Compton has a fine frame dwelling and 
observator}', which affords a charming view of the country. He is a Freemason; 
was Trustee of Kent Township several terms, and has held other minor offices. 

JOHN D. CRAWFORD was born in Pike Township, Warren County, Ind., 
^April 23, 1838, and is one of the eleven children of William A. and Lutitia (Snod- 
grass) Crawford, their names being Martin (deceased), Milton (deceased), Samuel 
(deceased), Louisa J. (deceased), S. Margaret, John D., Lutitia (decea.sed), William 
(deceased), Harvey H., George W. and ^arah. William A. Crawford was born in 
Kentucky in 1804 ; devoted his entire life to farming and stock-raising, and died in 
this county in 1854. Our subject lived at the scene of his birth until February, 
1878, when he came to his present location. He was married, January 15, 1874, to 
Rule Morton, by which union were born three children, of whom but one, Clara L., 
survives. Mr. Crawford resides on his farm of 274 acres (.seventy of which are one 
mile north, in Pike Township), all of which is fertile, and most under good cultiva- 
tion, well drained, and adapted to wheat and corn ; in addition are many improve- 
ments, as a large,' convenient barn, etc. Mr. Crawford is an exemplary man. a 
member of the Christian Church and an estimable citizen. His parents were among 
the oldest settlers in this locality, having come hither as earl}' as 1827. 

WILLIAM H. CRONKHITE, Township Trustee, was born in this township 
December 15. 1844, and is a son of Hosea and Eleanor (Garretson) Cronkhite, the 
former a native of New York, the latter of Ohio. Hosea Cronkhite came to this 
township in 1828, where he died February 12, 1804 ; Mrs. Cronkhite died January 
24. 1874. The grandfather of our subject was a''soldier of the war of 1812. Will- 
iam II. Cronkhite attended the district schools in youth, and when twenty-three 
began life for him.self. He was married. October 10, 1867, to Miss Mell Smith, 
daughter of P. G. and Eliza Smith, a native of Boone Count}', Ind., to which union 
was born one child, Guy. After marriagii Mr. Cronkhite began farming for him- 
self. In 1873. he moved to the old Cronkhite homestead, one mile north of Marsh- 
tield, and one year later purchased the farm where he now resides, it heing one of 
the best in the township. Mr. Cronkhite i-< a Republican, and was elected Town- 
ship Trustee, in 18M2, over his opponent, likewise a Republican, by sixteen votes ; 
he is also a member of the Church of God. 

JAMES C. HALL was born in this township June 4, 1837, and is one of the 
ten children of Daniel I), and Jane J. (Buell) Hall, the names of this family l)eing 
Harvey (deceased), Frances (decea.se(l), Joshua (decea.sed), Celia (deceased), Walter 
B., Isaiah, James ('., Isaac. Charles ((leceased) and Frances M. The father of our 
subject. Dr. Daniel D. Hall, was born in Canada in ls03, and while yet a young 
man began the study and completed a course of medicine at .Miami University, 
Oxford, (Jhio. He came to Indiana in lH2i>, and located three miles south of West 
Lebanon, where he established his practice and obtained a wide reputation in the 
adjoining country. At the same time he conunenct^d preaching the doctrines of the 
Christian Church, and organized the first society of that denomination in Wi'st 
Lebanon and all Warren County. In addition to the.se nrofessions, he found time 
to farm. He was one of the earliest pioneers of this locality, and was an able 



182 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

minister, a skillful musician, a warm-hearted friend and genial gentleman. He 
died in Pike Township, September, 1853, universally esteemed and mourned. 
James C. Hall lived at tiie scene of his birth until he came to his present location, 
in 1864. He was married, January 1, 18(51, to Elizabeth James, by whom he had 
six children — Frank E., Harvey H. and Isaac L. alone surviving. Mr. Hall resides 
five miles southwest of West Lebanon, on his attractive farm of 181 acres (twenty- 
five of which are one-half mile southwest). This land is highly fertile and well 
improved (with fine frame dwelling and good stables), producing well in wheat, 
corn, oats and hay ; he also raises some stock, chiefly hogs. Mr. Hall is an esti- 
mable gentleman and public-spirited citizen. 

JAMES JOHNSON was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 37, 1825. 
His father was an old and prominent settler, and was tUe purchaser in the first con- 
veyance of land made in this county, in January, 1838, the settler being Nathaniel 
Butterfield. Mr. Johnson afterward owned six sections. [For family record, see 
J. R. Johnson's sketch. Mound Township.] The parents of our subject removed to 
Mound Township, and thence to Steuben Township, where he has made his home. 
He was married, November 24, 1853, to Mary L. Lyon, who has borne him four 
children — Norwell, Carrie B. (deceased), Dora B. and James. Mr. Johnson resides 
three-fourths of a mile east of Johnsonville, on his excellent farm of 875 acres, all 
of which is fenced, under good cultivation and in pasture, well drained and produc- 
tive, mostly of wheat, corn, oats and hay; he also raises stock, chiefly cattle and 
hogs, to which it is well adapted by the presence of a large spring which forms a 
stream through his land. In 1854, Mr. Johnson erected a handsome frame residence. 
He has been for a number of years a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has 
acted as Justice of the Peace, and Township Assessor. From his long, unbroken 
residence, he has observed the growth and progress of these scenes — once the home 
of wild men and beasts, and now that of a high cultivation. 

GEORGE S. KISER was born in Vermillion County, 111., July 24, 1833, and is 
the fifth of twelve children born to George and Elizabeth (Starry) Kiser, their names 
being John, Hannah (deceased), Catharine (deceased), Daniel (deceased), George, 
Samuel, William, Nicholas (deceased), Alexander, Harvey (deceased), Mary 
J. (deceased) and Jeremiah. The father of our subject was born in Virginia in 
1799; he was in early life a teamster, but after coming to this State engaged 
in farming, and died in this county in June, 1868. When a few years old our 
subject was brought hither by his parents, where he has lived, almost continu- 
ously since that time, having come to his present site in 1868. He was married, 
November 23, 1857, to Mary Guinn, a union which has been productive of nine 
children — Sophia, Eva J., Nicholas (deceased), William, Jeremiah, James, 
Daniel, Stella and Olive G. (deceased). Mr. Kiser resides two miles northwest of 
Johnsonville, on iiis fine farm of 135 acres of well improved, drained and fertile 
land, all cultivated or in pasture, and adapted to oats, corn and hay; he also gives 
attention to raising stock, chiefly hogs. In 1883, Mr. Kiser built a large, handsome 
frame dwelling, besides making other improvements. Mr. Kiser is an old resident 
and greatly esteemed by the community. 

THOMAS LLOYD was born in Stark County.Ohio, April 3, 1836, and is one of 
the five sons of William and Nancy (Cunningham) Lloyd, the names of which chil- 
dren are John, George. Edmund, Thomas and David, of whom Thomas alone sur- 
vives. The father of our subject was a native of Virginia, a farmer, and died in 
Stark County in 1839. Thomas was eleven years old when he was removed to Ross 
County, Ohio, where he lived six years. In 1843, he came to Warren County, Ind., 
and located in Jordan Township, whence he came to his present location, in Febru- 
ary, 1880. _ He was married, November 10, 1850, to Malinda Briggs; this union was 
blessed with seven children — Mary A., Josephine (deceased), William (deceased), 
Elmer L , Charles (deceased), Edward and Celia. Mr. Lloyd resides three miles 
northwest of Marshfield, on his excellent farm, all of which is well cultivated, fenced, 
drained, and adapted to the production of wheat, corn, oats and hay; he now raises 
only stock for his own use, but formerly raised and dealt largely in a variety of 
stock. Mr. Lloyd is a member of the New Light Churcli, but isan attendant of the 
Methodist Church. He is a worthy man and estimable citizen. 

JAMES J. MITCHELL was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, May 8, 1832, 
and is one of the twelve children of Edward and Martha (Girard) Mitchell, named in 
order of birth— Martha (deceased), Lucinda (deceased), Ilettie (deceased), Abner, 
John, William (deceased), Julia A. (deceased), Henry, James, Eliza (deceased), Linda 
(deceased) and Milton (deceased.) The father of our subject was a native of Virginia; 
came to this township in 1826, and for several years was the first Trustee of the 
township; he was a life-long farmer, and died in 1844, aged seventy-three years. 
James J. Mitchell came at an early age to this township with his parents, and to his 
present location, in 1844, on the "l7lh of March of which year he married Nancy 



STEUBEN TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNT V. 183 

Johnson, by which union thi^j' had seven children— Chiy, Oscar T., Laura E., Clar- 
issa J., Edi,'ar (deceased). Eui,'ene and Jessie. Mr. Mitciicll resides tliree-fourtlis of 
a mile northwest of .lohnsonville, on iiis Uon-acre farm (havin.ij KU) acres of timber 
one and a half miles southeast). Of this land. l»6() acres are well cultivated and 
drained, beinsj adapted to wheat, corn, iiay and oats, and all but twenty acres are 
fenced; he ijives attention to raisinji cattle, horses, shet-p and hoi:s. particularly the 
former. Mr. Mitchell has a well improved home, having a comfortable dwelling, 
commodious stables, windmill, etc. lie is a meml)er of the Methodist Church and a 
public-spirited citizen: his family was among the first while settlers in this region. 

THOMAS C. POWELL was born in Dearl)orn County, Ind., August 2.1, 1S40, 
and is one of the seven children of Martin and Jeannette (Churchill) Powell, whose 
names were William M., Thomas. John (deceased), Mary A., Vlvali ^L, D.miel C. 
(deceased) and Eliza J. The father of Thomas was born in England in ISll; was a 
fuller and cloth dresser, but became a farmer in afterlife; came to r)eari)orn County 
when twelve years old, and thence to Warren County; he is now living atSlate Line 
City. Our subject came to this township with his pari-nts in Murch, 18");"). In Sep- 
tember, 1861, he enlisted in the Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, and took part in the 
battles of Wild Cat Mountain. Thompson's Station (where the entire brigade was 
captured and confined one month in Libby Prison), Resaca, Lost Mountain. New 
Hope Church and Atlanta, where he was discharged September, 18<>4, when he 
returned home. He was married. March Itj, 1S(>8, to Margaret P. Logan, i)y -vhom 
he had one child— Lillie M. Mr. Powell resides two and one-half miles west of 
Marshfield, on his excellent farm of 16 • acres, well improved, drained and fenced, 
and adapted to raising wheat, corn, hay and oats; he also raises and deals in stock, 
cattle and Berkshire hogs principally.' Mr. Powell is a member of the Masonic 
order, and a hitrhly esteemed and worthy citizen. 

MILES STAKIIY was born one-half mile east of Johnsonville. in this county, 
August 16, 1837, and is the eldest of the three chihh-en of Daniel and Esther (Simp- 
son) Starrv, the names of such children being Miles, Daniel L. and Anna. The 
father of Miles was born in Viririnia in 1808; was a life-lomr farmer and stock-raiser, 
and died in Steuben Township in April, 1869. When Miles was very young, his 
parents moved to where he !iow lives, and where he hasalmostcontinuously resided. 
He was married, February 24. 1859, to Keziah Guinn. which union was blessed with 
twelve children— Charles. Daniel, Anna, James, William, (Tcorge W., Clark (de- 
ceased), Guy. Eddie (deceased), Eva, Pearl and Lou. Mr. Starry has a farm of oOO 
acres, one-quarter mile south, one half of which is cultivated, the otherpasture; this 
land is fertile, well drained, and adapted to wheat, corn, oats and hay; he also raises 
cattle, horses and hogs. He is a good citizen and esteemed by all who know him. 
The father of Mr. Starry was an early settler, and began the improvement of the 
home farm, which his son continued." Mrs. Starry, mother of Miles, resides on the 
homestead of 160 acres, which is one and a cpiarter miles north of Johnsonville, 
which Miles has rented since 1869. 

D. L. STARRY was l)orn in this township October 1. 1889. D. L. Starry lived 
on the homestead until Octo!)er. 1868, when he moved to John W. Chumlea's place, 
and in November. 1871, came to his present location. He enlisted in August, 1862, 
in the Eighty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, siegesof Atlantaand Nash- 
ville. After'a faithful service of thirty-three months and seven days, he was mustered 
out at Nashville, June. 186"). and fiiiallv and honorably discharged at Indianapolis. 
He was married. September 17, 1868. to Hannah Guinn. by whom he had tw() children, 
one of wiiom survives— Gertrude. Mr. Starry resides two and one-half miles north- 
west of Marshfield, on his fine farm of 247 acres (eighty acres lying sevfi> miles 
southeast, and seven, three miles south of his home), nearly all of which 
is well cultivated, drained and fenced, and produces good wheat, corn, oats and 
hay; he also gives much attention to stock-raising. Mr. Starry has made most of 
his farm improvements since he came to live thereon. He has pa-^sed his whole life 
in this townshii). and has witnessed and had taken part in the many improvements 
since the pioneer d.ays imtil now. 

ISAAC N. TAVLOR was born in Rockbridge County. Va.. April 23. 1819. and 
is one of the eight children of Mark and Margaret (Amy.v) Taylor, the family names 
being Ad(dine (deceased). America (deceased). Matihla R.. George W.. Nancy 
(deceased). Matthew F.. Isaac N. and Harvey P. (deceased). The father of Isaac 
was a native of Rockliridge County. Va. ; was a farmer and slock raiser ; had a tine 
stock-farm, and died in his native county in 1H24. aged forty-five years. The grand- 
father of Isaac, George Taylor, was a niitive of Ireland ; was a farmer, also a sur- 
veyor and civil engineer ; came lo America before the Revolution, in which \var he 
was a soldier ; was supposccl to have been a signer of the Declaration, and died in 
Rockbridge County. In 1842, I. N. Taylor removed to Xenia, Ohio, where he 



184 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

worked as carpenter, having served four years at that trade, and thence to this 
county, in April, 18.")9, where he, in partnership with Daniel Fauber, erected a saw- 
mill at a cost of f 4,500, which they mana:?ed fourteen years ; he also worked in this 
county as a carpenter. He was married, January 31, 1854, to Elizabeth Fauber, 
with an issue of live children — Bayard. Joab, Charles, Elizabeth E. and Grant. 
Mr. Taylor has resided at his present home since April, 1874 ; it is one and a quarter 
miles northeast of Marshtield, and a farm of 310 acres (170 of which lie four miles 
southeast), half of this being well cultivated, drained and fenced, and well adapted 
to wheat, corn, oats and hay. Mr. Taylor having completed a course of surveying 
at Xenia. Ohio, he was elected County Surveyor in 1862, and served two terms, but 
declined a third. He is a member of the Presbj'terian Church and a true friend of 
Wabash College. 

GEORGE C. TYLER was born in Medina (now Summit) County, Ohio, Novem- 
ber 1, 1838, and is one of the nine children of Parker and Anna L. (Wriglit) Tyler, 
said family names being William H., Mary (deceased), George C, Martha S. 
(Jones), James, Hiram B., Harriet M. (deceased), Homer C. and John Q. The 
father of our subject was born in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1789 ; he had learned the 
coopering trade in his early life, at which he was a proficient ; but afterward 
turned to farming, which he followed until his death in Liberty Township, Warren 
Co., Ind., in 1853. George C. Tyler was twelve years old when his parents moved 
to Liberty Township, where he resided for several years, as well as in Jordan Town- 
ship and Vermillion County, III., and in 1875 came to his present dwelling-place, 
two and a half miles west of Marshfield, on a good farm of 380 acres, under fine 
cultivation, undulating, and very proluclive of the principal staples. Mr. Tyler 
also raises stock, and makes a specialty of Norman horses. He was married, October 
14, 1853, to Harriet Swank, by whom he has seven children — Martha J., Sarah F., 
Mary E., Julia A., Emma A., Laura A. and G. Clinton. Mr. Tyler is a member of 
the Masonic order and of the Methodist Church, and in 1883 was elected County 
Commissioner. 



WARREN TOWNSHIP. 



SAMUEL K. ABOTT is a native of Fountain County, Ind., where he was 
born in 1849. He worked on the farm in summer, and went to school in the winter 
until the year 1876, when he determined to take a partner for life ; he accordingly 
married Laura Haas, who was born in Fountain County in 1854. In 1877, Mr. 
Abott purchased 154 acres of good land in this county, where he and wife and child 
reside in life enjoyment. Mr. Abott is a much respected citizen and a member of 
the Baptist Church ; his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. She is like- 
wise much respected in the community. 

ROGER ADAMS was born in the State of Delaware in the year 1806, and is a 
son of Roger and Mary (Willis) Adams. He assisted his father on the home farm 
until the year 1836, when he removed to Indiana and located in Fountain County. 
In the year 1831, he was married to Elizabeth Barkshire, a native of Ohio, born in 
1810, and a daughter of William and Dinah (Lackey) Barkshire. This union has 
been l)lessed with three boys and two girls. In 1853, Mr. Adams located in this 
county, where he owns 316 acres of good land, well improved, a tribute to his industry 
and carefulness, having commenced the struggle of life with 75 cents. He is a gen- 
eral farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Adams is an ardent Republican, and a much val- 
ued citizen. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church. 

JOHN J. ANDREW is a son of Jacob and Mary Andrew ; is a native of Butler 
County, Ohio, and was born in 1846. In 1853, his father moved to Indiana, and located 
in this county. Here our suliject engaged in milling, at Independence, and in the 
year 1870 he was married to Mary Smith, a daughter of Sovine and Sarah Smith. 
To this union have succeeded two children. Mr. Andrew is now engaged in mer- 
cantile business in this county near the Kickapoo Mills, and enjoys a good trade. 
He is a fifth degree member of the I. O. O. F., and of Lone Star Lodge, No. 549 ; he 
is a also a strong Democrat and a worthy citizen. 

JAMES I. B ARR is a son of Ivan and Judith (Torbert) Barr, and is a native of 
this township, where he was born in 1845. He received an academic education in 
Ohio, and afterward engaged in farming and stock-raising. He now owns 640 acres 
in this township, with good house, barn and other improvements ; he usually keeps 
seventy-five head of cattle. His wife was Mary Andrew, a native of Butler County, 
born in 1848, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Neyhard) Andrew. Mr. and Mrs. Barr 
have three children— Thomas, born in 1875 ; Charlie, born in 1877, and Torbert, 



WARREN TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 185 

born in 1879. Mr. Barr is a member of Attica fiOdfrc No. 18, A.. F. & A. M., and 
also of Attica Lodge, No. 33. I. O. O. F. He %v;is ajjpoiiitcd County Commissioner 
in 1882, and \va.s eiecied to that ofticc in the aiiliunn of the same year, with a ma- 
jority of 1,0,")(I. Mr. Barr is a .stanch Itcpuhlicaii. 

I)k\VITT C. B()(t(tS is a nntive of Warren ('ounty, Ind.. was born in the year 
1854. and is a son of William and Mary Boi;;i,^s. lie obtained a current school edu- 
cation, and became a teacher in 1875. The same year he was married to Mary C. 
Schlosser. by whom he iiad one daui^hter, now si.v years of age. Mr. Boggs is the 
owner of sixty-tive acres of very excellent land, containing excellent improve- 
ments; this land he inherited from his father. He is a general farmer and stock- 
raiser, a strong Republican and an esteemed citizen. 

JOHN B. C'LAWSON is a .son of Timotliy and Nancy Clawson, and was i)orn 
in this township February 10. 18.'J4. He remained at home and passed his boyhood 
with his father, whom he assisted in summer and attended school in winter. Niarch 
27, 1879, he was married to Melis.sa Pearson, of this county, daugiiter of Samuel and 
Jane Pearson : to whicli union have been bestowed two chddren— Celia and Zada. 
He was elected Justice of the* Peace, and served for eighteen months. About 1880, 
he engaged in mercantile business at Independence, wliieh he still continues. In 
1882, he was elected Township Trustee by the Democrats. ]SIr. Clawson is a Mas- 
ter Mason, and a Past Grand in the order of Odd Fellows. He is, besides, a very 
worthy gentleman and a highly esteemed citizen. 

JOSEPH COX is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, was born in 1815, 
and is a son of Jonathan and Charity Cox. He obtained but a limited education 
from the subscription schools, and in 182(> he came with his father to this county, 
where he now has 207 acres. In 1S3(), he was married to Saraii Ilinshaw, daughter 
of Elias and Sally (Williams) Hinsliaw, born in Higliland County, Ohio, in 1812, 
to which union were born four children— one hoy, deceasecl, and three girls, now 
married. Mr. Cox, having located here at an early day, has experienced the com- 
mon hardships of a pioneer, having in the beginning only an ox-team. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cox are members of the United Brethren Church, and are highly respected 
personages. 

JOSEPH DOTY is a native of Pennsylvania, born May 1, 1795, and is a 
son of Samuel and Mary Doty. His father was a farmer in limited circumstances, 
hence the school days of his son were few and short — about eight months in all — 
the other portion of his time being passed in labor on the farm!^ His family having 
moved to Ohio in 1812, there, ^lay 1(5, 181(5, Joseph was married to EiTa Thomp- 
son, of Oiiio, which union was blessed with ten children — live boys and live girls. 
In 1830, he removed to Indiana, and settled in Independence, in this township, 
where he followed farming and stock raising. Mrs. Doty died in March. IS+'S. and 
in the same year he married Cynthia A. Freeman, daugiiter of Henry and Mary 
Sharp. To this union were born two boys, one of whom died wlion three and the 
other when fourteen years of age. Mrs. Doty is a member of the Uniteil Brethren 
Church, which he also attends. Mr. Dotj' is now in his eighty-eighth year, yet he 
enjoys good health, and can tell many interesting stories" of the early settlement 
of this county. 

ENOCH II. FOSTER, a son of John and Thinetta Foster, was born in Put- 
nam County. Ind., in 1826. In 1833, his family moved to Benton County, where 
he assisted his father in the work of the farm, who, in 1835, purchased 220 acres in 
Warren County, where Enoch labored until 184(5, when lie was married to Mary 
Gaskell, daughter of Ezra and Nancy Gaskcll, of Indiana. Mr. Foster then located 
in Bi'nton County, where he remained until is,"j3, when he removed to Illinois, and, 
in 18(51, enlisted in the Scvent\^-second Illinois Volunteers. After returning from 
the war, he purchased 120 acres of improved land in this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Foster are the parents of five children, of whom all are living. Mr. Foster is a 
memher of the M. E. Churcli, an upright man and esteemed citizen. 

JOHN P. Gl'NKLE, dealer in walnut luml)er. Independence, was l)orn in 
Butler County, Oiiio, December 2(5, 18U. After 1853. he resided in Warren County, 
Ind., and, in 18(51, enlisted in the Fortietli Indiana Volunteers ; he was taken 
prisoner in 18(54, and confined at barbarous Andersonville for three months, thence 
removed to (."hiirleston and Florence, S. C., wiicnce h<' was paroled in the beginning 
of 18(55. Thereafter he located at Battle (iround. White Co.. Ind.. and attended 
school two years. He then hegau the grocery business at Pine Village, and wiiile 
living there married Mary Waile, on tiie 17th of October, 1873. About 187(5, he sold 
his store and moved to Ivansas, where he remained two years, when he returned to 
Indiana and located in Independence. Mrs. Gunkle died in 1877, leaving one child, 
and Deeemher 22, 1S.S1, lie married Nancy R. Puckelt, of this county. In 1822, he 
was elected by tlie Repui)licans Justice of the Peace. He is a member of Lone 
Star Lodge. No. 549, I. O. O. F., and of Shawnee Encampment, No. 25; he is also^ 
a fellow of Post 47, G. A. R. 



186 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

PETER J. HICKMAT^", son of Ro^er and Maiy (Jenkins) Hickman, was born 
in Delaware March 14, 1808. His father was a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 
1813. Peter worked for his father until manhood. January 13, 1831, he was mar- 
ried to Mary Gullelt, daughter of John and Sarah (Justus) Gullett, and to their 
union were born eleven children— James S., Elbert G., Ann E., Eliza J. (deceased), 
John W. (deceased), Martha, Charles, Peter, Sarah, Roger W. and Mary C. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hickman moved to Indiana in a wagon, and arrived at Attica after six 
weeks. Mr. Hickman purchased eiglity acres in Warren Township, Warren County, 
on which he built a cabin and made improvements ; this he sold after five years and 
moved to Missouri, where he remained seven years ; he then returned to this county 
and ptn-chased the Kickapoo grist mill, which he conducted some years, and after- 
ward l)ought 276 acres, the first settled farm in this township and containing the 
first brick liouse erected here. Mr. Hickman is a raiser of stock and general farm 
produce, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church, of which he is a 
trustee. His children are all married, save one — Roger. He is in politics a 
Democrat. 

JOHN W. KELLER is a son of David and Mary (Suiter) Keller ; he is a native 
of Maryland, and was born in 1840. In the year 1858, he came to Indiana and 
located in Wayne County, where he was married to Lydia Kiplinger, a native of 
Warren County, and born in 1847, also a daughter of Jacob and Theresa Kiplinger. 
Mr. and Mrs. Keller have three children, one boy and two girls. In 1874, Mr. 
Keller came to this county, where he now owns 155 acres of excellent land, 
having received $1,500 from his father. He is an industrious and well-respected 
citizen ; he is also a Democrat. 

WILLIAM G. KIGER was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1828, and is a son of 
Samuel and Susan (Limerick) Kiger. He was reared on the parental farm, and assist- 
ed his father until 1847, when he married Harriet H. Wakeman, a daughter of 
Gideon and Debbie Wakeman, to which union four children succeeded. Mr. Kiger 
enlisted, in 1862, in the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. He returned to this 
county in 1865, and in 1871 erected a steam saw mill near the Black Rock Narrows of 
the Wabash, and later he built a flouring mill, both of which he is now conducting; 
these mills are valued at $10,000; besides this property, he owns 320 acres of excel- 
lent land. Mr. Kiger took part in twenty-three engagements during the late war, 
including the course of Gen. Sherman across the State of Georgia, in all of which 
he was preserved from injury. He is a prominent Republican and worthy citizen. 

MARION' KIGER is a son of William G. and Harriet Kiger; is a native of 
Wabash County, Ind., and was born in 1850. While he was a youth, his family 
moved to a farm in Benton County, and afterward to Warren County, in 1861, near 
the Black Rock Narrows of the Wabash River, where his father built a saw mill, in 
1871, of which our subject was fireman. On an occasion, the boiler bursted, and he 
was thrown sixty feet, with but slight injury. In 1872, he was married to Sarah 
Watts, a daughter of John and Eliza (Lister) Watts,by which union have descended 
four ciiildren. Mr. Kiger owns a farm of sixty acres in this county, with good im- 
provements. In 1880, from failing health, he began to accpiire a knowledge of the 
general branches of education, and, upon examination, received a two years' license 
to teacii. He is now Nobh; Grand of Lone Star Lodge, No. 549, and also a revered 
citizen and leading Republican. 

WILLIAM S. McADAMS is a son of Valentine and Evaline McAdams, and was 
born in Warren County, Ind., in 1842. He was mostly engaged with his father on 
the home farm, and attended school but six months. Subsequently he was married 
to Sarah E. Waymire, a daughter of Alexander and Louisa Waymire. During the 
war h(' was drafted, and was exempted on account of an' accident previously sus- 
tained; but he was anxious to enlist. Mr. and Mrs. McAdams have three children. 
Mr. McAdams is a general farmer, yet he ha-i some good stock ; he is residing at 
present on his father-in-law's farm. He is a Republican, and was twice Township 
Trustee, having received at the last election a majority of 203. He is a Master 
Mason, and a member of Attica Lo Ige, No. 18. Mrs. McAdams is a member of the 
United Breihren Church. 

DAVID B. MILLER is a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind., was born in 1844, 
and is one of the family of Abraham and Elizabetli Miller. In 1862, during the late 
war, lie enlisted in the One Hundred and Six'teenth Indiana Volunteers, in which 
he served until 1863, when he returned home and resumed farming; this he has con- 
tinued, having a good farm of 100 acres. In 1867. he was married to Samantha J. 
Sibrell, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Sibreil, which union has been graced by 
five children. Mr. Miller is a general farmer and stock-raiser ; he belongs to the 
Republican party, and is a reputal)le citizen. 

BESTANxl MUNSON is a native of Warren County, Ind., born in the year 
1812, an 1 is a son of Sino and Elizabeth (Fenton) Munson. He received a current 



WARREN TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 187 

education and lived at home until 1863, when he enlisted in the Seventy-second In- 
diana Infantry, in wliich he served eiii^hleen inoiitlis, and afterward as a cavalry- 
man. He was in tlie engai^emenls of Chickainaui^a, Atlanta and several minor bat- 
tles, and was dischari^od in 18(55. In ISlUi, he was married to Edna Hartnon, a 
daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Harmon, by whicli union they have three chil- 
dren—William S.. born in 1808; Sarah E., born in 1873; and Geor;,'e, born in 1874. 
Mr. Munson is a Master Mason of Lodge 455. and is a mucii respected citizen. 

HAMILTON NOWLES is a .son of James and Susanna Nowles, and is a 
native of Ohio, born in the year 183»». While a youth, his father and family moved 
to Indiana and located in Fountain County, where his parents died shortly after. 
Our .sul).iect was instructed in the trade of farming by a family friend. In 1843, he 
learned l)lacksmithing, which trade he has since followed. In 1848, he was married 
to Delia Simpson, who died in 1866, leaving eight children ; and in 1868, Mr. Nowles 
married Harriet Chapman, who is yet living. Mr. Nowles served in the army to- 
ward the close of the war, in 1865, and belongs to the G. A. R. He is a much 
esteemed citizen. Mrs. Nowles is a member of the M. E. Church. 

S. M. KIED, M. D., was born August 37, 1813. in Shelby Coimty, Ohio, and is 
the only living child of William 11. and Susanna(Young) Kied; both nativesof Ohio; 
Mrs. Ried died March 30, 1863, and Mr. Ried married Miss Jean Henry. This new 
mother, who was au-excellcnt scholar, and fully appreciated the value of education, 
commenced to educate our subject, and, bj- her Ci.ristian mildness, won his obedi- 
ence and love. At the age of seventeen, S. M. Ried began teaching in the public 
schools, and in 1863, entered college in Delaware County, Ohio, but soon returned 
home to enter the service of his country, but was prevented therefrom by a .severe 
illness. He then began the study of medicine under Dr. W. B. Venard. of Platts- 
ville, Shelby County, Ohio. During 1865-66, he attended lectures at Columbus, 
Ohio, and at the close of the term was, by merit, chosen by the faculty surgeon to 
the St. Francis Hospital for one year. He then located at Independence, in this 
county, where he soon obtained a good practice. October 28, 1866, he was married 
to Miss M. J. Johnston, of Shelby County, Ohio, to which union were born three 
children — Frances A., W. Johnston and B. Lee; of the.se, the last only survives. B. 
Lee Hied was born February 4, 1876. Dr. Ried is a Master ^lason and an Odd Fel- 
low, being Past Grand Representative of Lodge 549. Dr. and Mrs. Ried are members 
of the United Brethern Church, and are exemplary Christian people; their life is 
charity. 

ALEXANDER E. RUSSELL,i8 a son of William and Mary (Elliott) Russell; is 
a native of Cumberland County, Penn., and was l)orn in 1814. He worked on the 
home farm until 1830, when he began to learn the trade of a carpenter, at which 
handicraft he has since labored. He pa.ssed .some time at Perrysburgh and at Woos- 
ter, Ohio. In the year 1840, he married Catherine Kinneard, born in Franklin 
County, Penn., in 1834,and daughter of John and Sarah Kinneard; seven boys and 
three girls have blessed their union. In 1853, Mr. Russell located in this county, 
where he has since resided, and where he owns 140 acres of superior land, the fruit 
of his unaided work, having had but $10 to begin the world after his marriage. He 
is an earnest Republican and a good citizen. 

PETKR A. SIBKELL. a son of Henry and Elizabeth Sibrell, was born in Ross 
County, Ohio, September 13, 1831. He assisted his father on the farm during the 
summers and attended school during the winters, until 1843, when his father 
removed to Carroll County. Ind. In 1846, onr subject returned to Ohio, and on 
August nth of that year married Elizabeth Edmonds, daughter of Robert and 
Margaret Edmonds; to which union were born four girls. After marriage, he 
purchased 160 acres in Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he settled and followed 
farming and stock-raising for twenty-live j'ears. About the year 1871, he exchanged 
his farm for 483 acres in this township. He is now living in the village, andliia 
children are married and living on farms given to them by him. Mr. Sibl-ell served 
in the Ninth Indiana Battery, and is a member of Post 46, G. A. R. He is an ardent 
Republican, and a liighlv esteemed citizen. 

JOHN VANDERBILT. is a .son of Abram II. and Julia A. Vanderbilt. and was 
born in New York, June 1, 1833. His youth was pas.sed in assisting his father on 
the farm and attending school until 185(1. when he began the carpenteriii"- liusiness 
at which ill- continued two years. In IH.53, he located in this township and worked 
for a farmer. an<l afterwards taught school. In lS5t, lie went to New York and 
remained until 1857, when be move<l to Kan.sas, where he assisted in laying out 
Prairie City, and entered eighty acres. Later, he traveled over Colorado." wcu-king 
at his trade and mining; he then realized as much as ^30 per daj'.but he paid ^15per 
we<'k for board, other necessaries being correspondingly high. In 1864. he traversed 
Montana with a .scouting party, and from 1865 to 18(5S» worked for the Midas Mining 
Company. In 1870, he went again to New York, where he remained until 1872, 

12 



188 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

when he moved to the West, and in 1879, came to this county, where he is still 
engaged in farming. Mr. Vanderbilt is a stanch Democrat, a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church and a second cousin of the great capitalist Wm. H. Vanderbilt, of 
New York. 

ALEXANDER WAYMIRE. a son of Valentine and Elizabeth Waymire, is a 
native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born February 15, 1816. While a youth, his 
father removed to North Carolina, where he farmed for a time, but returned to 
Ohio, and afterward came to this county in 1837. Here our subject was married, 
August 26, 1838, to Louisa Marlow, daughter of George and Editii Marlow, of this 
township. The union was crowned with four children, one of whom was made a 
prisoner in the late war, and confined in the Andersonville stockade, where he died 
in 1864. AI)Out 1866, he suffered a loss of about $3,000 by fire, from wliich, how- 
ever, by diligence, he soon recovered. Another and greater affliction was the loss 
of his wife, who died February 7. 1871. Soon after, he married a lady of Indepen- 
dence, where he now resides, having rented his farm of 313 acres to his son, the 
revenue of which is sufficient for his support. Mr. and Mrs. Waj'mire are mem- 
bers of the United Brethren Church, and are very generally esteemed. 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 



ROBERT C. ANDERSON is a native of Boone County, Ky., born January 8, 
1835, and is a son of William G. and Catherine (Cook) Andenson, the former a na- 
tive of Maryland, the latter of Pennsylvania. In 1830, the family moved to Foun- 
tain County, Ind., where his father had entered and cleared some land and erected 
a log cabin, in all of which Robert as a boy assisted. His father died when he was 
thirteen, when our subject attended school at Attica, and afterward learned the 
blacksmithing trade, at which he served four years with Joseph Peacock. After 
this, he commenced in general blacksmithing with John B. Campbell, to whom he 
sold the business after two years. In 1849, after merchandising at Painesville, he 
went to California over the plains, and there cut wood for ex-Gov. Booth, at |8 per 
day and board. He soon saved $3,000 by various labors, and in 1850 returned to 
Indiana and located in Warren County, where he farmed on rented land and pur- 
chased some in Illinois. November 33, 1854, he married Letitia Fryback, daughter 
of John and Letitia (Emerson) Fryback, of Pickaway County, Ohio. After mar- 
riage, he lived in Illinois one year, had a grocery in Attica some time, and in 
1858 came to this township and purchased a farm. He now has 234 acres, with 
good buildings and improvements. He is a Republican and an Odd Fellow. Mr. 
and Mrs. Anderson have ten children — Alice C., Llewellyn F., Edgar E., Robert 
C, Serena M., Anna L., James A., John F., Bessie N. and Susanna. 

WILSON BROWN was born in Warren Township, Warren Co., Ind., January 
7, 1836, and is the son of John B. and Hester (Hurley) Brown, wlio were among 
the earliest settlers of that county. The father died in 1856, the mother in 1846. 
Our subject was in attendance at the primitive log schoolhouse about one-third of 
each year, the other two-thirds being given to work on the farm. December 13, 
1859, he was married to Ann James, daughter of Banes E. and Malinda J. (Huff- 
man) James. Two children have followed this union — Lillie M. (born May 18, 1863), 
and Ida H. (born April 34, 1864). In 1867, Mr. Brown obtained furly acres in Sec- 
tion 3 of this township. He now has ninety acres, all in good cultivation. Mr. 
IBrown is a general farmer, but has some stock. He is a Democrat, and a substan- 
tial citizen. 

JOHN P. BROWN, son of John W. and Margaret (Pepper) Brown, was born 
in Warren County, Ind., September 30, 1840 ; his father was a native of Ohio and 
his mother of Maryland. J. P. Brown divided his time between the farm and 
school during his boyhood, and afterward continued labor thereon until December 
26, 1866, when he was married to Maria Grames, daughter of James and Elizabeth 
(Palmer) Grames ; this union was followed by four children — Eva J., Emma J., 
Melissa M. and Maria (deceased). After marriage Mr. Brown purcha.sed a forty- 
acre farm in Prairie Township, where he resided until 1873 ; this he sold, and bought 
forty acres in tliis township, with some improvements. Here his wife died Novem- 
ber 14, 1874. Mr. Brown is a Democrat, a consistent man and an upright citizen. 

WILLIAM H. BROWN was born in Pine Township, Warren Co., Ind., April 
20, 1846, and is a son of John W. and Margaret (Pepper) Brown. After a period of 
schoolgoing, our subject worked on the farm until he was twenty years of age. 
December 29, 1873, he was married to Melissa Grames, daughter of James and 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 189 

Elizabeth (Palmer) Grames, who died with hor infant child December 13, 1873. Mr. 
Bri)\vn afterward married, February 1. 1876, Elizabeth F. Pepper, l)orn August 25, 
1810, daughter of Jacob and Naomi (Frances) Pepper, both very early s<;tllers of 
Warren County. Mr. and Mr.-s. Brown have had two children— Nellie C , born June 
30, 1877, and VVilnier T., horn January 22. 1S83 (deceased). Mr. Hrown is an active 
Democrat, and lie and wife are greatl}' respected in the conununity. 

GEORGE D. BUTLER was l)orn in Lycoming County, Penn., Jime 18, 1835, and 
is a son of Robert and Sarah (F'arr) Butler, also a cousin of Gen. and Gov. B. F. Butler, 
of Massachusetts. George received but a small share of schooling, as he was 
required to assist his mother, after his father's death, who. in 1844, sold the farm 
and moved to this town.'ihip, where she purchased land, which our subject managed 
until his marriage, which occurred November 8, ISOO, to Minerva Van Heed, 
daughter of Levi R. and Amelia (Bowman) Van Reed, natives of Berks County, 
Penn., and early settlers in tiiis county. Mr. and ^Irs. Butler have four children- 
Clara C, Robert A., Levi V. R. and George C. In 1868, Mr. Butler purchased 
eighty acres, with some improvements, in this township, and now owns 296 acres, 
well improved, and as good land as the township affords. lie is a general auc- 
tioneer, and has made sales for twenty years. He is an active Democratic partisan, 
anil has been twice a candidate for Sheriff. He is an estimable citizen, and he and 
wife are generally respected. 

THOMAS CLINE was born in Ireland June 19, 1815, and was a son of William 
and Annie (Cline) Cline. Thomas passed a portion of his time at school and the 
rest in labor on the farm until March 3, 1844, at which date he was married to 
Catherine Doud, by whom he had nine children— John, Michael. Stephen, William. 
Bridget, Thomas (deceased), ^laria (decea.sed), Joseph and James. In 1846. he emi- 
grated to America, and after a short stay in Albany, N. Y., settled in Hamilton, 
Ohio, where he bought a home and followed farm work until 18(i8, when he came 
to this township, purchased 12 ' acres, and farmed and handled some stock; tlm farm 
he improved by erecting a good frame house, and in other ways. After a lingerin"' 
illness he died, June 19. 188' >, universally respected. He was a member of the 
Catholic Church, and a Democrat. He bequeathed his property to his family. 

EZRA J. COVEY is a son of Elisha and Lucy (Main) Covey, both natives of 
New York, born in 1796, and both yet living. Our .subject was born in Cayuga 
County, N. Y., March 25, 1817. From the age of fourteen, he attended an academy 
for five years, when he received a certificate to teach, and did so in the public schools 
for fi\^ years, when he entered and graduated from Hamilton College. From 1844 
to 1847, he studied for the ministry, and in the latter year was ordained bj' the 
Baptists. In 1851, he moved to Jackson, Mich., and preached there. He then 
traveled in several States, and while in West Virginia, in 1861. went to the field 
with the Twenty-first Ohio Regiment (the government did not then appoint Chap- 
lains), and in a skirmish received a slight wound in the arm. In 1.S62. he came to 
Indiana, and engaged in teaching and jireaching at Attica, luitil 1867, when he i)ur- 
chased land in this township, on whicli he built a brick house, and variously im- 
proved. July 4, 1869, he married Augusta A. Adams, daughter of Sumner and Lucy 
(Taylor) Adams, of Massachusetts. In addition to his farm of 185 acres, he has 
property in Attica and iand in Warren Township. He is an active Republican, has 
been twice Justice of the Peace, and is an Odd Fellow. 

WILLLV.M CROW was born in Lincoln County, Ky.. January 12, 1816, and is a 
son of Benjamm and Su-<anna (Sullivan) Crow; His father was i)orn at Frankfort 
Ky., D'cember25. 1790; his mother in Tennessee, March 22, 1793. When William' 
was four years of age the family moved to Bartholomew Count}-, Ind.. where hi.s 
father entered land and where William att'-nded school in a primitive log .school- 
house 12.xl4. In 1830, his father came to what is now Liijcrt}^ Township. and entered 
240 acres and made improvements, where his son assisted in the clearing. Decem- 
ber 11, 1831, he married Martha Young, born February 14, 1818, daughter of 
Matthewand .Sarali (Berry) Yoini'.;; to this imion were liorn nine children —Walter 
H., Clarissa J.. William H. (a soldiijr of Company K, Eighty-si.xth Indi.ma Regi- 
ment, who died in Louisville, Ky., from disease contrac-ted in the service), Marv M. 
(deceased), Benjamin F., Winfield S.. Horace G., infant boy (deceased) and Abra- 
ham L (deceased). After marriage, Mr. Vinw purchased eighty acres in Section 20, 
where he lived five years, then went to Iowa, and thence returned to this township 
and purchased forty acres in Section 26. He now h;is 560 acres, well improved! 
also Oil) acres in Jordan Township. Mr. C'row lost his wife March 13, 186?. He is 
a general farmer and stock raiser, a member of the Universalist Church, .a Master 
Miison, and has been County Commissioner and appraiser of real estate for five 
years; he was a Repul)lican, and is now a Greenbacker. Mr. Crow's great-grand- 
father was a Revolutionary soldier, as was al.so Ids grandfather, who was present at 
he surrender of Cornwallis. 



190 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 

JOHN" FETTERLINGwas a native of Berks County, Penn., where lie was bora 
February 14, 1832, and was the son of John and Catherine (Steflfey) Fetterling. The 
father of our subject was a fanner in Berks County. John Fetterlin'^ worked on 
the farm and attended school until he was twenty years of ai?', wh'-n he cams to 
this townsliip. where he worked diligently and saved his money, which enabled him 
to buy eiglity acres in White County. Djcemb-ir 21, 18(50, he was married to 
Fayetta Lark, a native of Berks County, Penn. To this union were born four chil- 
dren — Emma (deceased), Ervin, James and Ellen. Soon after his marriage, Mr. 
Fetterling purcliased a farm in this township, wliich he improved and on which he 
raised some stock. Hard labor was too much for Mr. Fetterling, and after a short 
sickness he expired, August 31, 1881, leaving his property to his family, who still 
live on and manage the farm. Mr. Fetterling was a Republican, and an excellent 
husband and father. 

WILLIAM IJICKMAN was born in Greene County, Ohio. September 18, 1826, 
and is the son of William and Mary (Lowe) Hickman. Wlien our subject was three 
years of age, his father moved to this county and entered land. Here William ob- 
tained some schooling and remained until his marriage, November 2, 1847, to Mary 
J. Davis, daughter of Mahlon and Ann (Smith) Davis, of this county. Their union 
has been blessed by twelve children— infant girl (deceased), George W. (deceased), 
Rachel A. (deceased), David J., infant boy (deceased), infant giri (deceased), Will- 
iam C, John J., Francis A., Maria J., Louis S. and Sarah E. Mr. Hickman con- 
tinued to farm until 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-sixth Indiana 
Volunteers. Soon after going to the tield, he was injured in the right eye by a twig 
of underbrush. He was then detached for duty as teamster, and was present at 
Stone River, Kenesaw Mountain, and other engagements. He was mustered out 
June 6, 1865. At that time, the sight of the right eye was lost. On returning to his 
family, he resumed work on the farm he had purchased before the war. His left 
eye is also affected, and he is almost blind. He receives a small pension from the 
Government, and has a good farm of 158 acres. He is a member of the G. A. R. 

JOHN P. HUNTER is a son of James and Sarah (Higgins) Hunter, and was 
born December 12^ 1818. in Franklin County, Ohio. His father was born in Ireland 
in 1780, his mother in Maryland in 1800. Both emigrated to Ohio at an early day, 
where they married in 1817, and farmed on Big Darby Creek for eight years, and 
afterward on Little Darby Creek. John P. Hunter received but little education in 
youth, having to give most of his time to his father in farm work. May 24, 1842, 
he married Elizabeth Anderson, born in Madison County, Ohio, November 17, 1815, 
daughter of William and Susan (Crumpton) Anderson. To this union were born 
eight children— James M., Harriet, Susan, William A., Uszas, Matilda. Almira and 
Arabella. In 1843, Mr. Hunter moved to Jordan Township, Warren Co., Ind. He 
was President of the board that organized said township, and Justice of the Peace 
for nin? years. In 1870, he purchased forty acres in this township, where he now 
has 2,000 acres, in good improvement, where he deals largely in stock, in addition 
to general farming. Mr. Hunter is a Republican, and religiously a deist and spirit- 
ualist. He is versed in history and astronomy, and greatly esteemed by his 
neighbors. 

BENJAMIN JUDY, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Osborn) Judy, was born 
in Clark County, Ohio, December 22, 1821 ; the former born in Kentucky in 1794, 
the latter in Virginia about the same year. The father of our subject was a farmer, 
who died when Benjamin was eight months old. After residing with his mother 
until he was twelve years old, he was bound to an uncle. When he was twenty-one 
his uncle died ; he then received a horse, saddle, bridle and f4n0 from his father's 
estate. In 1842, he went to Coles County, 111., and entered 160 acres, and thence 
to Ohio, where, December 14, 1843, he married Nancy Goodfellow, daughter of 
Moore and Isabella (Nicholson) Goodfellow, of Clark County, Ohio. By this mar- 
riage, they had one child — Isabella (deceased). In 1844, he sold his farm and moved 
to Noble County, Ind., where he purchased 120 acres. Mrs. Judy died March 26, 
1851. She was a member of the Baptist Church. In 1852, he sold his land and 
came to this township, where he bought 100 acres, with some improvements. Sep- 
tember 23, 1853, he married Elizabeth Briar, born January 22, 1831, daughter of 
George and Letitia (Mitchell) Briar. They have five children — Isaac G., Jennie C, 
Augustus, (Jynthia A. and William. Mr. Judy has 1,100 acres of improved land, 
with fine brick house, swinging gates, etc. — a model farm. He raises some short- 
horn cattle, and has some imported sheep. He is a Republican. He prides himself 
on the sacredness of his word. He is the oldest renter in the county, having rented 
theBoyer pasture of 240 acres for twenty-eight years 

JAMES McCLAFLIN is a native of Ohio, where he was born December 9, 
1837, and is a son of Arnold and Esther McClaflin, both natives of Vermont, and 
early settlers of Ohio. The father of our subject moved afterward to White County, 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 191 

Ind, where lie farmed and worked at housc-buildin;?. James assisted his father 
and went to school until 1^50. when he cam" to this county and followed farming. 
Beinir economical, he was soon able to purchase a half-section in Jordan Township, 
and in 1871 he l)ouj^iit Kit) acres in I/ibi-rty Townsliip, haviiiif now in Liberty :200 
acres, with some improvements. Mr. MiClatlin was never married; he prefers the 
life of a bachelor. His father (Arnold McClaflin) died in 1848, his mother in 1881. 

WILLI.VM B. OWEX.S was l)orn in Monl^^)m.'ry County, Ky., September 7. 
\8'2'S. and is a son of John and Mary (Ewen) Owen^. AI)out 18"2"), liis father moved 
to Prei)le County, Ohio, and afterward to this township, where William B. attended 
school in a loij; biiildini;: of the time, and wiicn Indians were abundant. lie also 
did farm work for his father. yepteml)er 27, is KJ. he married Lucy Kakeslraw, of 
Edi^ar County, 111., born April 15, 183o, daui^hti^r of Thomas and Eliza J. (Owens) 
Rakestraw, by which marriauje they had eleven children — Lydia A. (deceased). Eliza 
J., Harvey M., Mary O., Amanda A., Frances L., Lucinda F., Tillman C, Minnie 
A. (deceased), Melissa B. and an infant boy (<li;'eas'.!d). After mirria'.?e. Mr. Owens 
worked in Williamsport. and in 1S)1 purchas'.'d a farmof eii^hty -.vr'n in Lil)erty 
Township, wliere he lived until 18.")7. when he moved to Iowa and farmed until 18ol ; 
he then return-dto tiiis township, built a lo'.^ho>ise and followed i^nieral farniinLcand 
stock-raisin.;, dealini^ lari^ely in hoi?s. He has ISJ^ acres, of which 10) are in i^ood 
cultivation, with j^ood iioiise and outbaildinijs. Mr. Owjns is a Democrat, and a 
worthv citizen. 

PETER W. SCHOONOVER is a native of this township, born April 4. 1853, 
and is the son of James and Susanna (Chrisman) Schoonover; the father born in 
Clark County, Ohio, December 26, 181it. James Schoonover came to this township 
with his brother when nineteen years of a.u;e, wiiere, December 26, 1889, he married 
Susanna Chrisman, daujj:hter of Peter and Sarah (Stout) Chri.sman, bj^ whom he 
had nine children — Sarah A. (deceased), Joseph F. (deceased), Benjamin F. (de- 
ceased), Mary J., Francis M. (deceased). William J. (deceased), Peter \V., James S. 
and Louisa B. Shortly after marriai^e, he purchased eighty acres in Section 21, to 
which he added, unaided, until he had several hundred acres. In 1858, he built a 
•rood liouse, which Avas burned in 1874. He died September 8, 1818, universally re- 
gn tt( d. Peter W. Sclioi nover went to sch( ol nnlil ab( ut ^ev(nt( en }( nrs (Id, and 
afterward attended the Attica IIij.;h Scliool. In IblH, he was giv( n a certificate to 
teach, and he taught in the public schools during i878 and 1874. December 25, 1873, 
he married Amanda M. Wilson, daughter of William and Amanda (Pearson) Wil- 
son. To this iinion succeeded three children— Lizzie M. (born September 5, 1875), 
Gemmie B. (born September 14. 1877). and James W. (born October 13, 1882). Mr. 
Schoonover is a Republican, and in 1880 was elected Justice of the Peace. He is a 
general farmer, raising some stock, with 185 acres of good land and good improve- 
ments. Mrs. Schoonover is a member of the M. E. Church. 

ZARA T. STEARNS is the son of Zara and Mary (Smalley) Stearns; the former 
was born November 22, 1794; he was a soldier of 1812; the latter in 1798. Our sub- 
ject was born in Vermillion County, 111., .Inly 15, 1840. When si.\ j'cars of age, his 
father moved to Texas, where Zara T. attended school and herded cattle. After a 
time, the family returned to Vermillion County, 111., where Zara T. taught school 
some time. In 1857, the family came to this townsliip. In 1862, our subject enlist- 
ed in Company F, Seventy-.second Indiana Volunteers, and was made Sergeant. 
He was in the battles of Hoover's Gap, .Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Atlanta and 
Chickamauga. He was also a clerk for four months. His regiment was mounted 
at Nashville. In the fight of Okalomo. Miss., he was very nearly captured, and 
was in the saddle twenty days while pursuing Wheeler's Cavalry. After .service in 
many engagements and " hair-breadth 'scapes," he was discharged, July 24, 18()5, 
when he resumed farming. Octolier 4. ISIW!, he was married to Nancy Barrett, born 
April 17, 1812, daughter of Moses and Nancy (Wilson Barrett, by wliom he has four 
children — Mary Maud, Clarence C, William B. and Alice E. Mr. Stearns has a 
fine farm of 185 acres; he also rai.ses .some stock. He is a Republican, and a mem- 
ber of the (i. A. R. In 1880 and 1882, he was elected Township Trustee. His 
mother resides with him. aged eighty-five, and is well and active. 

PHILANDER T. STUMP, born May 6, 1837. is a son of Joseph and Mary 
(Reed) Stumj); the former born in Wayne County, Ohio, in IHOO, the latter in 1801. 
In 1829, the father of our subject entered forty acres in Fountain County, Ind., on 
which he built a cabin, and which he improved. This he sold, and purchased 160 
acres in Medina Townsliip, in this county. Fiv(! years later, he punMi.ised a f.irin 
in Liberi}' Township, on which he lived and farmed. Philander T. Stump worked 
at the plow and attended school three; months of each year until his marriage, April 
17, 1861, to Mary E. Van Reed, born Deci-rnber 11, 1812, daughter of Levi II. and 
Amelia (Bowman) Van Reed. This union was blessed vvitii ten children — Lillie E., 
Clara M., Dora B., Amelia M. (deceased), Sarah C, Lizzi6 M., Mary E., Bertha V., 



/ 

1^2 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Florence and John H. Mr. Stump resides on the old farm. He raises some stock, 
is an active Republican, and is very generally esteemed. 

JOHN VAN REED, son of Levi R. and Amelia (Bowman) Van Reed, was born 
in this township May 39, ISIS. The parents of John came hither from Berks 
County, Penn., where they were born, in 1836, and entered land. His father had 
accumulated 17,000 acres, and died April 27, 1877, the mother February 21, 1873 ; 
he was a member of the German Lutheran and she of the Presbyterian Church. 
John attended school one-fourth of each year and took care of the stock until his 
.sixteenth year. After attending terras of instruction at Lafayette and Stockwell, 
he commenced farming for himself on forty acres rented from his father. He was 
married, December 17, 1874, to Zillah Burr, born January 15, 185(5, daughter of 
Nelson and Sarah (Butcher) Burr, wliich union gave issue to two children — Nelson 
E., born Noveml)er 4, 1875, and Earl, born June 25, 1879. After marriage his 
father gave him the use of 160 acres. In 1881, he purchased eighty-flve acres, in- 
cluding the Marshall homestead, where he now resides. The father of Mrs. Burr 
was born in New Jersey in 1813, and moved to Ohio at an early age, where his 
mother died. In 1845, he married Hope Mantle, came to this township, and bought 
a grist-mill on Pine Creek, known as Burr's Mills. There his wife died, and, on 
April 1. 1855, he married Sarah Butcher. Mr. Burr sold his mill in 1859, and pur- 
chased the farm on which he died March 28, 1883. 

DR. ROBERT H. WICOFF, son of John and Margaret (Cassell) WicoEf, was 
born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 25, 1836. He attended school in boyhood, 
and also worked for his father in the carpenter shop, until the family moved to 
Williams County. Here our subject attended an academy until he was si.xteen years 
old, after which, having obtained a teacher's certificate, he divided his time between 
teaching and farming. At the age of twenty he commenced to read medicine with 
Dr. Turner. He was married, April 25, 1860, to Irene J. McConnell, daughter of 
John R. McConnell. of Williams County. Ohio, to which union were born four 
children — John B., Lucy (deceased), Mary M. and Irene J. In 1863, he moved to 
Michigan, and associated himself with Dr. Armstrong in reading and practicing 
medicine. During 1865 and 1866 he attended Rush Medical College, Chicago ; he 
then removed to Rainsville, Ind., and began practice. Mrs. Wicoff died October 29, 
1869. In 1876, he purchased 120 acres in this township ; this he improved and now 
manages in connection with his practice. In 1877, Dr. Wicoff married his second 
wife, from whom he is now divorced, and lives with his three children. He is 
highly esteemed by his neighbors. 



JORDAN TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN H. DAY was born in Preble County, Ohio, June 9, 1828, and is the 
fourth child of John N. and Ann (Worthington) Day, natives of Kentucky and 
Ohio respectively. John N. Day was the son of John Day, who was of English 
descent, and who settled in Kentucky in an early day, and moved to Ohio in 1802, 
settling near Eaton, where he remained until his death. He had seven children, 
among them four sons — William, John N., Samuel and Nicholas. John N. Day 
(father of subject) was born in Kentucky in 1796, and moved with his parents to 
Ohio, where, March 3, 1820, he married Ann Worthington, who was born in Ohio, 
m 1802. In 1831, he moved to Fountain County, Ind., where they spent the 
remainder of their lives. His wife died in 1846, and he survived her four years. 
They had the following children— William, Mary, Lovina, John H., George, Juliet 
A., Joseph, James, Ellen, Westley and Theodore. John H. Day was married in 
Warren County, Ind., February 3, 18.53, to Delphine, a daughter of Curtis and Ann 
Newell, and born in Fountain County, Ind., February 18, 1835. They have had 
thirteen children— Ella (deceased), Cordelia (deceased), Laura, Lawrence N., Luella, 
Theodore, Charles, Horace, Wilmer, Emma (deceased). Eva (deceased), Elmore (de- 
ceased) and Cecil. Shortly after marriage, he settled in this county. He owns 780 
acres of land, an<l is Trustee of the township. 

ABNER GOODWINE, was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., "July 10, 1826, 
and is the son of James and Sarah Goodwine, natives of Kentucky and Virginia 
respectivcdy. James Goodwine was born in 1780, and was of English descent. His 
father, John Goodwine. settled in Kentucky in an early day.and there died. James 
married in Kentucky Elizabeth Snyder, by whon- he had seven children — Eliza- 
beth, Thomas, James. Indiana, Martlia. Harrison and John W. He moved to Jack- 
son County, Ind., where his first wife died. He then married Mrs. Sarah Logan, 
widow of William M. Logan, and daughter of John Shumaker. By this marriage, 



JORDAN TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 193 

there was one child — Abner. James subsequently moved to Bartholomew County, 
Ind., and in 1828 came to this county, where he died March 12. 1851. lie was a 
pioneer of Warren County, and an extensive land owner. Ills wife lived with her 
children until her death, June 17. 1872. Abner Goodwine was married in this 
county, October ;}0, 1851, to Miss Barbara J. Pence; born in Bartholomew County, 
Ind.. October 19, 1830; and a daughter of Georire and Mary Pence. They have had 
twelve children— George (deceased), .Mary C., Xewlon C. Bell (deceased), Sarah E., 
Clara V., Frank S., Olive, Nora, Cora. Leola J. and Harry M. Mr. Goodwine is a 
Iarg;laiil own jr and slojk dealer. His farm is wjU improved; aad he has a 
fine l)rick house. 

HORACE G. GOODWINE is a native of Warren County, Ind., where he was 
born February 9. 1845. His parents are named respectively James and Sophia 
(Buckles) Goodwine. of Pike Township, Warren County. Horace is one of a family 
of twelve children. He was married in this county November 8, 1874, to Mary A., 
daui^liter of Eli and Cyrena Briiru^s. a native of this county, born September 29, 1856. 
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Goodwine has been favored with three children— Ora J., 
Edna L. and Arley O. Mr. Goodwine is a very promising and much esteemed young 
man. 

LUTHER JONES was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 8, 1840, and 
is the tifth of si.\ children born to Robert and Elizabeth (Logan) Jones, natives of 
New Jersey and Hamilton County. Otiio. respectively. Robert Jones was boni 
September 17. 1795. His father, James Jones, settled in New Jersey, in an early 
day, where he married Elizabeth Todd, by whom he had nine children— John, Katie, 
Polly. Ann. Robert, Enoch, Lj^lia. William and James. He afterward moved to 
Ohio, where he died. Roliert Jones moved with liis parents to Hamilton County. 
Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Logan; who Avas born October 19. 1807. They 
had the following children — Hezekiah, William. Sarah E., David M.. Luther and 
Julia A. After marriage, he settled on his father's old farm in the same county, 
where his wife died January 14, 18(52. In 18(i8. he moved to Warren County, Ind., 
where he died December 22. 180(3. Luther Jones came with his father to this 
county in 1863. February 3. 1870. he married in Hamilton Countj'. Ohio, Susie, a 
daughter of Ledwell and Elizabeth Jones: .she was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, 
December 0, 1853. They have two children— William W. and Julia M. Shortly 
after his marriage he returned to this county, and settled on the farm purchased 
by his father, where he has since remained. 

CHARLES G. McCLAFLIN is a native of this county, and was born August 12. 
1856. He is the elder of the two sons of Gordon B. and Catherine (High)McClaflin. 
of Williams{)ort, Ind. About the year 1847, Gordon B. McClatlin removed to this 
county, and settled on the Walnut Grove Farm, and in 1854 removed to that of 
which our subject is now resident; thence he removed to Williamsport, where he and 
family now are; they have two children — Charles G. and James E. Our subject, 
Charles G.. was married in this county, September 5. 1878, to Alice K.. daughter of 
Peter and Sarah Zimmer. a native of Wiscon in. born April 11. 18,58, which union 
was favored with one child— Grace A., born in this county October 5. 1879. Mr. 
McClatlin is a very excellent and promising 3'oung man. 

JOHN PUGH was born in Lawrence County. 111.. March 18, 1826. His father. 
George Pugh, was born in South Carolina. August 22, 1789, and was ason of John and 
Nancy Pugh, of Scotch and Welsh descent, who at an early period settled in South 
Carolina. After the death of John Pugh his wife removed to Tennessee, where 
George Pugh and Nancy Long were joined in wedlock, and whence they emigrated 
to Lawrence County, III., where Nancy Pugh died. In lH;i2. Mr. PulMi married Miss 
Elizabeth Anderson, and removed to this county, where he died. He was father to 
.seventeen children— Wilford, Sarah. Eliza and Betsy A. — by Ids tirst wife ; John, 
George, Mary J.. William M., Celinda, James M., Rebecca, Washington IL, Joseph, 
Henry II.. Caroline. Martha and James B. by his last wife. John Pugh came to 
this county with his father in 1832. When about twenty-three years old, he learned 
blacksmitiiing. at which he worked three years. Mr. Pugh was married February 
10, ]N,53. to Nancy p]tnire. ijorn in Ohio Noveml)er 9, is;{2. and died August s. INSO. 
leaving nine children — Sarah F. (deceased), (ieorge A. (deceased). Florin H.. Wil- 
liam I), (deceased). Forman (deceased). Alvin L.. Erhnund E., Edwin E. (deceased) 
and Mary L. In 1877, Mr. I*ii<;h removed to his i)re,sent home. 

DAVID H. SAUNDERS was born in Norfolk Co., England, February 13, 1830. 
His father. John Saunders, was a native of the same place, born October 20. 1802, 
whose parents were John and .Mary Saunders, who were born and died in England! 
John, father of David, being the only one who enngrated to America. He married 
in England, in IS-JI. .Maria IJaiMier. i)orM in England in 1804. In 1837, they moved 
to this State, lived in Fort Wayne and Lafayeite, also in Danville, 111., where his 
wife died Ai)ril 26, 1842. He afterward married Susan Cozart, and about 1847 



194 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

removed to a farm near Danville, where he died January 13, 1883, the father of 
eight children: By his first wife— William C, David (deceased) David H.. Mark. 
James and Benjamin F. (deceased) ; by his second wife— Sarah and Julia. Our sub- 
ject, David H. Saunders, was married, September 16, 1852, to Mary M. Stipp, and 
afterward purchased a farm and settled in Vermillion County, 111., whence he 
removed to Covington. Fountain Co., lud.. wliere his wife died December 4, 1877, 
leaving three children — Maria R. (deceased), Henry J. and Nellie M. In 1881, June 
28, he married Mrs. Rebecca J. Cronkhite, widow of William F. Cronkhite. Mr. 
Saunders soon after removed to this county; of which he is a much-respected citizen. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

GEORGE W. SMITH was born in Vermillion County, Ind., December 9, 1838, 
and is the eldest of eight children born to James W. and Eliza (Pugh) Smith. 
James W. Smith was born in Warren County, Ohio, March 38, 1818, and wlien 
young lived with his grandfather. In 1837, he was married, and has since lived in 
Vermillion County, Ind., Edgar County, Ills., Warren County, Ind., Kansas, and 
since 1873 has resided in this county. His children were as follows : George W"., 
Frances M., Maria A., Harriet A., James W.. John M., William F. and Joseph L. 
George W. Smith, in 1863, enlisted in Company K, Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, 
and served until February 33, 1864. He re-enlisted in same company, and served 
until the close of the war. April 9, 1867, he married, in this county, Julia A. Jones, 
who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, JSTovember 5, 1843, and is ajdaugliter of 
Robert and Elizabeth Jones. They have two children— Robert A. and Nettie J. 
After his marriage, he settled on a farm, which he had previously bought in Ver- 
million County, 111. In 1876, he returned to this county, and now owns 800 acres of 
fine land, all of which he has acquired by his own industry. 

J. W. WARRICK was born in Fountain County, Ind., October 37, 1848, and is 
the third of six children born to John and Keziah Warrick, both natives of Warren 
County, Ohio. They were born June 30, 1819, and August 9, 1835, respectively, and 
were married in Fountain County, Ind., in 1846, and afterward settled in the same 
county. They have had the following children — Ezra, Huldah O., James W., 
Sylva U., Mary B. and Birdie. J. W. Warrick attended the district schools until 
sixteen years old, then entered the Union Christian College at Merom, Ind., and 
two years later the Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. In 1873, he studied at 
the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, taking a full law course, and received the 
degree of L.L. B. In June, 1874, he was admitted to the bar, and began practising 
his profession at Indianapolis, continuing until 1877. He then moved to the farm 
in this county, which he still owns. He was married in this county to Mary A. 
Rogers, April 20, 1875. Mrs. Warrick was born in this county March 34, 1854. 
They have three children — Dole R.. Ira C. and Edison J. Mr. Warrick is a member 
of the M. E. Church, also of the Masonic fraternity. He is much respected by his 
fellow-citizens. 



MEDINA TOWNSHIP, 



CHARLES J. DAWSON, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of Thomas and 
Sarah (James) Dawson, and was born in Warren County, Ind., in 1836; His early 
education was obtained from the pioneer schools, after which he attended Harts- 
ville Seminary in Bartholomew County, acquiring at that institution a good prac- 
tical education. His parents were among the early settlers of Medina Township, 
having located there as early as 1836, when there were woods on all sides of tliem 
and settlers were few and scattering. C. J. Dawson was engaged as stock broker 
during the rebellion, but has since been engaged in other pursuits. He now owns 
428 acres of well improved land. In 1863, his marriage with Miss Mary Munson, 
daughter of Orin and Margaret Munson, was solemnized. Mr. Dawson is a Repub- 
lican in politics. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and are 
well known and highly respected citizens. 

JAMES FOSTER, a native of the Buckeye State, was born in Madison County 
in 1837, and is a son of Lackey and Elizabeth Foster. When but three years old, 
he came with his parents to this county. He received only a limited education, as 
the advantages of schooling were very meager in those early days. In 1857, he was 
united in marriage with Eliza J. McKinnis, daughter of Philip and Margaret McKin- 
nis, and to this marriage six children — three boys and three girls— have been born. 
Mr. Foster owns a farm of 500 acres, with good buildings, farming implements and 
convenient water privileges. He is much interested in stock-raising, and thus far 
has been very fortunate in securing a good breed for his farm. Mr. Foster is a 
Republican in politics, and is a respected citizen of the county. 



MEDINA TOWNSHIP— WARREN COUNTY. 195 

JOHX FOSTER, son of Lackey and Elizabeth Foster, is a Iloosier by birth, 
born in Warren County in 183."). He received a common school eduealion. Enlist- 
ed in the service of his country in the Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1863, 
and after serving two years came liome and engai^ed in agricultural pursuits. He 
now owns a farm of 306 acres of good land, well improved, and is employed in gen- 
eral fanning and stock-raising. In 18(JT. iiis marriage. with Aiuia K. Woodhams, 
daughter of George and Anna Woodhams, was consummated, and l)y her he is the 
father of four children. Mr. Foster is a Republican in politics, and takes an active 
interest in all the movements of his part}'. Mrs. Foster is a member of the M. E. 
Church, and the family of John Foster is among the best families of Medina 
Township. 

JO.SEPH H. GRAY, M. D.. one of the rising young physicians of Warren 
County, is a sou of Joseph and Eli/.abetii (Myers) (iray. and was born in Wayne 
Couni\-, Ind., in IS-'ji). He received a good i)ractical education in youth, and in 
1877 went to Dublin, Ind., where he attended two terms of the higii school of that 

Filace. After this, he was clerk in a drug store until 1880, when he entered the 
ndiana Eclectic Medical College at Indianapolis, where, after two years of hard 
work, he received his diploma as M. D. February 8, 1882, he located at Green Hill, 
where, by close attention to his profession and gentlemanly conduct, he has ac- 
quired a good practice, in which he has been very successful. Dr. Gray is a Re- 
publican in politics, a member of the United Brethren Church and a highlj' respect- 
ed citizen. 

WILLIAM A. HOCK, a native of the Buckeye State, was born in Preble Coun- 
ty in 1825. sliortly after which his parents, Jacob and Sarah (Sellers) Hock, emi- 
grated to Indiana, locating in Fountain County, where he remained until seventeen 
years of age. In 1842, he began learning the trade of wagon-making, and this has 
ever since been his occupation. His wife. Iluldah L. McClure, was born in Darke 
County, Ohio, in 182"), and she is a daughter of Samuel and Anne McClure. To her 
marriage with Mr. Hock a family of eight children have been born. In 18G3, they 
removed to Independence, Warren County, from where Mr. Hock, in 1865, enlisted 
in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Indiana Volunteers. After the war, he returned 
home, worked at his trade until 1876, then removed to Green Hill, where he owns 
good property. He is a strong Republican politically, and Mrs. Hock is a member 
of the United Brethren Church. 

JOHN W. JAMES, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of David and Jane (Hurst) 
James, and was born in Warren County, Ind., in 1850. He received a good practi- 
cal education, and was engaged in helping his father in the store at Independence 
until twenty-one years old, since when he has been doing for himself. He has a 
farm of 100 acres in Warren County, on which he has erected a fine residence with 
convenient and comfortable surroundings. Mr. James takes an active interest in all 

Solitical issues of the day, and is a radical Republican in politics. He married 
fancy J. Thompson, daughter of George W. and Elizabeth Thompson, in 1870; they 
are the parents of one child, and the mother is a member of the United Brethern 
Church. 

ANSON B. McADAMS, one of the enterprising young men of Medina Town- 
ship, was born at Green Hill, Ind., in 1856. aiul is a Si)n of Valentine and Eveline 
McAdams. His youthful days were passed in assisting his parents on the farm and 
attending the district .schools of his neighborhood. On attaining his majority, he 
began farming for himself near Independence, but, in 1878, Ik; began attending 
Green Hil! .Seminary, teaching school and reading law. In politics. Mr. McAdams 
is a stanch Republican. He was married, in 1HS2, to Miss 'Flora Bailey, a daughter 
of H. J. and Leah Bailey and a member of the United Brethren Church. 

GEORGE W. NOLIN, is a son of Thom.is and Jane Nolin, and was born in 
Ohio, in 1828. In 1830, he moved to Fountain County, and in 1850, to Benton Coun- 
ty, Ind.. where he purchased 20i> acres; and in the same year married .Miley Stone, 
daughter of Thomas Stone; she died in 1H51, and Mr. Nolin next married Nancy 
Lank, in 18.55, who died in 1857; his third marriage was to Eliza .Munson, widow of 
Sino Mun.son, and a daughter of Thoin:is .inii Elizalx'th Littrell. Mr. Nolin has 
properly in Green Hill valued at $70(t. He is an upright man and esteemed citizen. 
Mrs. Nolin is a memi)er of the United Brethren Church. 

GEORGE W. THOMP.SON, a son of Jasper and Elizal)eth Thompson, was born 
in Ross County, Oiiio, in 1825, and when twelve years of age, came with his parents 
to Warren County, when', in 1848, he was uniied in marriage with Elizabeth, a 
daughter of Joseph and Eleanor (Bailey) Tinuiions. He and wife began married 
life after the manner of pioneers, witlmut !iny pecuniary means, Init sup|>lied with 
plenty of energy and determination; by hard work and economy, they have secured 
a good home and a well improved farm of 2.50 acres, which is supplied with an excel- 
lent grade of stock of all kinds. Mr. Thompson is a stalwart Republican, and since 



196 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

1882, has served as Road Superintendent of his township. Having had one leg 
broken in an accident, he is somewhat disabled, as tlie injured limb is two and one- 
half inches shorter than the other. Throughout his long residence in Warren Coun- 
ty, Mr. Thompson has become prominently identifii;d with its best educational, 
political and religious interests. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen, the 
father of seven cliildren, and he and wife are members of the United Brethren 
Church. 

WILLIAM B. VICK, M. D., a native of (luilford County, N. C, was born in 
1827, and is a son of William and Elizabeth Vick. When eight years old, he be- 
came a resident of Indiana, learned the shoe-maker's trade, at which he w^orked un- 
til 1818, and the succeeding year was united in marriage with Sarah Hershman, who 
was born in Hamilton County, Ind. , in 1830, and who is a daughter of Jacob and 
Sarah Hershman. After receiving a good English education in youth, he began 
the study of medicine in 1853, under the advisement of Dr. John Alter, near Wol- 
cott, Ind., and then attended two courses of lectures at the Fort Wayne Medical 
College. Succeeding this, he continued his studies under Dr. Lacey for two years, 
and then began the practice of his profession at Rocktield, Carroll Co., Ind. He 
then removed to Tippecanoe County, near La Fayette, where he continued practic- 
ing until his location at Green Hill In 1875. In 1881, Dr. Vick graduated from the 
Indiana Eclectic Medical College, and he is one of the well established physicians 
of the county. He is a Master Mason, of Green Hill Lodge, No. 455, Past Grand 
Representative of Tippecanoe Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a Republican in politics. 
He and wife are the parents of eight children, and Mrs. Vick is a member of the 
M. E. Church and the Rebecca Lodge of Odd Fellows at La Fayette. 

WILLI A^I T. WAGNER, son of John M. and Margaret (Day) Wagner, was 
born in this county in 1836. He received but a common school education, chose 
farming as his vocation through life, and at present owns a good farm of 330 acres. 
In 1855, he married Margaret E., a daughter of Young F. and Rebecca Turman, 
and to their union have been born a family of six children. Mr. Wagner is among 
the enterprising men of Medina Township, is a Republican, and a Master Mason of 
Green Hill Lodge, No. 455. Wagner's Grove, situated near his residence, was 
named in honor of his father. 

HENRY WOODHAMS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of England, and 
was born in Sussex County in 1840. About the year 1850, his parents, George 
and Anna (Brooker) Woodhams, emigrated to the United States, and soon after 
this found a home near Pond Grove, in Warren County, Ind., where George Wood- 
hams is yet living. Since being a resident of Warren County, Henry Woodhams 
has been chiefly employed in agricultural pursuits, and now possesses 133 acres of 
good land in Medina Township. When our country was imperiled in 1861, Mr. 
Woodhams enrolled his name in her defense as a member of the Tenth Indiana Vol- 
unteers, and served in all the important movements of that regiment until he was 
discharged in 1864. He is a Republican, and was married in 1868 to Lucy C. Tur- 
man, who has borne him a family of six children. 



J. Q. ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 



ZIMRI ATKINSON (deceased), was born in Greene County, Ohio, December 31, 
1837, and was one of the twelve children born to Thomas and Frances (Head) Atkin- 
son, both natives of Ohio, and of German and Irish descent. When a lad, Zimri 
Atkinson moved with his parents to Benton County, Ind., where he received an 
academic education, and was employed in farming at home until he was twenty-one 
years of age. August 30, 1857, he was married to Mary J. Buckle3^ of Benton 
County, Ind., born November 17, 1839, daughter of Stephen and Sarah E. (Wake- 
man) Buckley, both early settlers of said county. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson had six 
children, four of whom are living. After marriage, Mr. Atkinson moved to Warren 
Township and purchased land, on whicti he lived ten years; this he sold, and pur- 
chased 420 acres in this township, which was his home until death, February 26, 
,1882. Mr. Atkinson had been County Commissioner for eleven years, and had 
amassed a handsome property; he was a Freemason, a Knight of Honor, and in 
politics a Republican; he was also a lamented citizen. Mrs. Atkinson is living on 
the home farm. 

JOHN BLIND, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the pioneers of this county; 
was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 9, 1834, and is the second child of the family 
of John and Catherine (Wagner) Blind, both natives of Germany. The father of 



J. Q. ADAMS TOWNSnir—WARREN COUNTY. 107 

our subject emiirnitccl to tho United States and settled in Ross County, Ohio, wlien 
ii younirnian, and worked at farniiiiu: on sliares, andniarricd. In 1H88, be moved to 
Medina T<iwnship, Ind.. where lie entered 160 acres, which he improved, and on 
which he resided until his deatli, January 20, 18(5'3, aged si.vty eii,dU; Mrs. Blind died 
July 7. \8H-2. Mr. Blind owned at his death 400 acres of land. The sui)jecl of this 
sketch farmed with his father, the latter years on shares, until he reached the a^^e 
of twenly-eight. In 1S5;3, he l)oughl 1(50 a(,Tes in this township, and later 110 more, 
on which lie has since residi'd. comprising 270 acres, all well improved. lie was 
married February, 1847, to Harriet (rodfrey, a native of Tippecanoe County; to this 
marriage followed two children, but one of whom survives — Marcellus Mrs. Blind 
died July, 1849. Mr. Blind next married, December 16. 18.51, Prances M. Gwinn. of 
Greene County, Ohio, by whom he had four children — Benjamin F., George N., 
Charles O. and Anna M. Mr. Blind is a Kepublican, and be and wife belong to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

BENJAMIN F. BRIER, farmer and stock-raiser, is the twelfth of the thirteen 
children of I.saac and Mary (West) Brier; the former a native of Pennsylvania, the 
latter of Noth Carolina, and of Scotch and Welsh descent. Benjamin was born in 
Pine Township. Warren Co., Ind.. May 28, 1834. His father emigrated to Ohio, 
when a young man. where be married and followed agricultural pursuits. About 
1831, he moved to Pine Township. Warren Co., Ind.. where he entered 320 acres, of 
which he made a farm and a home until his death, November, 18;')2. Benjamin P. 
Brier, after the death of his father, farmed on and managed the home farm for two 
years, when he purcha.sed land in Prairie Township, afterward 180 in this township, 
and in 1882, he bought the farm on which be now lives; he owns in totality 621 acres, 
mostly well improved. He was married. April 18, 1858, to Ellen Jones, of Warren 
County, Ind., which union was blessed with thirteen children, of which number five 
boys and five girls are living. Mr. Brier is a member of the Masonic fraternity; he 
is also a Republican. 

JAMES F. BUCKELS was born in Warren County, Ind., August 21, 184.5, and 
is the only living child of Jackson and Mary E. (Mills) Buckels, natives of Ohio, 
and of English and Scotch descent. Jackson Buckels came to Indiana at an early 
age, and was married in Warren County. His father gave him eighty acres in Pine 
Township, which, in 1H.51, he sold and purchased a saw-mill in IroVjuois County, 
111., which he nuinaged until his death, in August, 1853. James F. Buckels lost his 
mother when but three years old. and lived with his grandfathers until his major- 
ity. In August, 1863, he enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until his discharge, in August, 1864. 
In 1867, he began the clrug business with Dr. Fenton at Pine Village, and afterward 
continued it himself. He then farmed in Pine Township several years, and later 
commenced tile manufacturing at Pine Village. It was the first and is the most ex- 
tensive tile fa(tcry (stjiblishcd tlieie. He was married, March 19, 1871, to Verlinda 
T. Turman, a native of Wairen County. Tlirce children have been born to lh(ni, 
two of whom are living— Bertie E. and Cluster E. Mr. Buckels is a Republican, 
and he Jind wife are numbers of the M. E. Church. 

ALBERT COBB, merchant, was born in Piiu- Township, Warren Co., Ind., 
August 17, 18.50, and is one of the four children of William and Alice (Rhode) Cobb, 
the former a native of South Carolina, the latter of Ohio, and of Welsh and Ger- 
man descent. William Cobb moved to Pine Township in this State in 1840, where 
he entered 200 acres of land, which be improved. He added to this farm, until it 
now comprises ,500 acres, and is now, living thereon, aged seventy-eight years. Al- 
b(;rl Cobb received a fair school education, and labored on the home farm until he 
was twenty-one years old, when he farmed on shares for si.x years. In 1878, he 
purchased a half interest in a saw-mill, which be afterward sold, and in 1882 moved 
to Pine Village and engaired in the mercantile trade with J. D. Rhode, under the 
firm name of Rhode it Cobb. Mr. Rhode left the business in 188:3, when the firm 
was changed to McCord it Cobb, who carry a large stock of dry goods, groceries, 
glass w;ire, hardware, boots and shoes, hats aiul caps and notions, and are doing a 
very large business, averagiiur per year sales of if;l5,()00. Mr. Cobb is a Democrat, 
and one of the most enterprising young men of the county. 

WILSON (X)GHILIj, farmer and slock-rai.ser, who was born in Porter County, 
Ind., April 11*. 1.S57, is the eldest child of Leonard H. and Mary (Slusher) Cnghill, 
the former a native of VirginK-a, the latter of Kentucky, and both of German de- 
scent. The father of Wilson, when a boy, moved to Montgomer}' County, Ind., 
and in 1833 went to Fountain Countj', where lie married; after which event he 
bought land in Porter County. In 1855. hi' came to this townshij), and |)urcha.sed 
2(MJ acres; this he sold to his son Wilson in 1882, and removed to Attica. Wilson 
Coghill gave his time to his father until he became of age, when he purchased eighty 
acres, made thereof a farm, and resided there ten years; this he sold, and purchased 



198 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

another, 160 acres; this he also sold, and in the fall of 1832 purchased the home 
farm, on which he is living. December 2~i, 18(33, he was married to M:ihala Heuton, 
a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Nine children have blessed their union. Mr. Cog- 
hill is a Democrat and a member of the Odd Fellows. 

ROBEKT H. COTTINGHAM. farmer and stock raiser, was born in Montgom- 
ery County, Ohio. December 11, 1819, and is the third of the eight children of 
Joshua E. and Elizabeth (Herrett) Cottingham, the former a native of Maryland, 
the latter of Pennsylvania. Jo.shua Cottingham, when young, emigrated witli his 
parents to Kentucky. He afterward went to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he 
married, and in 1821 moved to Miami County, Ohio, where he purchased a farm 
and resided until his death, August 11, 187S), aged eighty-eight. He was a member 
of the M. E. Church, as was his wife, who died February 5, 1882, in her ninety-tirst 
year. Robert H. Cottingham worked on his fatlier's farm until he was twenty- 
three, when he farmed on shares for nine years. In 1851, he came to this township, 
and in 1854 bought 160 acres, on which he still resides. He now owns well-im- 
proved farms in Warren and Benton Counties, aggregating 505 acres. March 9, 
1848, he was married to Lavina Mahuran, of Miami County, Ohio. They were 
blessed with six children, three of whom are living. Mrs. Cottingham died xMay 2, 
1855. Mr. Cottingham was next married December 21, 1856, to Sarah A. Harris, of 
Wayne County, Ind., born August 7, 1829. Five children were born to them. Mr. 
Cottingham is a Republican. 

SAMUEL C. FENTON, M. D., was born in Adams Township, Warren Co., 
Ind., November 29, 1844, and is the second of the three children of Joseph A. and 
Margaret (Campbell) Fehton; the former a native of Indiana, the latter of Ohio, and 
of German and Scotch descent. Joseph A. Fenton came to this township in 1883, 
and after his marriage purchased eighty acres of wild land, which he improved and 
to which he added until, at his death, he had 140 acres; he was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Samuel C. Fenton received a fair education, at school 
and academy, and after his father's death, he, with an elder brother, managed the 
farm until 1860. In 1863, he commenced studying medicine in Tippecanoe County, 
with Dr. H. D. Riddile, and attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, during 1866- 
67, In 1867, he began practice at Pine Village, and in 1869-70, attended further 
lectures at said college, from which he after graduated. September 28, 1869, he was 
married to Anna Pearce, a native of this county. Dr. Fenton is a successful practi- 
tioner. Freemason, a Republican, and a prominent citizen. Both himself and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

DAVID FRAZIER was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 18, 1828, and 
is the sixth of the eleven children of David andZema (Frazier) Frazier, bothlnatives 
of Maryland, and of Scotch and Hollandish descent- The father of our subject, 
after emigrating to Pickaway County, Ohio, entered the war of 1812 as a teamster; 
he afterward married and engaged in farming for several years, when, in 1880, he 
moved to what is now Adams Township, Warren Co., Ind., and entered 64o acres, 
which he improved, and on which he lived until his death, June, 1840; he was one 
of the earliest pioneers of this county. Our subject worked for his father until the 
age of twenty-one, when he removed to Illinois and engaged in breaking prairie. 
After a time, he returned to this county, and for three years operated the first saw- 
mill, having a circular saw; he tlien, with two brothers, purchased 480 acres in 
Benton County. In 1858, he sold his interest in this and purchased 840 acres of the 
old homestead, in this township, where he has since lived. In December, 1868, Mr. 
Frazier enlisted in Company I. Seventy-second, Indiana Infantry; he served through 
the war, and was discharged Novemijer, 1865. January 1, lo66, he married Sarah 
D. Best, of this county, by whom he has three children — Holmes, Frank and Dollie 
F. Mr. Frazier is a Democrat. 

JACOB IIARMAN. farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Frederick County, Va., 
September 6, 1803, and is the third of the seven bo5^s of John and Elizabeth (Slusher) 
Harman, both natives of Virginia, and of German descent. John Harman was 
reared and married in his native State, where he followed the plow for life. He 
served through the war of 1812, and died in his ninetieth year; he and wife were 
members of the Lutheran Churcb. Jacob Harman remained with his father until 
he was seventeen, when he emigrated to Ross County. Ohio. In 1885, he came to 
the site of this township, and settled on 480 acres which he had since 1829, and on 
which he still lives, and to this he has added until he owns 1460 acres in Adams and 
Warren Townships, making one of the best farms in the neighborhood. Mr. Har- 
man has also a stock farm of 3000 acres in Iroquois County, 111.; he is the largest 
stock dealer in the township. Mr. Harman was never married; he is a Republican, 
and a leading citizen of the county. 

ABRAHAM H. HAUN is a native of Boone County, Ind., born August 9, 1847, 
and one of the ten children of Shepard B. andThurza(McDonnel) Haun; the former 



J. Q. ADAMS TOWNSHIP— WARREX COUNTY. 190 

a nalivo of Tennessee, the latter of Virijinia. and of German and Enirlish descent 
Shcpard H. Haun was a miller by occupation. He was married in Boone County, 
where he owned and operated the Sui^^ar Creek Mills, until 18(13, when lie came to 
Pine Villaire and houi^dit a steam tlouriiii;- mill, which he operated until his death, 
March. IHfU; he was a Freemason. Abraham II. llaun was employed with his 
father until that parent died, when he operated tiie mill until F'l»ruary, ly*)"); he then 
enlisted in Company (4, One Hundred and P^'iftieth Indiana Volunteers, and served 
until Aunust, ItiHi). On returninir, he followed the harness-makinjj trade, which he 
continued until 1874. when lie eni,Mired in the drui;^ business at Fine Village. Mr. 
Haun was married May 3, IStiT, to Jennie Ritenour, of Warren County; they have 
two children— Theron C. and Claude. In IHTo, he opened a general store, which he 
has made successful. Mr. Haun is a Freemason, also a Republican. 

JACOB P. ISLEY was liorn in Warren Township, Warren Co., Ind., August 
12, 1888, and is the eldest of the four clnldren of Benjamin and Margaret (Southard) 
Isley, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia, both of 
German descent. Benjamin Isley emigrated to Preble County. ()hio, with his 
parents, when he was eight years old. He was married in Warren Township, War- 
ren Co., Ind., whither he came in 1829, and settled on 160 acres, whi(;h he improved. 
After twelve years, he entered 120 acres in this township, where he lived until his 
decease, February 6, 18(56; he was a member of the United Bretliren Church. 
Jacob P. Isley remained with his father until he became of age, after which he 
managed the home farm for eight year3, and, with a brother, purchased 120 acres in 
Benton County, to which they added until it aggregated 600 acres In September, 
1881, he .sold his interest in said land and bought 200 acres in this township, on 
which he now lives. He was married, October 5, 1881, to Mary Hickman, of this 
county, by which union succeeded one ton — Clement B. Mr. Lsley is a Royal Arch 
Mason ; he is also a Democrat. April 4, 1883, Mr. Isley, with three others, engaged 
in banking at Attica, Fountain County, with the title "The Citizens' Bank." 

ISAAC JONES, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Warren Township, War- 
ren Co., Ind., July 6, 1845, and is the third of five children born to Clement G. and 
Nancy (Russell) Jones, the former a native of Maryland, the latter of Ohio, and of 
Welsh and English descent. Clement G. Jones received his early education in Del- 
aware, whither his parents removed. He emigrated to Chillicothe, Ohio, and was 
there employed until 1831, when he removed to Warren Township, Warren Co., Ind., 
and entered eighty acres, residing thereon until 184!), when he purchased his present 
place ; he at one time owned 2,400 acres, one-half of which he has deeded to his chil- 
dren. Isaac Jones was given an academic education, and remained with his father 
until he was twenty-(me years old, when he received from his father a partially im- 
proved farm of 105 acres, which, in 1870, he sold, and purchased 832 acres in Warren 
and Adams Townships, Avhere he now resides; he has also 240 acres in Benton County. 
February, 12, 1867. he was married to Elizabeth McCord, of this county, to which 
union have descended four children — two boys and two girls. Mr. Jones is a Dem- 
ocrat, and one of the leading men of the count j\ 

JAMES McCORD, farmer and stock-rai.ser, was born in Liberty Township, 
Warren County, Ind., July 18, 1834, and is one of ten children of James and Hannah 
(Morris) McCord, both natives of Penn.sylvania. The father of our subject was a 
cabinet maker, and when a young man removed to Huron County, Ohio, thf-u a 
wilderness; he was a soldier in, and served through the entire war of 1812, soon 
after which he married. In 1820, he came to Indiana an<l settled on White River. 
In 1824, he entered eighty acres in Liberty Township, on which he resided until his 
death, September 20, 1872, at which time he owned 320 acres. Our subject obtained 
but little education in youth, which he improved by reading and observation. He 
worked for his father until his majority, when he was given 120 acres in Liberty 
Townshij), which he improved, and on which he resided until the spring of 1863, 
when he sold tliis and bought the 336 acres on which he lives— one of the best in 
the township. He was married, Septeml)er 13, 1855, to Esther A. Little, of this 
county: there have succeeded four children. Mr. McCord is a Republican and a 
leading citizen. 

JAMES W. M?]SSNER, farmer and stock dealer, is a native of Butler County. 
Ohio, horn November 30, 1844, and the eldest of the ten children of Daniel N. and 
Rcibecca A. (Wood) Messner ; the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of 
Ohio, find of (!erman and English descent. J. W. Messtier, when eh ven years old, 
after reiciving a fair education, began to learn carpentering with his father, at 
which triide he labored twelve or fourteen years. In 1862, he enlisted in Company 
O, One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Vohuiteer Infantry, in which he served initil 
the close of the war, and was discharged in the fall of 18(i5 In 186(i, he commenced 
to farm on shares and to deal in live sto( k, which he has continued with much suc- 
cess. He was married January 4, 1866, to Eveline Barker, a native of this county. 



200 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

who died January 13, 1875. Mr. Messner was afterward married, March, 1878, to 
Lizzie Ellis, a native of Warren County, Ohio, which union was graced by four 
children, three of whom are living — Anna, Edith M. and Silva. Mr. Messner is a 
member of' A. F. and A. M. ; he is a Repul)lican and an enterprising citizen. 

JOHN R. METSKER, farmer and stock-raiser, is the eldest of the twelve chil- 
dren of Isaac and Rebecca (Richards) Metsker; the former a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, the latter of Kentucky, and of Hollandish and AVelsh descent. J. R. Metskor 
was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 19, 1817. In 1880. his parents came to 
what is now Adams Township, where his father entered 240 acres, on which he 
resided until his death, March 27, 1857: he owned in all 960 acres. He was for 
many years Township Trustee, and for fifty years a member of the M. E. Church, 
as was also his wife, who died December 25, 1865. John R. M"tsker attended the 
schools of the day and worked on his father's farm. After farming on shares, he 
purchased a farm in this township, which he sold, when he bought one in Pine 
Townsliip, and resided there twenty -four years. In 1871, he moved to the old home- 
stead, and has now a good farm of 265 acres. In 1851. he assisted his father in 
laying out Pine Village. He was married, September 20, 1838, to Sarali M. Freeman, 
a native of North Carolina, and daughter of George and Ellinor (Brumit) Freeman; 
this union was blessed with twelve children, nine of whom survive. Mr. Metsker 
is a Republican, and he and wife are prominent members of the M. E. Church. 

JOHN W. METSKER, farmer, is a native of Adams Township, Warren Co., 
Ind., born September 28, 1842, and is the second of a family of twelve, the children 
of John R. and Sarah M. (Freeman) Metsker (a sketch of whom will be found 
above). Our subject received the ordinary course of education and assisted his 
father until he was twenty-three, after which he farmed on shares for four years; 
he then purchased 160 acres in this township on which he resides, and to which he 
has added eighty acres, and which is now one of the best-improved farms in this 
section. He 'was. married, March 5, 1868, to Sarah Z. Little, a native of this county, 
which union has been blessed with five children, two of whom are living — Carrie V. 
and Newton W. Mr. Metsker is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the 
M. E. Church. 

JOHN W. MILLS, farmer and stock-dealer, is a native of this township, born 
April 6, 1832, and is the seventh of the thirteen children of Jacob and Jane (Ca.ssel) 
Mills, both natives of South Carolina. When a young man, Jacob Mills emigrated 
to Warren County, Ohio, where he married, and where he farmed for several years. 
In 1829, he came to what is now Adams Township, Warren County, Ind., and 
bought eighty acres, after paying for wliich he had 11.25 remaining; lie improved 
his farm, and in 1876 sold it to his son John, since when he has made a home 
with his children, having accumulated 320 acres. He was Trustee of Ad:ims Town- 
ship for twenty years, and is a member of the Baptist Church. J. W. Mills worked 
for his father until he was twenty-one, after which he farmed on shares for several 
years. In August, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Indiana Volunteers, and served until March, 1864. He was married, January 1, 
1866, to Hannah A. Frazier, a native of Warren County; they have no children, hut 
have adopted several orphans. In 1869, Mr. Mills purchased 320 acres adjoining the 
homestead, and in 1876 purchased said homestead, which is now his home. Mr. 
Mills is a Democrat. 

HON. RICHARD G. ODLE was born November 15, 1839, in this township, and 
is the fourth of a family of six born to Thomas D. and Adelia (Horton) Odle; the 
former a native of Ross, the latter of Highland Co'jnty, Ohio, and both of Scotch 
descent. Thomas D. Odle was by trade a hatter, but after his marriage he farmed 
in Ohio, and came to Indiana in 1832, where he purchased eighty acres in this town- 
ship, which land he improved, and to which he added until he owned 360 acres, well 
improved. He died January 19, 1882. Richard G. Odle received an academic edu- 
cation, and divided his time between the farm and teaching until he was twenty-one 
yeas old. In July, 1802, he enlisted in Company I, Seventy-second Indiana Volun- 
teers; he served until March 31, 1863, when he was honoral)ly discharged. He taught 
school until 1865, when he bought a farm in Pine Township, and again essayed ag- 
riculture; this he sold in 1866. and purchased the old homestead in this township, 
where he has since resided. In the session of 1872 and 1873 he representckl this 
county in the lower house of the State Legi.slature. December 37, 1864, he was mar- 
ried to Margaret A. Campbell, daughter <)f Rev S. N. Campbell; they have had five 
children, two of whom are living. Mrs. Odle died March 5, 1877, and on October 
24, 1878, Mr. Odle married Susan Eberly, by whom he has one daughter. Bertha G. 
Mr. Odle is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of tlie Knights of Honor. 

JAMES F. ROWEN, general merchant, is a nalivc; of Warren County, Ind., 
born February 5. 1857, and is the son of James B. and Mary C. (De Camp) Rovven, 
both natives of Ohio, James F. Rowen obtained the usual education of the day. 



J. Q. ADAMS TOWNSHir— WARREN COUNTY. 201 

and wiis employed in his father's store until he was twent^'-one years old, when he 
opened a harness shop at Pine Vdla,<re. He was married, February 10, 1878, to 
Anna McCord, a native of this (;ouniy, to which union have been born two ehildren 
— James E. and Charles H. In 1H8'J, he purchased his father's business, and has 
successfully conducted the same, lie has a well selected stock of dry ^^oods, gro- 
ceries, woodenware. (jueensware. glasswan; and notions. Mr. Rowen has been 
Postmaster at Pine V'illagti; he is a Republican, and one of the rising young men of 
the countv 

JOSEPH W. ST. JOHN is the youngest of the six children of Seth and Mrs. 
Ruth A. (Campbell-Richards) St. John; the former a native of New York, the latter 
of Ohio, and of French and German descent. He was born in this township June 
26, 185-3. In 17!H), Selh St. John, then four years old, was brought to Hamilton 
County, Ohio. In 180;5, his father entered land in Warren County, where Seth was 
afterward married. Seth St. John was a soldier of the war of 1812, and .serveil under 
Gen. Hull until his surrender to the British. In 1832, he removed to this township, 
and settled on 240 .acres, where he lived until his death, August 21. 1874, aged 
eiglity -one years. Mrs. St. John died January 1, 1819. J. W. St. John resides on 
the old homestead, 160 acres of which he owns, and where he has passed his life. 
He was married, April 11, 1872. to Harriet (Mviger, a native of Benton County, Ind. 
Their union has been blessed with tliree chililren— N. S., Anna I. and Jacob W. 
Mr. St. John is a Republican, and one of the enterprising farmers of the township. 

JOH.'^T F. S.VLE, hotel keeper, was born in Warren County, Ohio. December 
9, 18)9, and is the eldest of the family of Robert and .Magdalena (Smith) Sale, both 
natives of Virginia and of French descent. Robert Sale, when a young man, emi- 
grated to Greene Coiinly, Ohio; thence to AVarren Countj% where, Novernber 8, 1808, 
he married and purchased 191 acres of military land, which he improved, and on 
which he resided until his death, October 1, 1823. aged thirty-eight. He served 
under Gen. Wayne during the war of 1812. John F. Sale worked at homt; until he 
was twenty-five, after which he farmed on shares for seventeen years. He was 
married. Feitruary 27, 1884, to Lydia A. Wilkinson, by whom he had seven children, 
si.x living. Mrs. Sale died November 5, 1867. In 1857, he purchased 160 acres in 
this township, which he sold in 1876, in order to engage in the hotel business at 
Pme Village. January 26, 1879. Mr. Sale was married to Mrs. Elizabeth A. (Camp- 
bell) Metsker, born in Warren County Augu.st 12, 18:33, daughter of Jonathan and 
Evalme (.Moore) Campbell. Mr. Sale was Justice of the Peace from 1858 to 1878, 
also a N<jiary Public. He is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Sale are prominent 
members of the M. E. Church, of which Mr. Sale has been a local preacher for more 
than fortv years. 

ABRAll.VM SHACKLETON is a native of Yorkshire. England, born October 
29. 1816. and is the son of John and Sallie (Allan) Shacklelon. ijoth natives of Eng- 
land. John Shacklelon was a wool comber and weaver, which occupations he 
followed ihrough life. Abraham's education was mostly acquired from the Sunday 
schoi)l-i. but be later acquired much by reading and observation. When a boy, he 
worked in a machine shop, and later learned \vool-comi)ing, which he followed un- 
til 1842, when he emigrated to the United States. He worked at farming and wool- 
combing in New York and Ma-^sachusetts. He afterward moved to Butler County, 
Ohio, where he labored until 1857, when he came to this township, and settled on 
the 120 acres which is still his home. He n«w owns 240 acres of good, well-im- 
proved l.uid. Mr. Shacklelon was married, September 30, 1819, to Mary E. Wallace, 
of Maryland, by wliich union succeeded six children, fivi: being yet alive. Mrs. 
Shacklelon died November 9, 1870. Mr. Shacklelon is a Democrat and u leading 
farmer. 

WILLIAM R. STREET, Postma.ster of Pine Village, was born in New York 
Cily (Jctf)ber 16, 1830, and is the second of the eight children of James W. and 
Joatu)a (Clark) .Street, both natives of New York. J.iines W. Street was a wairon- 
makcr, which trade he followed through hi'^ life. In 18.34. he eniigrati'd to Jackson 
('(uinlv. Ohio, and thence to this county, where he resided until his death, in 1849. 
His wife died in 181H. She was a life member of the U. B. Church. William R. 
Si reel obtained a frontier education, and from the age of eight to twenty-one he 
worked by the month. In 1852. he commenced farming on shares, which he con- 
tinued nine years. December 12. 1861, he enlisted in Company I), Fortieth Indiana 
V<.lunteer Infantry. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, he was severely wounded 
in the thigh ami cheek, entailing a loss of his right eye He was discharged Novem- 
ber 23, 1S64. After his return, he was compelled to abandon farming, and worked 
at shiK! making until 18S], when he was appointed Postmaster at Pine Village, and 
in 1881 began the grocery bu.iiness. Mr. Street was first married to Mary 1). White, 
December 11. 1851. a native of Tippecanoe County, who died August 17, 1863, hav- 
ing borne six children, two of whom are living. Mr. Street was next married, Au- 



202 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

gust 1, 1865, to Mrs. Lucinda (Odle) Ambler, a native of Warren County, to which 
union were born two children, one of whom is living. Mr. and Mrs. Street are 
members of the M. E. Church. 

JAMES M. SWADLEY, wagon-maker and blacksmith, was born in Indian- 
apolis, Ind., February 17, 1828, and is the second of a family of six born to Nicholas 
and Nancy (Chaney) Swadley, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of German 
descent. The parents of James W. were married in Highland County, Ohio; the 
fatber was a wagon-maker, and worked in Indianapolis until 1833, when he removed 
to Shawnee Prsiirie. Tippecanoe County, where he began farming and wagon mak- 
ing. In 1858, he came to this county, and resided upon 260 acres until liis death, 
February, 1874. He was a soldier of the war of 1813, had been Assessor and Jus- 
tice of the Peace, and was a temperance advocate. James M. Swadley, at the age 
of twelve, began to learn his father's trade, which has been his occupation. In 
1848, he came to Pine Village and moved into one of the three houses then erected, 
where he commenced wagon-making. In the same year, he was married to Martha 
Crowell, a native of Ripley County, by whom he had three children, two of whom 
are living. Mrs. Swadley died in 1853, and Mr. Swadley was ne.xt married in 1855, 
to Sarah'jane Thomas, a" native of this county ; one daughter followed tliis union- 
Anna M., now Mrs. Theodore Doughty. Mrs. Swadley died April 8, 1883. Mr. 
Swadley was Postmaster of Pine Village ; he is a Republican, and a member of the 
M. E. Church. 

HORACE W. WAGNER, druggist, was born at Wagner's Grove, Warren Co., 
Ind., November 10, 1854, and is the third of the family of five born to George D. 
and Elizabeth (Alexander) Wagner, both natives of Ohio. The parents of George 
moved to Medina Township. Warren Co., Ind.. when he was four years old. His 
father was a farmer and extensively engaged in the live-stock trade. He was a 
Whig until 1856, when he was elected by the Republicans as Representative, and in 
1858 as Slate Senator. In 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the Fifteenth 
Indiana Volunteers ; he was promoted Brigadier General and later Brevet Major 
General, and served with honor and distinction throughout the war. After his 
return, he practiced law at Williamsport until his death February 11, 1869. A few 
days before his decease, he was appointed Minister to Berlin. Gen. Wagner was a 
very prominent Mason, was for several years President of the State Agricultural 
Society, and was one of the bravest and best of Indiana's patriots. Horace W. 
Wagner obtained an academic education, and when nineteen years old bought a 
farm in this county, and engaged in agriculture until 1880, when he came to Pine 
Village and comnienced the drug business, which he has since continued. April 6, 
1881, he was married to Alice M. Mather, a native of Medina Township ; they have 
one daughter— Blanche M. Mr. Wagner is a Freemason and a Republican. 



PINE TOWNSHIP. 



ABIGAIL AKERS (widow of George Akers) was born April 13, 1828, in 
Butler County, Ohio, and is one of the eleven children of Frederick and Nancy 
A. Alenduff, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Maryland ; the former born Decem- 
ber 4. 1793. The grandfather of our subject was killed and scalped by the Indians 
in 1794. Her grandmother became Mrs. John Dickerson. and afterward removed to 
Iowa, where she died, aged ninety-six. Her family embraced six children— Fred- 
erick, Polly, Mary A., Hannah, John and Catherine. Frederick Alendutf was reared 
by a brother, and after his marriage purchased land in Butler County, Ohio, where 
he remained until 1838, and thence removed to Fountain County, Ind., where he 
died April 2, 1877, and his wife March 4, 1864, leaving eleven children— Catherine, 
Elizabeth, Mary, John, Phebe, Andrew, Henry, William, Abigail, Jane and 
Amanda. Our subject was joined in wedlock to ^Ir. Akers, January 8, 1844, in 
Fountain County, Ind. George Akers was born in Butler County, Ohio, Fel)ruary 
14, 1834. His parents, Frederick and Nancy Akers, were early settlers of Tippe- 
canoe County; the former wa-* twice married and the father of eighieen children. 
After her marriage, Mrs. Abigail Akers resid^'d in Fountain County uniil about 1850, 
when she removed to her home in Warren County. Mr. Akers died October 24, 
1870, leaving thirteen ciiildren— Edmond, James, George M.. Annie, Amanda E., 
Joseph H.. Virginia C, Mary E., Melvin, Jo eph, Charlie, Allen and Eliza J. 

JOSEPH ALEXANDER was born in Builer County, Ohio, November 37, 1820, 
and is a son of Samuel and Mary Alexander, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio re- 
spectively. Samuel Alexander was a son of Joseph and Frances Alexander, early 



PINE TOWNSIIll'— WAllUKN COUNTV. 203 

settlers of MoQljroinciy Counlj'. Ind. Tliev were parents of ten eliihlien, seven of 
whom were sons— James. Joseph, liicbard. Franklin, Hartley, John and Samuel. 
Samuel married Mary Kelley, in Ohio, and moved to Monl^'omery County, Ind.. in 
1835, where he died in 184".2. In 1848, Mrs. Aie.xander and family removed to Tip- 
pecanoe County, and two years later to Warren County, where she died, in 1858. 
They had a family of eleven ehddren— Sarah, Frances, Maryarit. ]Mary, Joseph, 
James, Sanuiel, H. W., Jane, (Jeorge and Elizabeth. Josepli, our subject, came 
with his mother to Warren County wiicre, September (5. 18.)7, he married Miss 
Frances llaniss, liorn in Ross County, Ohio, November U». 1810, daui,^hter of Joseph 
and Marj^aret Hanks. Mr. Alixander is the father of three cliildren— Wallace a. 
(died in the United States military service), Honora E. (deceased), and Hunick W. 
He also possesses :288 acres of land. 

THOMAS BARTLP]TT was born in Henry County, Va.. December 5, 1827, and 
is one of twelve children born to Thomas and Sabrina Bartlett. His paternal i^rand- 
father, John G. liartlett, was an early settler of Henry County, and there died in 
his eiiility-third year; he had been a .soldier in the Revolutionary war, aiul was the 
father of the following children: William, John H., Betsy. Martha and Thomas. 
The last-named, the father of our subject, was born in Henry County, Va., June 
16, 1790, and was married to Sabrina Hill, born in Frederick County, Va., April 1, 
1192. In 1831). he came to this county, and here died June '2\). 1S62, his widow fol- 
lowing December U), 180(5. His children were John, William, Washington. George, 
Maria, Sabrina. Tho'mas, Levi G., Eliza V., Martha J., Xancy and Elizabeth. Our 
subject came to this county with liis parents, and December i;i. 184!>. married Mar- 

faret E., daughter of John and p]ve Keenan, and born in Frederick County. Va., 
larch '24:. iSliO. The children born to this union were ij son. who died in infancy, 
and John F., George E., Martha J. S., Mary E., Charley T., Elmer AV.. Harriet R. 
(deceased), Victoria A.. Schuyler C. and William S. In 18."»i, Mr. Bartlett adopted 
veterinary medicine as a profession, and is now a most skillful practitioner. He also 
holds the oflice of Justice of the Peace. 

WILLIAM BRIER is a native of Champaign County, Ohio, born April 25, 1830, 
and is one of the thirteen children of Isaac and Mary (West) Brier; the former born 
in Pennsylvania in 1788, the latter in South Carolina in 1794. They were married 
in Champaign County. Ohio, in 1801), and in 18:30 moved to Warren County, Ind., 
and settled where our subject now lives; here, too, they died, he November 27, 1858, 
she March 15, 1868. He was a soldier of 1812, and the first Postmaster of the town- 
ship. Their family were: Philander, Andrew, John, Mary, Hannah. Juliann. Will- 
iam, George, Isaac, James, David, Benjamin and Henry. William Brier learned the 
trade of a carpenter, at which he worked some years; he was also engaged in the 
millwright business. November 17, 1850, he married Amy J., daughter of Carpen- 
ter and Amy J. Morey, born in this county, August 21, 1835. Thisunion gave issue 
to two children— Francis E. and Sylvia A. Mr. Brier, after marriage, settled on 
some previously purchased land, and in 18.58 moved to the old homestead, now his 
home. He has 283 acres of good land, well improved. 

HIRAM BRIGHT was born near Danville, ^Montour County, Penu., November 
1, 1834, and is one of eleven children of Peter and Mary Bright, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, the former a .son of David Bright, in Bucks County August 5, 1771, whose 
father was Michuel Bright, also born in Pennsylvania in 1732. svho married one 
Catharine Iluber, and died in 1814. David Bright married one Catharine Hetten- 
stine, by whom he was blcs.sed with ten children— Michael, Sarah, William, Abigail, 
Catharine. Aaron, John, Fraiicis, David and Peter. The father of our subject was 
married, in Bucks County December 23, 1827, to Mary Evans, and removed in 1833 
to Montour County, Penn., where he died, and where his widow is yet living. Their 
family was as follows : Abner, David, Rel)ecca, Hiram, Dennis, Evau.s, Albert, 
Penina, Philip, Abt)y and Mary. Hiram Bright was married in Montour County, 
Penn., March 10. 1857, to Rhoda A., daughter of Robert and Sarah Butler, with an 
Issue of five children— Mary E., Frank. Butler, Oakley and Carl. In the sprmg of 
1858, Mr. Bright removed to this county, where he now owns 788 acres of land. 

IIAVNIE P.ROWN (widow of William F. Brown), was born in Hendricks 
County, Ind.. April 20, 1.S33. and is a daughter of Joshua and Sarah Foster, 
the former born iu Anderson County. Tenn., January 9. lHO:t, the latter in Culpeper 
County. Va.. July 11. 180.S. In 1829. they removed to Hendricks County, and in 
1848 to Warren County. Ind., where Mr. Foster died July 27. 1875. Mrs. Foster 
survives, and resides with the subject of this sketch. Their children are Houston, 
Horace, Wiley, JelTer.son, Haynie, John, (Jeorge, Enocii, (Jarolinc, Joseph and 
Martha. Mi.ss Haynie and Mr. Brown were united in wedlock in this count}' Octo 
ber 4, 1849. Mr. Brown was born in Ohio September 20. 1^25. His parents were 
Benjamin and Julia Brown, iioth n.itives of Virginia, the former born January 3, 
1784, the latter December 15, 1791. They removed from Virginia to Ohio, and 

13 



204 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

thence to this county, where they subsequently died. After his marriage, Mr. Brown 
purchased a farm in this county, and in 1854 bought the one on which Mrs. Brown 
now resides. Mr. Brown died August 4, 1880, leaving eleven children — Emma, 
John, Austin, Sarah, Laura, Perlina, "William L., Joseph, Mary E., Arthur and 
Martha. 

JACOB BROWN, a native of this township, was born April 24, 1848, and is the 
son of John W. and Margaret (Pepper) Brown, parents of eleven children — Martha 
J., John P., Mary, Julia A., William H., Jacob, Deborah, James F., Benjamin, 
Margaret and a deceased infant. John W. Brown was born in Ross County, Ohio, 
January 28, 1812, and Margaret Pepper in Frederick County, Md., June 13, 1813; 
they were married in Ross County, Ohio, January 10, 1833, and in 1838 moved to 
this [township, where John W. died May 20, 1880. Jacob Brown was married in 
Montgomery County, Ind., September 9, 1875, to Rosa J., daughter of Reuben and 
Catherine Byrd; she was born in Montgomery County, August 10, 1859, and died 
February 16, 1878. October 31, 1879, he married Katie A. Brown, a native of this 
county, daughter of Abel W. and Rachel Brown, and born October 21, 1859. There 
was one child that died unnamed, born to Mr. Brown's first marriage, and to his 
second there are two — Voorhees F. and Jennie E. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and own a finely cultivated farm of forty 
acres. 

J. J. BUSSELLis a native of Warren County, Ind., bom March 29, 1853. His 
parents were William and Martha Bussell; the former born in Virginia November 
18, 1804, the latter in Tennessee, August 30, 1812. These parties were wedded in 
Hendricks County, Ind., July 7, 1836, moved to Iowa in 1850, and thence to this 
county in 1852, where Mr. Bussell died, January 23, 1867, and Mrs. Bussell February 
11, 1880, leaving four children— James H., Sarah A., Lucinda E. and John J., our 
subject. He was married in Benton County, Ind., December 12, 1877, to Mary J., 
daughter of James F. and Martha L. Mills, a native of this county, born September 
6, 1856. After the death of his parents, Mr. Bussell purchased the family homestead 
where he now lives, and is the possessor of 160 acres of arable and productive land. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bussell are parents of one child — Lulie L., born July 26, 1879. 

MATHEW CAVANAGH is a native of County Wexford, Ireland, and was born 
in 1827. His parents are Patrick and Bridget (Roach) Cavanagh, likewise natives of 
Ireland, who, about the year 1851, emigrated to America, settled in Orleans County, 
N. Y., moved to Warren County, Ind., two years later, and in 1865, to Clay County, 
Mo., where they now reside. They are the parents of eight children — Mathew, 
Michael, Mary, John, James, Philip, Patrick and Edward. Our subject, Mathew 
Cavanagh, emigrated to this country in the spring of 1848, landing at New York 
City, thence going to Orleans County, and in 1850 to Williamsport, Ind. He was 
married at La Fayette, Ind., August 8, 1858, to Margaret Georty,a native of County 
Meath, Ireland, a union productive of six children — infant son (deceased), Edward, 
James (deceased), Thomas. Philip and Elizabeth (deceased). After marriage Mr. 
Cavanagh settled upon the land which he has since known as home. 

EMILY DOLBOW (wife of Nimrod Dolbow) is a native of Ross County, Ohio, 
and was born March 25, 1843. Her parents, Willis and Jane Graves, were natives 
of Virginia and Ohio respectively; the former having been born in the year 1808, 
the latter in the year 1815. They were married in Ross County, where they remained 
until 1851, thence moved to Warren County. Ind.. and in 1866, to Benton County, 
Mo., where Mrs. Graves died February 18, 1875. Mr. Graves removed to Iroquois 
County, 111., where he died June 7, 1879, leaving eight children — Thomas J., Mary 
E., Ervin T., Emily, Joseph, Eliza B., James A. and Francis. Emily came with 
her parents to this county, where she married August 29, 1860, one C. W. Gray, who 
died April 27,1876,and was subsequently united to Nimrod Dolbow. Her family com- 
prised five children — William G., Thomas C, John W., Millie J. and Sarah (deceased). 

ROBISON FLETCHER is a native of Greene County, Ohio, born March 22, 
1824, and is a son of Robison and Catherine Fletcher. Robison Fletcher, Sr., was 
born near Wheeling, W. Va., November 12, 1787, and was a son of William Fletcher, 
a native of England, who emigrated to Virginia before the Revolutionary War; 
removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, about 1806, and thence, in 1816, to Greene Coun- 
ty, where he died. He was father to six children— John, Robison, Jane, Jacob, 
Sarah and James. Robison, our subject's father, was married, in 1806, in Fairfield 
County, Ohio, to Catherine, daughter of Abraham and Margaret Wootring, born 
near Hagerstown, Md., October 12, 1788. In 1816, they removed to Greene County, 
Ohio, and in 1852, to Montgomery County, Ind., where he died, September 13, 1858, 
and she September 28, 1878; they left .seven children — Margaret, Mary, William, 
John, Sarah, Robison and Naomi. Our subject, Robison Fletcher, was married in 
Greene County, Ohio, August 11, 1840. to Catherine, daughter or David and Amy 
Little, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 17, 1823. In 1852, he removed to 



PINK TOWNSHIP-WARRKN COUNTY. 205 

MontiToniPry County, Iml.. iIu'IUh; in IHti."). to Pine Villii^L', tlR-nce to Benton Conn 
ty, and tluMice to his present residence. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher have liad ten cliil- 
dren— Enieline (deira.sed). Serilda .!.. Hufu-i L., Cliarles. Amy C, Alfred II.. Flora 
E. (deceased). Norah L., India M. and an infant dans^hter. deceased. 

L. L. FREEMAX was iM.rnin (Jncnville Connty. Va.. May o. 1807. His father. 
George Freeman, was born in Mecklcnliiiri,' ("ouniy.N^i., January 12. 17H4, and was 
a son of James and Sarah Freeman, natives of Virginia, and of English descent. 
After James Freeman's death. Mrs. Freeman removed to North Carolina, and in 
182;^ to Ohio, where she died. They had si.\ children— George. Lemuel, Frances. 
Benjamin, Polly and Elizahetii. George Freeman married a". Miss Eleanor Brum- 
mit, and moved to North Carolina in 1810, where siie died in 1820. In 1H2;{, he 
moved to Ohio, and married Amelia Horton. who diecl in 18:W; he afterward moved 
to South Carolina, where he married .Mary Emerson. His death occurred in War- 
ren County, Ind.. in 184"); he was the jiareiit of fourteen children— James H., Lemuel 
L., William L., Benjamin B., Samuel B., John W.. Sarah M., Peter P., George W., 
Melissa G.. Perry S., Thomas J.. Minerva G. and Allen C. Our sul)ject, L. L. Free- 
man, was married Octol)er 1, 1829. in Ross County, Ohio, to Elizabeth, daughter of 
Isaac and Rebecca Rains, born in Ross County, December 9, 1810. In the autumn 
of 18;35, Mr. Freeman removed to Warren County, Ind. He had born to him an 
infant .son (deceased), William L., Sarah E. (decea.sed), Lvdia M. (decea.sed), John 
W., Rebecca J. (deceased), Isaac N. (deceased), Abiam J. (deceased), James P., 
Melissa J. (deceased)! Mary E. (deceased) and Thomas J. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. 
Freeman are members of the Christian Church. 

GP^ORGE FRY is a native of Baden, Germany, l)orn February 3, 1831, and is 
one of the eight children of Nicholas and Christiann Fry, likewise' natives of Ger- 
many, where they lived and died. The [jarents of Nicholas had tlve sons— Jacob, 
John, Nicholas, C'harlie and George. George Fry emigrated to America in Septem- 
ber, 18.")3, landed at New York, and in October went to Bucks County. Penn., where 
he married, on the 2d of December of that year. Margaret Kuhu, of German na- 
tivity, born April 11, 1830, daughter of William and Anna M. Kuhn. After his 
marriage Mr. Fry emigrated to Rainsville, Ind.. where he worked one year as a stone- 
mason, and thence removed to Pine Township andeng.iged in farming; there he has 
since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Fr>; have been blessed with ten children— Christian, 
Amanda (deceased), Mary, Rosettie, Annie, Carrie, Riga, John (deceased), Jacob and 
George. 

JAMES GRAMES, Sr., is a native of Ireland, and was born in the year 1813. 
His parents were James and Margaret Grames, who were also natives of Ireland, 
where they lived until their deaths. The former was twice married, and the father 
of eight ciiildren— William. Joseph, John, King, James, Thomas, David and Mar- 
garet, our sul)ject being the youngest born to the first wife. In 1833, our subject 
married, in Ireland, Miss Elizabeth Palmer, and in 18.')1 emigrated to Butler County. 
Ohio, and live years later removed to Warren County, Ind., where he purchased 
land, and has since remained. His family was composed of nine children— William 
(deceased), James, Thomas, Isabel (deceased), Eliza J. (deceased), Margaret, Melissa 
(deceased), John and Maria (decea.sed). 

JAMES GRAMES, Jn., was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, November 9, 
18^1"), and is a .son of James and Elizabeth Grames. now of Warren County, Ind. The 
father of James Grames, Sr., was of Scotch descent, who married a Miss King, in Ire- 
land, and settled in Covinty Tyrone; he was the father of eight children — William, 
Margaret, Joseph, John. David, Thomas. King ;md James, fatlier of our subject, 
who married in County Tyrone, 1833, Elizabeth Palmer. In 18,-)1, they emigrated 
to Butler County, Ohio, and thence to Warren County, Ind., "when they 
settled where they now live. Their family consistcid of William. James, Thomas, 
Isabel, Maria. Eliza . I., Margery, .lohn and .Melissa, .fames, oursui)jeet. has made 
his home in this county, where he was married. .March 19, 18(i3, to Marv. daugliter 
of Joiin W. and Margaret Brown, born November 10, 1^42. In 180(i, he movtd to 
the farm on which he now resides, and which he had |)iu-cha.sed the .autumn previ- 
ous, comprising 280 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Grames have h.id nine children — Melissa 
A. (deceased), Ada L., John W., Emma E., Clark J., William R., James F. (de- 
cea-sed), Bertha \. and Minni<- M. 

WILLIAM GRAY was born in Rockingham County, Vi\., September 24, 1802. 
Mis father, John (Jray. was a native of Burke County, N. C., and a son of William 
(Jray, .i native of Englaml, who, about tifteen years before the Revolulionary war, 
emigrated to .\merica and settled in North Carolina. H" became a soldier in that 
glorious war, and was killed in the surretider of Furgmon. at King's Moimtain. 
John (Jray, after the Revolution, moved to Rockingham County. Va.. .md married 
Mary Trumbo. In 1802, he moved to Clark, an<l in I8ir( to Lawrence County, Ind.. 
where he died in 1801. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and the father Of ten 



20t) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

children — William, Wesley, Doroth}', Lydia, Jacob, CMiarles, Ephraim, James, 
Elizabeth and Hamilton. William Gray was married, November 15, 1831, in Law- 
rence County, Ind., to Miss Sarah Cobb, born in South C!arolina June 9, 1803. In 
1839, Mr. Gray moved to Vermillion County, III., and later to Warren County, Ind., 
where he has since remained. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are the parents of nine cliildren 
— Seymour, John, Mary (deceased), Ira (deceased), Esther, Elizabeth, Dorothy, 
Charles W. (deceased) and Thomas (deceased). 

JOHN W. GRAY is a native of Clarke County, Ohio, born March 31. 1809, and 
one of the ten children of John and Mary Gray. In 1832, in Lawrence County, 
Ind., he was marrieil to Miss Eveline Gartoo, who shortly after died, leaving one 
child — William H. (deceased). In 1830, he moved to Warren County, Ind., and set- 
tled in this township, where he yet lives. His second marriage, in 1837, was to 
Miss Martha Rhode, daughter of William and Sarah Rhode, by which union they 
had six children — William H., John R., Semer B., Sarah J., Mary E. and Joel W.', 
four of whom are living. Mrs. Gray died January 3, 1851, and Mr. Gray's third 
marriage, August 10, 1S5'3. was to Sarah J. Rhode, sister of his second wife. She 
was born in this county December 21, 1829. By the last marriage, there was an 
issue of one son, Charlie J. i\Ir. Gray is one of the pioneers of this county; he and 
wife are members of the M. E. Church. 

MARIA HUFF (widow of Richard Huff), is a native of Franklin Coun- 
ty, Vt., and was born May 11, 1819. She is one of the si.x children of Isaac and 
j^lercy Holden, also natives of Vermont, who settled in Franklin County at an 
early time, where Mrs. Holden died in 1822. Mr. Holden re-married, removed to 
Indiana, and died in Vigo County in 1845, leaving the following issue: Joshua, 
Sarah, John, Lovina, Oren and Maria. Mrs. Maria Huff removed with her father 
to Tippecanoe County, in this State, where she and Richard Huff were united in 
wedlock, August 27, 1840. Mr. Huff was born in Harford County, Md., February 
22, 1815. In 1846, they removed to this county, and purchased the farm on which 
Mrs. Huff now resides! Mr. Huff died February 20, 1867. They were the parents 
of five children— Elizabeth, "Walter, Mattie, Emma and Richard O. 

MARY JONES (widow of John Jones), is a native of this county, and 
was born June 12, 1830. Her parents were Solomon and Elizabeth Pitser, who 
emigrated to this county in the spring of 1829, where both subsequently died. Mrs. 
Mary Jones was adopted by one Isaac W. Smith, with whom she lived until her 
marriage with George Simmon, September 3, 1848. After his marriage, Mr. Sim- 
mon purchased a farm near Rainsville, and in 1854 removed thereto, where he died 
October 23, 1855. Afterward, in 1857, Mrs. Simmon purchased the farm, making 
her present residence, and moved thereon. Subseciuentl}^ she was wedded to Mr. 
John Jones, who died in 1S71. Mrs. Jones is the mother of eight children — Roset- 
tie. Perry and William b}' Mr. Simmon, and Charles. Clara, Thomas, Milton, and 
an infant daughter, which died unnamed, bv Mr. Jones. 

GEORGE H. KIGER was born April 16, 1847. His parents were Jacob and 
Mary A. Kiger, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. They were 
married in Ohio, and thence removed to Indiana and settled in this county, where 
they still remain. Their family was made up of twelve children — Huldah A., Mary 
J., George H.. John W., Raymond A., Charles AV., Harriet C, Henry B., Francis, 
Deborah E., Aaron and Martha A. George H. Kiger was married in Texas County, 
Mo., October 18, 1872. to Sarah A. Marsee. This union was strengthened by four 
children— Robert M., Jacob N., Charles W. and Josiah Mr. and Mrs. Kiger came 
to this county in 1881. 

ORLANDO KIGER was born in Clinton County, Ohio, July 6, 1838, being a 
son of Samuel and Susan (Nimerick) Kiger. Samuel Kiger was a native of Virginia, 
removed to Ohio, married, and settled in Clinton County, where his wife died. 
Subsequently he removed to Parke County, Ind., where he married a Mrs. Wilson, 
and remained until his death, in 1842. He was the father of nine children — Jacob 
N.. Elizabeth. Benjamin W., Catherine, Christina N., Maria A., William G., Mary 
J. and Orlando, whose mother died when he was four days old. He was reared by 
a brother until his fourteenth year, when he began to learn the tailoring business. 
In 1853, he removed to Oxford, Ind., where he worked as a tailor, and married in 
December, 1857, Miss Elizabeth J. Show. He afterward formed a partnership with 
J. R. Wile, in the lumber and saw mill business, near Pine Village. After one year 
he purchased Mr. Wile's interest, and continued the same until 1861, when he pur- 
chased a farm in Benton County, and engaged in farming for several years, 
when he agam purchased a saw mill in this county and managed it until 1870, 
when he purchased and lived on a farm in this township until 1879, when he re- 
engaged in the lumber trade until 1883, when he removed to his farm of 240 acres. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kiger have had three children — Laura J., infant (deceased) and 
John M. 



IMNi: TOWNSIIir— WAKREN COUNTY. 207 

S. N. OSlU'ltN. >r. I)., was liorn in Parke County, Ind., October 11, IKM'y, and 
is the son of Hiram and Mary ((4rant) Oshurn. natives respectively of Virginia and 
Kentucky, and born July 4. 1S0;{, and Marcb 21, same year. They married in Ken- 
tucky, and thence moveil to Parke County. Ind.. where Mrs. Osburn died in \s:iH. 
Subsecjucntlv lliram Osliurn married .Mrs. Hannah Tiiompson and moved to Boone 
County, where lie died in isiis. the father of ten children— Martraret. Columl)Us \V., 
.To-;eph X.. M.irtha .V.. Mary Iv. S(iuire X.. Sarah, I>avid N , lliram M. and Xa- 
poleon H. In the district schools of Boone County, S. X. Osburn accpiired a \n-v- 
paratory education, and liien, from IS^s to IstiO studied at the Thorntown Academy. 
In IStJO! he married Minerva Hinton and'moved to Clinton County. In 1H61, he en- 
tered Company (J, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a non-commissioned 
oliicer; was promoted to a Lieutenancy in .January, IHtvJ. and to a Captaincy in Octo- 
ber of the same year, lie served until .laiuniry 20, IsfiCi, in which year his wife died. 
In. 1867, he entered the office of Dr. J. W. Strong, of Parkersburg" Ind.. and studied 
medicine for two years; in the spring of 1S()9, he entered the Cincinnati ('ollege of 
.Medicine, and graduated in December, lS7i». He at once engaged in practice in 
Marshtield, this county; was married, Xoveml)er 11, 1S72, to Isadore Briggs, and iu 
1874 came to Kainsvill*, where, he has met with tlattering success. He is the father 
of four children— Ollie J. and Scott C. by his first marriage, and David C. (dcceaseti) 
and Fanny bv his second. 

LEWIS "RHODE was born in Wayne County, Ind, December 10, 181(5. His 
grandfather and wife settled in South Carolina previous to the war of the Revolu- 
tion, and about lNO:i moved to Ohio, thence to this county, and settled in Warren 
Townsliip, where he died in 1.S44. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and the 
father of six children— William. Jonathan. Thomas, Caleb, Esther and Seymour. 
The father of Lewis, Willi.im Rhode, son of John and Mary Rhode, was a native 
of South Carolina, married Sarah [>urray, moved to Warren County, Ohio, and, in 
1S27, to Warren County, Ind., where he died. November, ISfJO. His wife survived 
him si.v years ; the}' had thirteen children — .Mary, \V'illiam, John, Thomas, Lewis, 
.Martha. Isaac, Joel, .Seymour, Caleb, Sarah J., Jacob M. and an infant. Lewis was 
married in this county' December 80, 1N41, to Miss Eliza J., daughter of Thomas 
and Sarah Clifton, born in Sussex County, Del., July 2(5, 182.). Her father was born 
in Delaware March 17. 17S);5, her mother June 2'). 180."). They were married in 1S34, 
and moved to Indiana, where tliev dii'd — he, August (5, 1874; she, September (i. 
ISSO. They had ten children— Eliza J.. John, William G.. Sarah, Charles W., 
Robert. ^lary .V., Thomjis, Lewis and Caroline. Mr. Rhode has been in Warren 
Coimtj' since \X'l7. and is one of the oldest pioneers. He has been Township Clerk, 
.lustice of the Peace and Township Trustee. He is a Mason, also father of three 
sons — John W.. Thomas W. and Lewis N. 

JOHX W. RHODE is a native of Warren County. Ind.. and was born X^ovem- 
ber 'S. 1S42. He is the eldest of the tlin-e children comprising the family of Lewis 
and Eliza J. Rhod*". of this tawnship. He was marrie<l in this county, February 
]'\. l>^t>7. to Miss Fannie, daughter of Clement (J. and Xancy ( Russcl) .loncs ; .Mrs. 
Rhode is also a native of tliis county, born April 17. 1849. In 1S77. Mr. Rhode 
f)urchascd and settled on the farm where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Jihode are 
the parents of two children — Xancy (4. and Eliza C. Mr. Rhode is the possessor of 
six hundred acres of land. He is a ineinlicr of the .Alasonic organization. 

L. X. RHODE is a n.itive of this county, and was born September 13, 1851. 
His parents are Lewis and Eliza J. Rhode, of Pine Township, Warren Co.. Ind., 
and lie is the youngest of their three sons. He remained with his j)arents until his 
twenty secontl year. December 11, |S7:{, in Benton County, Ind., he was married 
to Laura, daughter of John and EIIzmIk-iIi Wattles, of that county, she havinir been 
born .Vpril 7, 1H.")4. After his mariiage, Mr. Rhode settled on the farm on which he 
now lives, havinsj pos.session of 207 acres of exc<'llent land, purchased by his father 
in the dawning days of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Rhode have no children. Mr. 
Rhode is ,111 energetic vouiig man and much respected. 

SE.MER RHODE is a native of Wayne County. Ind., born April 28, 182.'). His 
parents were William and .Sarah Rhode, who moved to Warren County in the early 
time, and there resided until their decease. Scmer remained at home until he was 
twenty-eight years of age, and was thereafter married to Miss Matild.i M. Pearce, 
after which he settled on a farm in Section 14, this township, which he had pre- 
viously purchased, and, in l.^liK, moved to his present |)roperty and location, com 
prising liOO acres of very excellent laml. Mr. and Mrs. Ithode have had four 
children born to them— Sarah M. (deceased), 'W^illiam A., Emily J. and Martha L. 
Mr. Rhode is a worthy man and an esteemed citizen. 

MARY E. SIGLER (widow of Daniel W. Sigler.) was born in Tippeca- 
noe County. Ind., Febru.iry 4, 1834. Her parents were David and Mar}' St<'eley, 
natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. David Stceley was a son of Jacob Steeley, a 



208 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

native of Pennsylvania, where he married, and in 1808 removed to Ross County, 
Ohio, and died in 1837. David Steeley vras born near Pittsburgh, Peun., May 10, 
1790. About 1827, he removed to Ross County, Ohio, where he married Mary 
Carothers, born in Kentuclvy May 9, 1796. In 1833, he removed to Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., thence to Benton County, and in 1850 to this township, where he 
died August 9, 18o9. His wife died December 1. 1853, leaving nine children — John, 
Lazarus, Elizabeth. James, Emerine, Tabitha. Mary E., Isabel and Reuben. Mary 
E. was united to Mr. Sigler in this township December 16, 1853. Mr. Sigler was 
born in Ross County, Ohio, December 25, 1828. and was a sou of George and Eliza- 
beth Sigler, who, in 1829, removed to this county. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Sigler moved on a farm in Prairie Township; thence, in 1868, to Rainsville, where 
he engaged in business for two years; then purchased the farm on which lie died, 
March 21, 1882, leaving live children — Olive E., born August 30, 1855; Walter S., 
born June 27, 1858; Mary E., born September 18, 1861; Minnie G., born December 
22, 1869, died September 14, 1870: and Bertha M., born June 24, 1870. Mr. Sigler 
was a Freemason, Odd Fellow, Knight of Honor, and had been Township Trustee 
several years. He was a man of noble nature, truly b^evolent and highly 
respected. 

WILLIAM SMITH is a native of Benton County, Ind., having been born Feb- 
ruary 13, 1839. His parents were William Smith, born in Ohio in 1810, and Han- 
nah Smith, of Benton County. At an early period in the history of this section, 
they emigrated to Benton Count}\ where Mrs. Smith died April 15, 1878. They had 
nine children— Stephen, Jam3s, William. Sarah, Oliver H., Philip M., Leah, Cath- 
erine, and an infant, unnamed. Our subject was married in this county, January 
31, 1861, to Miss Malinda, daughter of Jacob and Minerva Harbrider, of Benton 
County, Ind. The bride was a native of Hendricks County, Ind. Mr. Smith settled 
in Benton County after his marriage, where he remained seven years, and theuce re- 
moved to his present farm and home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of seven 
children — Ella, Melis.sa, Perry, Emma, Minervii, Harvey and Julia H. 

MARY STEELE V (widow of John Steeley), was born in Champaign 
County, Ohio, April 19, 1830, and is a daughter of Basil and Rachel West. Basil 
West, Sr., removed from Kentucky, was an early settler of Champaign Count)^ 
and father of seven children — Stocket, John, Jeremiah, Demarica, Mary, Phebe and 
Basil, who was a native of Kentucky, where he was wedded to Lulian Noe, who 
died in 1825. after which, in 1827, he married Rachel Pond, and in 1831 removed 
to Warren County, Ind., whence, in 1860, they removed to Walla Walla, W. T. ; 
there Mrs. West died in 1864. In 1868, he returned to Warren County, Ind., and 
afterward removed to Auburn, Cat., where he died in 1880. He was father to eleven 
children— Sarah A., Mar3^ Lucinda, John F., James H., Henrietta M., Matilda M., 
Julia A., Emma J., Selinda M. and Emily E. Mary, our subject, was married to 
Edward T. Cassel, September 28, 1851, and in 1855 removed to Otoe County, Neb., 
where he died April 19, 1858. In June following, she and family returned to War- 
ren County, Ind.. where she married John Steeley, January 1, 1860. In 1864, they 
purchased the farm on which she lives. Mr. Steeley died February 11, 1883. 
Mrs. Steeley is mother to seven children, three bj- Mr. Cassel — Emma J., Martha 
L. and Horace G. ; four by Mr. Steeley— Richard H., William W., Rachel E. and 
Laura E. 

FRANCIS M. SUTTON was born in Miami County, Ohio, April 5, 1839, and is 
a son of David and Lucinda Sutton. David Sutton, father of our subject, was a son 
of Jonas Sutton, a native of Virginia, whose father, Joshua Sutton, settled and died 
in Virginia. Jonas Sutton married, in Augusta County, Va., Miss Sarah Ott, and 
in 1818 removed to Miami County, Ohio, thence to Montgomery County, Ind., and 
died in 1854, leaving eight children — John, Eliza, Margaret, Susan, George, William, 
Lucinda and David. Tlie fatlier of Francis was born in Augusta County, Va., in 
1811, thence emigrated with his father to Miami County, Ohio, married Lucinda 
Will.son, and, in 1850 removed to Montgomery County, Ind., where he died in 1867, 
his wife following him in 1872, leaving nine children — John W., Letitia, James F., 
Francis M., Thomas W., David P., Catherine M., Martha E. and Sarah A. Our sub- 
ject is a graduate of Wesley Academy, Montgomery County, Ind., and was for many 
years a professional teacher. In 1869, he began reading law, in Williamsport, Ind., 
with James McCabe, which he continued three years, and was admitted to practice 
after that time. Mr. Sutton was married, in Montgomery County, March 26, 1863, 
to Lizzie M.. daughter of John and Elizabeth Shanklin, born in Montgomery County 
March 20, 1840. They became i)arents of two cildren— Lillie M. and Bessie L. Mr. 
Sutton is C^ount}^ Superintendent, and resides at Williamsport. 

LEVI VAN REED is a native of Warren County, Ind., and was born Decem- 
ber 18, 1860. His parents were Levi R. and Amelia B. Van Reed, both natives of 
Pennsylvania, where they were married, afterward removing to Mississippi, whence 



PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. 209 

they came to this county, where they died. They were the parents of twelve chil- 
dren—Austin (deceased), Mary E., Milton (deceased), Byron, Sarah C, Helena, 
Minerva, John, Newton (deceased), two infants (deceased and unnamed) and Levi, 
the subject of this sketch. During his boyhood, lie attended the ilistrict schools, 
and, after the decease of his parents, the high .schools of La Fayette, the Stockwell 
Schools, and, finally, to Bloomington, 111., where his education was completed. He 
is now owner of 240 acres of land, and is unmarried. 

VILITTA WAKEMAN (widow of William F. Wakeman), is a native of 
Putnam County, N. Y., and was born November l~). 1813. Her parents were John 
and Martha Stow, who, in 1817, removed to Clinton (bounty, Ohio, and afterward to 
Delaware County, Ind., where they lived until called away by death, leavin^j a 
family of five children— Hiram, Saraji B., Benonia, Jane and Vilitta. Miss Vilitta 
Stow was united in wedlock to William F. Wakeman, December 10, 1837, in Clin- 
ton Count}', Ohio. The parents of Mr. Wakeman were Gideon and Deborah Wake- 
man; he was born in New York, August H, IHIU, and was one of their eight children, 
—William F.. J. A., Jane. C. B., Sarah, Mary, Harriet and Harmond. In 18:{H, he 
removed to Warren County, Ind., where he died March 23, 1869, leaving the fol- 
lowing family— Mary E., Francis M., Charles E., Harriet A., Hannah R. and 
William E. 



PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. 

JOSHUA ANDERSON was born August 16th, 1813, in Bucks County, Penn., 
and is the eldest of eight children born to William and Keziah (Smith) Anderson. 
The family moved to Warren County, Ohio, in 1818. Joshua had only tiie ordinary 
country schooling, and worked for his father until nearly twenty years of age. He 
worked out awhile and then learned the cooper's trade, which he followed fourteen 
years. In 1833. he married Miss Harriet Crosley, by whom he had twelve children, 
four of whom are now living — Mar}- Jane High, James, Keziah Gilger, and Caroline 
Palmer. He lost his first wife in 1863, and in 1867 was united to Mrs. Eunice Pros- 
ser. One child has blessed this union, Elmer E. In 1847, he discontinued his trade, 
and rented a farm. He moved to Warren County, Ind., in 1853, and the following 
spring settled in Prairie Township on his present farm. He first bought 126 acres, 
and lias added until he now owns 215 acres, 160 being prairie and the remainder 
woodland. During the war, he acted as enrolling officer, reporting at La Fayette. 
His son James .-served tiiree years In the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteers. He was 
at Stone River all through the Atlanta campaign, and at Nashville. Mr. Ander- 
son was Township Trustee for several years, being the first one elected. He also 
acted as Land Appraiser for Prairie and Pine Townships for three terms. He has 
been a member of the F. & A. M. for twenty years, and joined the Odd Fellows in 
1848, attending regularly until about five years ago. He has been liberal and active 
in promoting benevolent enterprises. 

WILLIAM T. EVANS was born January 1, 1842, in Ro.ss County, Ohio, and 
is a son of O. P. C. and Eliza J. Evans. In 1849, they settled in Tippecanoe County, 
Ind. William received a good education, having attended the liigh school for ."Sev- 
eral years, besides two years at Asbury University. He remained on the farm un- 
til thirty-one years old, overseeing business in the absence of bis father, who was 
often away, engaged in the cattle trade. January 4tli, 1H72, he was married to Miss 
Mary Ann Meharry, daughter of Hugh and Margaret M. Meharry. One child, Arthur 
Hanson, has bles.sed this union. Some time after his marriage, he settled on his 
present farm of 320 acres, which is in excellent condition, the grounds about the 
house showing that he is a man of taste as well as business. He devoted some 
attention to raising fine hogs. In addition to his home farm, he owns 924 acres, 
making 1244 acres in all, over 1200 being umier cultivation. A part of it is rented, 
the remainder undt;r his own charge. His wife was an excellent woman, much es- 
teemed by her neighbors, but for several years she was in feeble health and ilied in 
1880. Mr. Evan* is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes an ac- 
tive part in Sal)bath school and other church work. 

N. M. GEHRIS was born in Montgomery County, Penn., in 1832, and is a son 
of Daniel and Julia Gohris, who were of Russian and English descent respectively. 
N. M. Gehris, when three years old, removed with his parents to Berks C'ounty, 
Penn. He became a blacksmith, and in 1H,50 came to Warren County, Ind., in com- 
pany with John V. High, ami one other man. He opened a shop on Pine Creek, 
where he remained fifteen months, then went to Rainsville, and stayed there about 
fifteen months. He then moved on the prairie, half a mile west of his present home 



210 BIOGUAIMIICAL SKETCHES: 

in Prairie Township. He worked at his trade, and also cultivated a small farm, for 
seven years. He then bought 160 acres of land, being part of the 320 acres which 
he now owns. A part of the time he rented and cultivated several hundred acres, 
in connection with his own farm; but of late years has attended principally to his 
own land. He has raised and traded stock extensively. Mr. Gehriswas married, in 
1853, to Miss Anna Rockentield, by whom he had six children — Sarah Ellen, Henri- 
etta, Rosanna, Susan, Nathan R. and Elisha, four of whom are now living. Mrs. 
Gehris died in March, 1873, and in 1874 he married Miss Lydia E. Hurst, by whom 
he had one child — Rebecca May. In 187(i, his .second wife died, and March 29, 1879, 
he married his present wife, who was a Miss Johnson. By this marriage, there has 
been one child — Charles Johnson. For thirty years, Mr. Gehris has been a Justice 
of the Peace, and has always been active in all church and school movements. He 
is a Democrat, but reserves a discretion in voting. 

ARTHUR C. GOODWINE was born in Warren County, Ind., February 23, 
1839, and is a son of Harrison and Isabel Goodwine. When four years old, he went 
to live with his grandfather. He herded cattle for tive summers, the first year with 
hi.'^ father, the second with his grandfather, and the remaining three by himself. 
His grandfather died when Arthur was thirteen years old. He returned to his 
father, and remained there until seventeen. He then came upon the place where 
he now lives, in Prairie Township. He put up a small house, and herded and traded 
cattle for six j^ears, excepting the year 1861, during which he kept a store in Jordan 
Township. March 4. 18o8, he married Elizabeth Briggs, by whom he had three 
children — Capitola, Flora and Laura. His first wife died in 1873, and June 16, 1879, 
he married Elizabeth Lerch, by whom he has two children. After quitting the cat- 
tle business, he invested his means in a diy goods, grocerj^ and variety store in West 
Lebanon, and in four j'ears he lost |15,000. He came back to his present place; 
farmed some time, and then went to Benton County, and engaged in herding and 
farming for two years. With his father he again entered mercantile pursuits, in 
Ambia, for four years, but without success. In 1880, he returned to his old home, 
and says he is trying to get a little ahead by the old method of stock farming. He 
is a member of the United Brethren Church, and a Republican. 

JAMES HATTON was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1822, and is a son of 
James and Rebecca Hatton. When James was two years old, his parents moved to 
Parke County, Ind., and in 1826 to Fountain County. His father entered land, part 
prairie, and part timber, and on this laud James was reared, and participated in the 
hardships of pioneer life. He relates that while following his father in a hunt for a 
strayed horse, he came suddenly upon a grey wolf, and not desiring that sort of 
company, he made a "right about face." and started on a "double quick" toward 
home. He attended the old log schoolhouse of those days, and once narrowly es- 
caped a whipping, having found a whisky bottle belonging to his teacher. He 
helped to supply the family with meat, killing deer, turkey and other game. He 
worked for his father until twenty-one years old, and mostly on the home farm un- 
til he was thirty. In 1852, he went to California, and engaged in mining, but was 
not very successful. In 1856. he married Miss Isabel Steely, by whom he has six 
children — Louisa F.. James W., Elmer R., Melissa B., Bert E. and Harvey R. Mr. 
Hatton's present farm in Prairie Township consists of 120 acres, which, by hard 
work, he has got into good cultivation. He has good outbuildings. He is in com- 
fortable circumstances, and has accumulated most of his property since the war. 
Though not a regular member, he contributes liberally to the support of the church. 
He was Township Trustee about seven years, and has been for many years engaged 
in settling estates and collecting notes. Politically, Mr. Hatton is a Republican. 

ISAAC D. HIGH was born in Berks County, Penn., March 9, 1845, and is a 
son of John V. R. and Sarah A. (Hottenstein) High. The family came to Warren 
County, Ind., in 1852, where his father had entered land some years before. They 
came from Pittsburgh to William.sport by steamboat. Isaac received a limited edu- 
cation, and worked for his father until seventeen years old. He also worked at 
brick-making, and as a cigar-maker. In May, 1862, he enlisted in the Fifty-fifth In- 
diana Volunteers, for three months' service. Most of the time, he was on detached 
duty, but was in the battles of Rogersville, and Richmond, Ky. His father died in 
1861. and on Isaac's return home he found matters in such a condition that, being the 
eldest child, he thought it best to remain on the farm, and help his mother. In 
1876, he visited the Centennial. In 1880, he was married to Miss Margaret M. Hind- 
man, who has borne him two children, one now living — John Hindman. He is a 
member of the G. A. R., and, in politics, belongs to the National party. His farm 
of 160 acres is in good condition. He also owns twenty acres of timber on Pine 
Creek. He feeds his grain to his stock. 

JOHN B. LACEY was born May 1, 1833, in Stark County, Ohio, and is a son 
of Thomas and Nancy McGaughy Lacey. He obtained his education at the com- 



PRAIRIE TOWNS n I r— WARREN COUNTY. 211 

mon schools, and worked on the farm for his father until he was of age. In 1841. 
the family came to Steuben County, Ind., and, in 18").'), to Warren County, and 
worked by the month. March HI, lH'i(\, he married Miss Martha J. Ni.xon, and their 
union was blessed with ten cliildron— Sarah E. (deceased), Thomas M, James V., 
Nancy .lane, Lewis K, Mary M., Bertha R., John C, Nathan M. and Edith B. 
After his marriage, he rented land until 18(51, when he went back to Steuben County 
and bought twenty acres. In October, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, and served two years and eight months. He was on post duty 
at Chattanooga until May 1, 18t)r), when the regiment went to Dalton, Ga. He was 
promoted to First Sergeant. He left the regiment on account of disability, and was 
discharged at Indianapolis July 20, 1!^(),"). He went back to his farm in Steuben 
County, which had been rented out during his absence. He bought twenty acres 
adjoining his first purchase, and remained" there until 1872, when he sold out and 
removed to Warren County. He bought eighty acres in Prairie Township, which 
he sold in 1878, and went West, but not being pleased with the prospect, he returned 
to Warren County and bought 100 acres — his present home. His farm is 
all under cultivation, is well fenced, and has a good orchard. He is a member of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics a Greenbackcr, though not a strict 
party man. He was Constable in Prairie Township for three years. Mr. Lacey is 
a great reader of books and papers, and is active in all public improvements. 

MONTGOMERY- H. MYERS was born in Hamilton County, (Jhio, January 10, 
1837, and is a son of William A. and Ann flyers. William Myers was engaged in 
the manufacture of buttons, and during the last year; of their stay in Ohio, Mont- 

fomery assisted him. When our subject was in his tenth year, the family moved to 
la Fayette, Ind., where his father embarked in boat buildmg. He attended school 
during his first year in La Fayette, and the following year worked in a paper mill. 
In 1849. they settled on a farm in Pine Township, Warren County. In Mont- 

fomery's twentieth year his father died, leaving him in care of the family. In 
859, he married Miss Ellen McDade, and eleven children have blessed their union : 
Eva Alice, George S., Flora B., Salinda A., Mary Q., William M., Martha A., Perry 
H., Howard A., Emma E. and Walter B. For one year after marriage, he lived 
south of Oxford, Benton County, then for four years lived on the McConnel farm 
in the same county. In 1863, his young brother having enlisted, he went back to 
the old home farm, where his mother and sister were living alone, and remained 
there four years. He then came to his present home in Prairie Township, where he 
had previously bought 160 acres of land. About ninety acres were fit for cultiva- 
tion, the remainder being slough. He has ditched the wetland, and the whole farm 
is now in good condition. In 1876. Mr. Myers lo^t his wife, and his daughters have 
since kept house for him. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1878, and re- 
elected in 1882. He is a member of the Christian Church, and active in all good 
enterprises. 

SAMUEL SMITH was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in April, 1846, and is a 
son of Henry and Sarah Smith. When Samuel was five years old, his father moved 
to Warren County, Ind., and settled at Walnut Grove, in what is now Prairie 
Township. Samuel worked on the farm and attended the public schools. After 
teaching a term or so, he, in 1869, went to Oberlin, Ohio, and spent nine months at 
the college. With a few exceptions, he has taught school every winter since. For 
some years he served as Deputy Clerk of Warren County. From 1878 to 1882, he 
was County Surveyor. At present Mr. Smith devotes himself to farming in sum- 
mer, and teaching in winter. His farm of 120 acros is part of a large tract of land 
entered by his grandfather, Thomas Whinery. It is under good cultivation, and 
has a stable, but no other buildings. Mr. Smith is a Republican. He studies as 
much as a man engaged in hard physical work can do, ami manages to keep abreast 
of the times. He stdl enjoys single life, never having found a partner to share his 
joys and sorrows. 



PART III. 

HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY, 



BY ED. A. MDSSMAX. 



"Perchance the living .still may look 
Into the pages of this book, 
And see the days of long ago 
Floating and fleeting to and fro. 
As in the well -remembered brook 
Tliey saw the inverted landscape gleam, 
And their own faces like a dream 
Look upon them from below." — Longfdlow. 



GENERAL COUNTY MATTERS. 



PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

BENTON COUNTY consists of a broad expanse of gently undulating 
prairie, unbroken, except by a few groves, the largest of which are but a 
few miles in extent. It is situated in the eastern part of what is commonly 
denominated the Grand Prairie, which extends far to the westward, and 
embraces a large portion of the States of Indiana and Illinois. Many parts 
were originally very wet, but a system of drainage has been adopted, which 
will ultimately result in bringing nearly all the surface into cultivation. 
Pine Creek is the only stream worthy of mention. It runs southerl}', and 
empties its waters into the Wabash River. The northern portion of the 
county is watered by tributaries of the Iroquois River. The county is ex- 
cellently adapted to grazing, and .some of the finest droves of cattle produced 
in the West are annually shipped from this county to the Eastern markets. 
About the year 1875, or perhaps a little earlier, tile-draining was begun in 
the county, and it was found to enhance the productiveness of the soil to 
such an extent as to more than meet the expectations of the most sanguine 
advocates of this system of drainage. Portions of the county, and especially 
the southwestern portion, are still quite wet. There probably is not. how- 
ever, an acre of ground in the county that is so wet as to be unfit for culti- 
vation after it shall have been drained as well as circumstances will admit 
of. Of the groves that have l)een alluded to. the principal ones are White 



214 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Oak, Parish, Hickory, Sumner's (formerly Sugar), Denton's and McConnell's. 
Mt. Gilboa and Mt. Nebo are probably the highest points of land in the 
county, the forraei-, which is situated in the township of the same name, be- 
ing about eighty feet higher than the surrounding prairie. A splendid view 
of the surrounding country, for a distance of fifteen miles, can be had from 
its summit. 

THE SOIL. 

Throughout the greater portion of the county, the soil is a rich black 
loam ; although there are portions of the county in which the soil is a light 
clay, well adapted to the raising of wheat. The best wheat land to be found 
in the county is in the vicinity of Oxford, this being the only portion of the 
county in which wheat is cultivated to any considerable extent. For corn 
and stock raising, there is not, probably, a better county in the State than 
Benton. 

TIMBER. 

As previously observed, the surface of the county is very largely com- 
posed of prairie. There are, however, a few groves skirting the streams, 
the largest of which probably is White Oak Grrove, which is situated prin- 
cipally in Oak Grove Township, and in which, as may readily be inferred 
from the name, white oak timber largely predominates over other kiiids. 
In other groves, other kinds of timber predominate, as may be readily in- 
ferred from the names (Hickory Grove and Sugar Grove, for instance) ap- 
plied to them. 

SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTS. 

The first settlements within the limits of the present county of Benton were 
made several years before the county was created. Thomas Timmons, who, 
with his family, settled on Big Pine Creek, in the year 1831, on or near the 
farm now owned b}' his son Benjamin A. Timmons, is commonly supposed 
to be the first white settler within the present limits of Benton County. 
There are, however, good reasons for doubting this. Thomas Lewis settled 
in or near White Oak Grove, on or near the farm now owned by R. iM. 
Atkinson, in the fall of 1832. He purchased the farm on which he settled 
of John Fields ; and Isaac W. Lewis, a son of Thomas Lewis aforesaid, who 
is still residing at or near Oxford, says that there were trees on the farm on 
which his father settled, which had evidently been deadened five or six years 
before his father bought it. This he says was evident from the fact that the 
bark had fallen off, and the trunks of the trees had become very much 
blanched by exposure to the weather. About the same time that Thomas 
Lewis settled in the county, the following-named persons came : Thomas 
Nolin, Matthew Terwilliger, Levi Thornton, Henry Jennings, Philip Williams 
and others, and settled in the timber along Big Pine Creek. Also, there 
were two or three families, among whom were James 0. Denton and William 
Denton, settled at Denton's Grove about 1832, although the exact date can- 
not be ascertained. From this time until 1835, a few families settled in the 
same locality, but the increase was very slow. In 1835, Basil Justus, with 



HISTORY OF BRNTON COUNTY. 215 

his family, moved to White Oak Grove, and erected a log-cabin on or near 
what i3 now known as the Justus farm, at that time one of the most 
advanced posts in the county. On this farm Mr. Justus or some of his 
family have ever since resided until within the last few years. It is now 
occupied by Joseph Atkinson. At the time of his first settlement there, 
there were only two Dr three families in the grove. During the fall of the 
same year, John W. Robertson and his family moved to Parish Grrove, his 
sons, Henr}' and Samuel, having come the previous spring and raised a crop. 
There were living in Parish Grove at that time, Enoch Evans, John Foster 
and William Douglas, who had settled there a short time before. Robert 
Alexander came to the grove a short time thereafter, and lived for many 
years on the farm now owned by Parnham Boswell. At about the same time, 
there were living at Sugar Grove, Hamaniah Huett and family, and a family 
by the name of Peck. About the same time, there were a few fixmilies set- 
tled on the banks of Mud Pine Creek, in the southern portion of the county, 
among which were David Lane, Thomas Martin, Perigan Garland, William 
Smith and James Smith and families, with periiaps a few others. 

In the spring of 1834, Judge David McCounell and his family moved to 
White Oak Grove, and erected a small log house on the ver}- spot where he 
now resides, and has resided on the farm he first settled on from that date 
down to the present time. There were at that tiuve five or six families on 
the east side of Big Pine Creek, and about four families in the south part 
of White Oak Grove. Those on the east side of Big Pine were Philip Will- 
iams, Thomas Nolin, Aaron Finch, James Holmes, James Thornton. John 
Emerson. Those in the south part of White Oak Grove were William Lewis, 
Basil Justus and Thomas Lewis. Philip Williams was then living on what 
is known as the old Williams fiirm. Milton Jennings lived on the farm now 
owned bj' George H. Jennings, and Thomas Nolin was living on the farm on 
which his son, George W. Nolin, now resides. About the same time, there 
were a few families settled in what is now known as McConnell's Grove, 
about four miles southwest of White Oak Grove, consisting of Samuel Mc- 
Connell and brother, and one or two others. In 1840, the first house in 
Benton County, on the road from La Fayette to Oxford, was the house of 
Peter Jennings, where P. P. Gritlin now lives ; thence four miles west to 
houses of Justus and McConnell, in White Oak Grove ; thence west, no 
house for ten miles, until j'ou reached Parish Grove ; then none for 
eight miles further to Sugar Grove ; and then sixteen miles to Bun- 
kum, 111. ; and not one house north of White Oak Grove to the Iroquois 
River, about twenty-five miles, this entire grand and now beautiful prairie 
being wholl}' wild and uninhabited. For although a few families began to 
now move into the county, they still kept in the timber portion, or close 
thereto, as the grand prairie was still considered a barren, bleak and drear}- 
waste, and was known and spoken of as *' The Lost Land," its principal pro- 
ductions being prairie wolves, sand-iiill cranes and green-head files. It has 
been farmed since, however, and its virgin soil has been yielding most valu- 



216 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

able produce. Up to this time, and for a few years thereafter, the nearest 
market for Benton County was the village of Chicago, and the Benton 
County farmers would once a year load up their grain and produce in a lum- 
ber wagon, and, putting in two weeks' provisions, with an ox-team would 
start to market to sell their surplus produce, and lay in their necessarj' gro- 
ceries for tUp coming year ; and, after swimming rivers, wading sloughs and 
sleeping on the cold ground every night, would finally succeed in making 
the entire round trip inside of fifteen days. About the 3'ear 1845, a few 
settlers began to move into different portions of the county, and gradually 
to encroach on the confines of the hitherto unsettled prairie. On Mud Pine, 
about first were Isaiah H. Perigo and Joshua Howell, who settled on the 
prairie just north of what was then known as the Smith settlement, followed 
soon after by William Smalley, the Mcllvains, Jacob Cassell, David Ogburn, 
Jesse Lutz, Joseph Pierce, John Gage, John Hopper, John C. Anderson, 
the McDaniells, William Hubbard, the Vanovers and others. James S. 
Crawford settled near Hickory- Grove, in what is now Hickory Grove Town- 
ship, in 1846, and was probably the first settler in that township. He was 
followed soon afterward by Harvey H. Crawford, John French and Enos 
Rush. About the same time the following-named persons settled in and 
near White Oak Grove : William Oiler, James McKinsey, L. B. Wattles, 
Ezekiel Davis. Francis Boyntou, the Littlers, Isaac Runner, the Wakcmans, 
a man named Burch, Robert and Hartley T. Howard, Dr. Theophilus Stem- 
bel, Thomas Atkinson, William Cochran and others. On Big Pine Creek, 
George H. Finch, James Thomas, Isaiah H. Young, William Young, James 
Emerson and man}- others commenced breaking prairie for their future 
homes, all, however, up to this time clinging as closely to timber and groves 
as possible. In 1849, Parnham Boswell came to Parish Grove, buying the 
farm of Robert Alexander, while Ed Sumner, a little more bold, pushed 
across the prairie eight miles further, to Sugar Grove, settling on lands pre- 
viously bought. At North Hickory Grove, Samuel Finne^^ had a little log 
cabin, and herded his cattle close around him. Near Mount Gilboa, John 
Southard, Jacob Lucas, a man named Jones and others, located at an early 
date, probably some time in the forties. Among the first who located far 
out on the prairie, and far awaj- from timber, about this time, were William 
Wisher, on the farm on which he now resides ; Daniel Birdsall close b}-, on 
what is known as the Anstill farm ; and a small colony of English people 
who had just come to this country, of which Mr. F. P. Greenwood was the 
van-courier, he having pi-e-empted some land, a part of which is known as 
the Carlisle farm, on which he erected a rough hut on the banks of Mud 
Pine Creek, without doors or windows, some time before he was joined by 
his own family, or any other member of the colony. In a short time, he was 
joined by John Lathrop, Matthew Armstrong, Joseph Bromley, John Camp- 
ton, James Jarrett, William McQueen and George Bonn, who settled on the 
land pre-empted by F. P. Greenwood, and made some improvements. After 
a few years of hard toil, great inconvenience, man}' hardships and priva- 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 217 

lions, and being unable to protect themselves from the bleak prairie winds, 
the colon}' was abandoned, all except Mr. Greenwood leaving the county. 
Mr. Greenwood moved some four miles further south, nearer the timber, and 
settled on the farm on which he now resides, and is the only one of the col- 
ony now living in the county. Thomas Gornull and James Haworth, both 
Englishmen, but not belonging to the colony, came into the prairie about the 
same time, both of whom now own beautiful farms. From this time for- 
ward, families began moving into different portions of the county, as a 
market had ope'ned up at La Fa^'ette, which at that time was considered 
quite handy, as the round trip could be made during one-half of the year in 
two full days, allowing no time to stop for meals. 

Joseph Dehart settled in Pine Township in 1849, and there were at that 
time the following persons in that township : John Sheetz, Henry Youtz, 
James Emerson, Robert Hawkins, Benjamin Hawkins (builder of the first 
house ever built in the township), Joshua Timmons, Amos White, Thomas 
Parker, the Widow Terwilliger and probably others. The time of their set- 
tling in that part of the county is not known any more definitely than that 
it was before 1849. Among the early settlers in the vicinit}' of Oxford were 
James N. Holton, Isaac Templeton, John Burns, John Campbell and many 
others. On Mud Pine, John Roberts, J. D. Roberts, H. W. Wilkinson, Will- 
iam Wilkinson, Ford, Stanley, Jarvis and others. On the prairie between 
the two places, John E. Morgan, J. F. Mills, Charles Aaron, Johu Wattles, 
J. N. Kiger and others. On Big Pine and eastern part of the county, Evan 
Stephenson, J. W. Swan, Benjamin Hawkins, William Hawkins, W. J. Tem- 
pleton, Thomas Maddux, the Deharts, Haighs, Browns and others. 

There began to be some excitement about this time over the prospect of 
a railroad being built along the northern boundary line of the county, and 
in anticipation thereof, several settlers came into the northern portion of 
the county and commenced to improve farms, among whom were John 
Fleming, Sr., and family, A. D. Packard, E. C Gould, Anthony Dehner and 
many others. After the completion of the railroad, the northern portion of 
the county improved rapidly, and settled up much faster than any other por- 
tion of the county, soon rivaling some of the early settled portions, and 
leaving the central portion still l)eliind iu improvements. The population of 
the county at this time was about 2,450. The following, found among the 
files of the Auditor's office, prol)ably sliows who were liable to work the 
road in Pine Township in 1842: 

■ July 2, 1842. List of persons who have performed labor on the public 
roads in Pine Township, District No. 1, for the year 1842, with the number of 
days each has performed : James Thomas, eleven ; James Emerson, eleven ; 
Thomas Spriggs, eleven ; Johu Anderson. — ; William R. Jonson, eleven ; 
Charles Timmons. eleven; B-:;iJ.iiain Timmons. eleven; Tliomas Griffin, 
eleven ; James GriiHa, eleven ; James Parker, eleven ; Menson Owens, 
eleven ; Robert Hawkins, eleven ; .VUen Gilvan, eleven ; Al)ert Gilvan, 
eleven ; Amos White, eleven ; John White, eleven ; Jackson Gilvan, eleven ; 



218 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Joseph Heftner, eleven ; Elisha Freel, eleven ; John Sheetz, eleven ; Elijah 
Denton, eleven ; James Denton, eleven ; Elias Smith, eleven." 

The foregoing document is not signed at all, nor even marked " filed." 
As no similar papers appear among the files, it is not probable that this one 
was filed in compliance with an}' statutor}^ requirement. It was probably 
filed by some Road Supervisor, or Tpwnship Trustee, who conceived it to be 
his duty to file such a list somewhere. Whatever the fact may be, how- 
ever, as to whether the filing was required by law, or was a work of super- 
erogation, it probably is genuine, nevertheless, and is quite an interesting pa- 
per, as it not only shows who were residing in Pine Township at that time, 
but it shows the further interesting fact that they could be and were re- 
quired to work as many as eleven days on the roads in those days. What 
would we, of the present day, who grumble at working two days, say to this ? 
Each of the three townships, Pine, Oak G-rove and Parish Grove, constituted 
a single road district at that time, there being but three districts in the 
county. 

EARLY MARRIAGES. 

During the first ten years after the count^^ was created, from 1840 to 1850, 
there were fifty-four couples married in this county, as follows : Amos 
White, Sr., and Mary Earheart, August 2, 1840 ; Jonathan Baugh 
and Ruth Ann Nolan, October 1, 1840 ; Marmaduke Jennings and 
Elizabeth Robertson, October 1, 1840 ; Samuel Robertson and Sabina 
Alexander, February 25, 1841 ; Charles Robertson and Eliza Ann Mitchell, 
February 25, 1841 ; John Hilton and Margaret Garland, June 20, 1841 ; 
James E. Robertson and Jane Alexander, February 1, 1842 ; Benjamin 
Franlin Coffenberrj' and Bethsheba Oiler, January 31, 1842 ; Thomas Lewis 
and Elizabeth McConnell, March 21, 1842 ; William R. Johnson and Marga- 
ret Finch, June 2, 1842 ; James T. Parker and Rachael N. Justus, August 
25, 1842 ; Eli Mendenhall and Sarah Williams, October 8, 1842 ; Archibald 
Morrison and Lawson Groom, March 21,1843; Henry Van Horn and 
Louisa Rose, December 14, 1843 ; John M^^ers and Sarah Noles, September 
5, 1844 ; John Whittaker and Sarah Smith, September 15, 1844 ; Joseph 
Thompson and Elizabeth McConnell, February 26. 1845 ; Abraham Metsker 
and Elizabeth Odell, August 27, 1845 ; James Henry Terwilliger and Mary 
Griffin, September 19, 1845 ; John Kelly and Sarah Ann Wood, September 
29, 1845 ; William Wray and Sarah Jane Carson, — , 1845 ; Cyrus Stanley 
and Amanda Beard, February 5, 1846 ; Thomas Geofre}' and Lucinda 
McCurtain, April 2, 1846 ; William B. McConnell and Frances Jane Howard, 
April 7, 1846 ; John McDade and Esther Martin, April 16, 1846 ; Thomas 
Carter and Martha Jolly, June 27, 1846 ; Elijah Bunnell and Martha Rob- 
ertson, August 27, 1846 ; Addison Williams and Catharine Martin, Septem- 
ber 10, 1846 ; Samuel Mcllvain and Margaret Lane McConnell, Novem- 
ber 5, 1846 ; James Wylie and Mary Davis, May 27, 1847 ; John A. Finney, 
and Amanda D. Lane, July 1, 1847 ; George Shambaugh and Louisa Shoe- 
maker, January 6, 1848 ; Charles Wattles and Leah Littler, February 6, 






V 




<^ ^^^^^ '--fji^ o-t-t^-^^- 



HISTOKV OF BKNTON COUNTY. 221 

1848 ; John Brown and Sarah Wilson, March 1«, 1848 ; Zebulon M. Wray 
and Mary Ann Earhart, March 2(>, 1848 : llinaldo Sutton and Vivena Cray- 
ton, February 10, 1848 ; James A. McCotuiell and Sarah Mcllvain, March 
2, 1848 ; John Gray and Hannah Lewis, Apri 20, 1848 ; Hugh McConnell 
and Margaret M. Johnston, April 20, 1848 ; John L. McConnell and Eliza- 
beth B. Johnston, August 8, 1848 ; William Wilkinson and Nancy D. John- 
ston, August 10, 1848 ; John M. Cochran and Mary Magdalen Johnston, 
September 24. 1848 ; Moses Wilson and Armintha Martin, August 17, 1848 ; 
Isaac Terapleton and Maria Jennings, January 2, 1849 ; George W. Free- 
man and Abigail Mcllvain. February 22, 1849 ; Thomas Smith and Marga- 
ret Martin, March 8, 1849; Henry C. Morgan and Mary Elizabeth Liptrap, 
April f). 1849 ; William Courtney and Nancy Ann Robertson, October 3, 

1849 : Enoch Fonton and Julia Ann Crawford, October 10, 1849; John 
Hawkins and Margaret Rebecca Sheetz, November 1, 1849 ; Elijah Denton 
and Mary Ann Miller, December 6, 1849 ; Elbert A. Scoviil and Mary Ann 
Thomas, May 12, 1850 ; Isaac W. Lewis and Lucy McConnell, May 30 

1850 ; Joseph M. Ferguson and Mary Jane McConnell, June 2, 1850. 

It will readily be seen, by an inspection of the foregoing, that the year 
1848 witnessed the culmination of the matrimonial fever for the period 
of time mentioned, the number of " victims " during that memorable 
year reaching the then unprecedented number of twelve couples, or twenty- 
four persons. As the year 1848 was a leap-year, many might hastily 
conclude that in this fact lay the explanation of this unusual activity 
in the matrimonial market. Such will readily discover, however, by ap- 
plying the infallible mathematical test, that the year 1844 was also a leap- 
year, and as there were but two matrimonial knots tied in the county 
during that year (as low a number as was reached in any year during 
the period), they will discover that their theory is wholly untenable. No 
solution of the matter will be here attempted, but the subject will be 
given over to those who have time and inclination for such pastime. It 
will further be seen that of those fifty-four marriages, three occurred in 1840 
(afractional year), three in 1841, six in 1842, two in 1843, two in 1844, five 
in 1845, eight in 1846, two in 1847, twelve in 1848, eight in 1849 and 
three in 1850, which latter was also fractional, there being but sufficient 
of it embraced to make out the period of ten years from August 2, 1840. 
As tending to show the preferences which people have for one month over 
another, or for certain months over certain others, for the consummation of 
this great event, which is the bloom or bligiitof the happiness of all who enter 
the statxi matrimonial, it may be interesting to note that three of those matri- 
monial splices were made in the montii of January, eight in February, six in 
March, six in April, three in May, five in June, one in July, seven in August 
six in September, five in October, two in November and two in December. It, 
will thus be seen that of all the twelve montlis in the year, February, though 
the shortest of them all, is the rao^t popular month for organizing new fana- 
ilios. and that July, though as long as tha longo^t, is the m^-it unpoptilar 

14 



222 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 



one for that purpose. The reason why this is so, if it really be neces- 
sary that any should be given, probably consists in the fact that whilst peo- 
ple have less time in February than in July (from two to three days less) 
they have more leisure. There may be other reasons that contribute more 
or less to the unpopularity of July as a month for marrying, but this is 
probably the principal one. 

EARLY LAND ENTRIES. 



NAMES OF PURCHASEBB. 



William Brown 

Bassett Timmons. . . . 
Thomas Timmons... 
Matthew Terwilliger. 

Parker Dresser 

David McConnell. . . 

Basil Justus 

Lewis Williams 

Henry Jennings 

Philip Williams 

Thomas Johnston... 
Thomas Johnston. . . 

Amos White 

Robert M. Atkinson. 
Thomas Atkinson... 
Henry Robertson. . . . 

John F. Boswell 

James T. Parker 

Parnham Boswell. . . 
Isaac Templeton. . . . 
Thomas Hemphill. . . 
William E. Surface.. 
John Stephenson. . . . . 
Charles T. Harris. . . 
Edward C. Siunner. . 
Alexander K. Nutt... 
Robert Alexander. . . 
John A. Lewis 



DATE. 


DESCRIPTION. 


A. 


SEC. 


T. 


R. 


June 19, 1833. 


160 


33 


24 


6 


October 23, 1832. 


80 


31 


25 


6 


October 23, 1832. 


107 


31 


25 


6 


November 23, 1832. 


180 


31 


25 


6 


September 9, 1852. 


164 


6 


26 


6 


February 20, 1834. 


40 


19 


24 


7 


February 26, 1834. 


40 


19 


24 


7 


December 31, 1832. 


80 


33 


24 


7 


October 23, 1832 


80 


33 


24 


7 


March 7, 1835. 


40 


35 


24 


7 


June 26, 1846. 


80 


11 


25 


7 


April 29, 1846. 


400 


12 


25 


7 


October 12, 1835. 


80 


25 


25 


7 


February 16, 1848. 


160 


33 


25 


7 


March 11, 1851. 


160 


31 


26 


7 


November 8, 1852. 


80 


r6 


24 


8 


June 8,1849. 


160 


17 


24 


8 


March 2. 1844. 


160 


24 


24 


8 


November 8, 1850. 


160 


31 


25 


8 


January 25, 1851. 


160 


33 


25 


8 


January 2, 1833. 


80 


1 


24 


9 


June 16, 1849. 


160 


24 


24 


9 


March 11, 1852. 


160 


30 


24 


9 


November 3, 1846. 


80 


36 


24 


9 


November 13, 1849. 


280 


5 


25 


9 


June 29, 1849. 


160 


34 


25 


9 


June 24, 1836. 


160 


34 


25 


9 


April 11, 1849. 


160 


14 


26 


9 



The foregoing land purchases were not from the United States Govern- 
ment direct, but of lands donated by the General Government to the State, 
and commonly known as canal land and swamp land. The early entries of 
Government lands cannot be here given, for the reason that the tract book 
showing those entries could not be found in the office in which it properly 
belongs, owing to some confusion having arisen with the records and files at 
the time when they were removed from the old county seat at Oxford to the 
new county seat at Fowler. 



CREATION OF TOWNSHIPS, AND CHANGES THEREIN. 

The time of the creation of the three townships of Oak Grove, Parish 
Grove and Pine, together with their boundaries, has been given. The places 
of holding elections in the several townships were changed from time to 
time, by order of the Board of Commissioners. At their may session, in 
1841, it was "ordered that the place of holding elections in and for Parish 
Grove Township is henceforth to be holden at the house of Joseph Smith in 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 223 

said township. " At the September terra of Commissioners' Court, 1844, it 
was -ordered that the place of holding elections in Pine Township be re- 
moved from the house of Amos Wiiite to the house of Joseph HefFner, in 
said township." At the Deecniher term, 1844, the phu-e of holding elections 
in Parish Grove Township was removed from the house of John Rose to the 
house of Thomas Martin. At the June term, 1847, the place of holding 
elections in Pine Township was "removed to the schoolhouse in said town- 
ship near William K. Johnson's residence." At the Feliruary tc^rm, 1850 
it was '"ordered that the place of holding elections in Parish Grove Town- 
ship be removed from Thomas Martin's to the schoolhouse in District No. 
2, Congressional Township 24, Range 8. 

At the March term of Commissioners' Court, 1855, Washington Town- 
ship was created, bounded as follows : Commencing at the southeast corner 
of Section 16, in Township 25, of Range 7; thence west to the southwest 
corner of Section 15, Township 25, of Range 8; thence north to the north- 
west corner of Section 3, in Township 26, of Range 8 ; thence east to the 
northwest corner of Section 3, in Township 26, of Range 7 ; and thence south 
to the place of beginning. 

Prairie Township was created in March, 1855, and was bounded as fol- 
ows : Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 16, in Township 25, 
of Range 8, ami running thence west to the line dividing the States of Indi- 
ana and Illinois ; thence north to the northwest corner of Section 2, in Town- 
ship 26, of Range 10 ; thence east to the northeast corner of Section 4. in 
Township 26, of Range 8 ; and thence south to the place of beginning. 
The Board of Commissioners, at their December session, 1855, ordered that 
the order creating Washington and Prairie Townships be annulled, for tiie 
reason that there were not sutlicient inhabitants in the territory embraced 
by them. At their March term, 1858, the Board of County Comini.ssioners 
created West Pine Township, out of a part of Parish Grove Township, with 
boundaries as follows: Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 16, 
in Township 24, of Range 8, and running thence south to the south line of 
the county ; thence west to the southwest corner of the county ; thence 
north to the northwest corner of Section 14, in Township 24, of Range 10 ; 
and thence east to the place of beginning. In September, 1858, the line 
dividing West Pine and Parish Grove Townships was changed as follows : 
Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 11, in Townsliip 24, of 
Range 9, and running thence north to the northwest corner of Section 14, 
in Township 25, of Range 9 ; thence west to the State line ; and thence 
south to the southwest corner of Section 14, in Township 24, of Range 10. 

The Board of Commissioners, at their June session, 18()(), upon petition 
of A. n. Packard, Isaac Hall, K. C. Sumner, Benjamin Rodlcy, Theodore 
Swinton, Aaron Burclu'll. Abram H. Durkee, Joseph Blessing, G. W. Hag- 
gard, Patrick Erven, William Graves, John T. [[ough. Thomas Gilbert. John 
Irwin and I. N. Clark, 'Ordered that the north part of Parish Grove Town- 
ship be struck off, and bounded as follows : Commencing at the northwest 



224 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

corner of Section 2, in Township 26, Range 10, and running thence south to 
the southwest corner of Section 35, in Township 26, of Range 10 ; thence 
eastto the southeast corner of Section 3, in Township 26, of Range 8 ; thence 
north on line which formerly divided Oak Grove and Parish Grove Town- 
ships, to the northeast corner of Section 4, in Township 26, Range 8 ; and 
thence west on the line of Benton and Jasper, to the place. of beginning, to 
be known as York Township. At the September term of Commissioners' 
Court, the boundary between West Pine and Parish Grove Townships was 
again changed, this time as follows : Commencing at the northwest corner of 
Section 11, in Township 25, of Range 10; and running thence east to the 
northwest corner of Section 8, in Township 25, of Range 9 ; thence south to 
the northwest corner of Section 5, in Township 24, of Range 9 ; thence east 
to the line formerly dividing West Pine and Parish Grove Townships ; and 
thence with the old line to the place of beginning. In March, 1861, it was 
"Ordered by the Board of Commissioners of Benton County, State of In- 
diana, that a new township be cut off the east part of Oak Grove Township, 
commencing at the southeast corner of Section 33, and running thence north 
on the line between Benton and Tippecanoe Counties, to the northeast cor- 
ner of Section 4 ; thence on the township line between Townships 24 and 25 
west, to the northwest corner of Section 3, in Township 24, of Range 7 ; 
thence south to the southwest corner of Section 34, in Township 24, of 
Range 7 ; and thence east to the place of beginning, to be known as Bolivar 
Township." At the same session, Prairie Township was created, with boun- 
daries as follows : Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 33, in 
Township 25, of Range 7, and running thence north to the line between 
Jasper and Benton Counties ; thence west on the line between Jasper and Ben- 
ton Counties to the northeast corner of Section 3, in Township 26, of Range 8 ; 
thence south to the line between Townships 24 and 25, at the south west corner 
of Section 34, in Township 25, of Range 8 ; and thence east to the place of 
beginning.'' At the same term, it was " Ordered that the boundary lines of 
Oak Grove be described as follows : Commencing at the southeast corner of 
Section 33, in Township 24, of Range 7, and running thence north to the 
line dividing Townships 24 and 25 ; thence west to the northwest corner of 
Section 3, in Township 24, of Range 8 ; thence south to the county line, and 
thence east to the place of beginning." Also at the same time it was " Ordered 
by the board that the boundary of Pine Township remain the same, except 
the south line, which is on the Congressional township line between Town- 
ships 24 and 25." At the March term of Commissioners' Court, Finch's 
Schoolhouse was designated as the place of holding elections in Bolivar 
Township, and Wisher's Schoolhouse as the place of holding elections in Prai- 
rie Township. At the June terra of Commissioners' Court, 1864, the follow- 
ing proceedings were had : " Now comes John W. Nutt and others, petitioning 
for a division of Prairie Township as follows : ' To the Honorable Board of 
Commissioners of the County of Benton, and State of Indiana : We, the un- 
dersigned, citizens of Prairie Township, in said county, respectfully petition 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 225 

your Honorable body to divide said township east and west into two equal 
parts ; the north part to be culled Union.' Petition granted." At the March 
term, 1865, West Pine and Parish Grove Townships were consolidated under 
the name of Parish Grove. 

In December, 1866, upon petition of John Garret&on, Isaac Allman 
Joseph Osborne, J. R. Sheetz, William B. Timmons, J. 8. Shipman. G. P. 
Shipman, Alphous Allman, Henry Hutline, William T. Bowyer, P^Iias Shep- 
ard, Jerry Ilurtine. H. H. Owens, Peter C. Noble. Benjamin Eller, J. Lam- 
born, Thomas Tracy. D. C. Bowyer, S. B. Johnson, RinaJdo Sutton, James 
Withara, Jacob Engler, Joseph K. Kinch, Jonas Henen, J. H. Tallman, 
Holt Dawson. William Marlow, M. L. Cheidle, James K. Turvey, John 0. 
Heaton and Patrick Carroll, Gilboa Township was struck off from the 
north part of Pine Township, as follows : Commencing at the northeast cor- 
ner of Benton County, and running thence west to the northwest corner of 
Section 3, in Township 26, of Range 7 ; thence south to the southwest cor- 
ner of Section 34, in Township 26. of Range 7 ; thence east to the line 
dividing White and Benton Counties, and thence north to the place of begin- 
ning. At the December term, 1868, the following changes were made in 
township boundaries ; York Township was divided, Richland being set off 
and bounded as follows : Commencing at the northeast corner of Section -4, 
Township 26, of Range 8, and running thence west to the northwest corner 
of Section 3, in Township 26, of Range 9 ; thence south to the line dividing 
Townships 25 and 26 ; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 33. in 
Township 26 of Range 8 ; thence north to the place of beginning, comprising 
three miles of Range 8, and three miles of Range 9. The remaining portion 
retains the name of York, and is bounded as follows : Commencing at the 
northeast corner of Section 4, in Township 26, of Range 9, and running 
thence west to the State line ; tiience south to the line dividing Townships 
25 and 26 ; thence east to the southeast corner of Section 33, in Township 
26, of Range 9, and thence north to the place <jf beginning, comprising three 
miles of Range 9, and two miles of Range 10, all in Township 26. The 
places of voting were for York Township, Fleming Schoolhouse, and for 
Richland Dehner's Schoolhouse. Parish Grove was divided, leaving the 
boundaries of Parish Grove as follows : From the northeast corner of Section 
4, in Township 25, Range 8 ; thence west to State line ; thence south to the 
line dividing Townships 24 and 25 ; thence east to the southeast corner of 
Section 33, in Township 25 of Range 8 ; thence north to the place of begin- 
ning. The remainder to be called Grant, bounded as follows : From the 
northeast corner of Section 4. in Township 24 of Range 8 ; thence west to 
State line ; thence south to south line of county ; thence east to the south- 
east corner of Section 33, and thence north to the place of beginning. At 
a special session in June, 1872, the boundaries of Prairie Township were 
changed, as follows : Commencing at the northwest corner of I'rairie Town- 
ship as it is now located ; thence west three miles to the line dividing 
Ranges 8 and ; thence south four miles ; thence east one mile ; thence south 



226 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

two miles to the line dividing Townships 24 and 25 ; thence east two miles 
to the southwest corner of said Prairie Township as it was before this addi- 
tion. And it is further ordered that this addition, with the present Prairie 
Township, shall be known as Prairie Township. At the September term, 
1875, the boundar}' of Prairie Township was changed as follows : Com- 
mencing at the northwest corner of Section 30, in Township 25, of Range 8, 
and running thence south to the southwest corner of Section 31, in Town, 
ship 25, of Range 8, and thence east to the southwest corner of Section 32, 
same township and range, the territory annexed being Sections 30 and 31, 
in Township 25 of Range 8. At the March term, 1876, Grant Township was 
divided as follows : Commencing at the northwest corner of Section 3, in 
Township 24, of Range 9, and running thence south to the line dividing 
Benton and Warren Counties ; thefice west to the southwest corner of 
original Grant Township ; thence north, on the State line, to the northwest 
corner of the original Grant Township, and thence east to the place of 
beginning. The territor}' thus struck off from Grant Township was named 
Hickor}- Grove Township, of which the board, at the same term, appointed 
John Callanan, Trustee, and John W. Cole. Justice of the Peace. At the 
September term. 1876, the east half of Section 21, Township 24, Range 7, 
was taken from Oak Grove and attached to Bolivar Township. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 

Benton Count}' was created by virtue of ai* Act of the Legislature, ap- 
proved Februar}^ 18, 1840. The act being brief, and of special importance, 
is here given in full and I'eads as follows : 
JBe it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: 

Section 1. That hereafter all that part of Jasper County, south of the 
line between Townships 26 and 27 north, shall be and constitute an independ- 
ent county, and shall be known and designated as the county of Benton. 

Sec. 2. The Board of Commissioners of said county, shall meet at the 
house of Basil Justus, and shall, if necessary, hold two extra sessions for 
the purpose of transacting count}' business. 

Sec. 3. The officers of said county shall be governed by the provisions 
of an act entitled " An act providing for the formation of new counties," 
approved February 17, 1838, and by the provisions of an act entitled " An 
act to regulate the mode of doing county business in the several counties 
of the State," approved February 17, 1838, as far as the same is practicable. 

Sec. 4. Three-fifths of the three per cent fund heretofore appropriated to 
the county of Jasper, namely, the sum of $2,400, is hereby appropriated to 
the county of Benton, and the Commissioner of the three per cent fund of 
Jasper County is hereby directed to pay over to the Commissioner of said 
fund of Benton County, when the said Commissioner shall be duly qualified, 
the sum of $1,665.82, if he have so much on hand, and he is hereby directed 
to retain that amount, or as much thereof as he may have on hand at the 
passage of this act, with a view to the delivery of the same to the Commis- 
sioner of said fund in Benton County ; and any deficienc}- which may exist, 
owing to the said fund having been expended, shall be made up out of the 
first raonej-s accruing by the three per cent fund to the county of Jasper. 
Provided that the Commissioner of the said fund of the county of Jasper 



HISTORY OF- BENTON COUNTY. 227 

shall deduct from the amount which he is to pay over to the Commissioner 
of Benton Count}-, the amount of said fund which may have been expended 
within tlie limits of Benton County. 

Sec. 5. The agent of the three per cent fund of the State is hereby di- 
rected and required to pay over to the Commissioner of said fund of Benton 
County three fifths of all moneys which may be in or shall hereafter be re- 
ceived into his hands, which would otherwise go to satisfy the aforesaid ap- 
propriation of $4,000 to Jasper County. 

Sec. 0. The county of Benton is hereby attached to the first Judical 
Circuit, and the Circuit Court of said county shall meet at the house of 
Basil Justus in said county. 

Sec. 7. The Circuit Court of said county shall meet on the first Wednes- 
day succeeding the term of holding the Circuit Court of Jasper County ; 
and the sessions of the court in Benton County are hereby limited to three 
days. 

Sec 8. That said county shall be attached to the Senatorial District 
composed of the counties of La Porte, Porter, Newton, White and Pulaski. 

Sec. 9. This act to be in force from and after its passage. 

Approved February 18, 1840. 

It thus appears that at the time of the creation of Benton County the 
territory out of which it was created constituted a portion of Jasper 
County. Diflferent portions of it, however, belonged at various times to 
other counties, as did even Jasper County itself As early as January 30, 
1830, the Legislature enacted that as much of Tippecanoe County as lay 
directly north of Warren County and south of the line dividing Townships 
24 and 25 north, should be attached to Warren Count}' for civil and judicial 
purposes. 

By an act of the Legislature, approved February 1, 1834, the county of 
White was ordered organized, Section 7 of that act reading as follows: 
"That all the territory lying vvo^t of the county of White to the State line 
be and the same is hereby attached to the county of White, for civil and 
judicial purposes." It will be seen from this provision that all of Benton 
County lying north of the line dividing Townships 24 and 25 north was at- 
tached to White County. 

By a special act of the Legislature, approved January 31, 1835, all of 
Benton County west of the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8 west was attached 
to Warren County, except that portion of Benton County south of the 
line dividing Townships 24 and 25 north, which had been previously at- 
tached. 

The first term of Commissioners' Court was held at the house of Basil 
Justus in White Oak Grove, just south of where the town of Oxford now 
sUinds, the Commissioners being Thomas Lewis, Amos White and John 
Robertson, all of whom are now deceased. Amos White was President of 
the board. At this session, the county was divided into three townships, as 
follows: " All that part of Benton County lying west of the center of 
Range 8 shall constitute one township, which shall be known as Parish 
Grove Township; all that part of said Benton County lying east of the said 
center of Range 8, and north of the north line of Section 12, in Township 



228 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

24 north, shall constitute one township, which shall be known as Pine Town- 
ship; and all that part of said Benton County that lies east of said center 
of Eange 8, and south of the north line of Section 12, in Township 24 north, 
shall constitute one township, which shall be known as Oak Grove Township." 
Elections in the several townships were ordered, the time being August 8, 
1840, and the several places being as follows: In Parish Grove Township, at 
the house of Eobert Alexander; in Pine Town&hip, at the house of Amos 
"White, and in Oak Grove Township, at the house of Basil Justus. The 
following were appointed Inspectors of Elections in the several townships: 
Parish Grove, Samuel Kobertson; Pine, John Wallace, and Oak Grove, 
Thomas Lewis. Henry Eobertson was appointed Assessor for the county 
for the year 1840. At the September term of Commissioners Court, 1840, 
Milton Jennings was appointed Treasurer; David McConnell, Seminar}' 
Trustee; Henry Robertson Commissioner of the Three-Per Cent Fund, and 
Ezekiel H. Davis, Collector of State and County Eevenue; and at the Jan- 
uary term, 1841, Henry Eobertson was appointed Assessor of Benton County 

EARLY ELECTIONS. 

The first election ever held within the limits of the present county of 
Benton was held at the house of William Mallatt, on the 13th day of June, 
1835, at which time the territory which now constitutes the southern tier of 
townships in Benton County was attached to Warren County, and consti- 
tuted what was denominated Madison Township. At that election the fol- 
lowing men polled their votes : Joseph Dunn, Samuel Owens, George Sly, 
Benjamin Lewis, Richard Berry, Sr., James W. Lacy, John Fields, Josiah 
Dunn, Hiram Mallatt, William Mallatt, Enoch Ganas, John Lyons, John 
Foster, Samuel Lewis, William Douglas, Jonathan Lewis, Joseph B. Dunn, 
Eichard Berry, Jr., and Eobert Mallatt. For Justice of the Peace, John 
Lyons received eighteen votes, and John Foster eighteen votes ; for Con- 
stable, Eobert Mallatt received nineteen votes, and John Crisser nineteen 
votes. The board at this election was constituted as follows : Inspector, 
Eichard Berry, Jr. ; Judges, George Sly and Benjamin Lewis ; Clerk, Jona- 
than Lewis. 

On the first Monday in August, 1835, five years before the county of 
Benton was organized, at an election held at the house of William Mallatt, 
in Madison Township, Warren County (which embraced the southern tier of 
townships in Benton County), the following men voted : John Fields, Ben- 
jamin Lewis, Eobert Mallatt, Charles T. Harris, William Mallatt, Eichard 
Berry, Sr., Herbert Owens, John Lyons, John Montgomery, Eichard Berry, 
Jr., and William Billings. For Eepresentative in Congress, James Gregory 
received twenty votes, and Edward A. Hannagan nine votes ; for Eepre- 
sentative in the State Legislature, James H. Buell received nine votes, and 
Jesse Tomlinson one vote ; for Sheriflf, William^ Eobb received five votes, 
and John Seaman five votes ; for County Commissioner, James Goodwine 
received eleven votes ; and for School Commissioner, James J. McAlilly 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 231 

receivcil ten votes. The members of the board of this election were : Her- 
bert Owens and Charles T. Harris, Clerks ; Richard Berry and Benjamin 
Lewis, Judges ; and Richard Berry, Jr., Inspector. 

In November, 1836, whilst the southern tier of townships in Benton 
County, yet known as Madison Township. Warren County, the following 
votes were polled at an election held at tlie house of Bassett Tiramons : 
Matthias Redding, Benjamin Lewis, Joseph Redding, Charles Anderson, 
Andrew Fields, Isaac Blue, Hiram Mallatt, James W. Lacey, Bassett Tim- 
mons, William Mallatt, Thomas Timmons. James Cuppy, John Lyons, 
Charles T. Harris, Robert Mallatt, and Richard Berry, Sr. Tiie Board 
consisted ot^harles T. Harris and Lyons, Clerks ; James Cuppy and Robert 
Mallatt, Judges ; and James W. Langwish, Inspector. The Whig electors 
received four votes, and the Deniocratic electors twelve votes. 

The first election held in Benton County, after its creation l^y the act 
of the Legislatufe approved February 18, 1840, as before stated, was held 
at the house of Basil Justus, in Oak Grove Township, on the 2d day of 
November, 1840, and the voters thereat were L. W. Wattles, Robert Pollock, 
Perigan Garland, Jesse T. Garland, Samuel McConueil, Thomas McConnell, 
William McConnell. Lorenzo D. Hewitt, David McConnell, John H. Robert- 
son, Amos White, Jr., Basil Justus, John Byard, Hannauiah Hewitt, 
Thomas Lewis, Milton Jennings, Solomon Burch, Hugh McConnell, Isaiah 
Perigo, Jacob Baugh, Lewis B. Williams, William B. Foster and Jonathan 
Baugh. 

The next election held in the county was holden at the same place as 
the preceding one, and the date was the first Monday in April, 1841, for the 
purpose of electing one Justice of the Peace, one Constable, two Overseers 
of the Poor, two Fence Viewers, and one Supervisor. At this election the 
following persons cast their ballots : Thomas McConnell, William F. Wake- 
man, Lewis B. Williams, Ezekiel H. Davis, Basil Justus, Thomas Lewis, 
Stephen Buckley, Samuel P. Davis, William H. Williams, John Wattles, and 
James Q. McKinley. For Justice of the Peace, Stephen Buckley received 
eight votes, and James Q. McKinley two votes ; for Constable, William B. 
Foster received ten votes : for Overseer of the Poor. Jacob Baugh received 
eleven votes, James Q. McKinley nine votes, and John Wattles one vote ; 
for Inspector of Elections, Samuel P. Davis received nine votes; for Fence 
Viewer, William F. Wakeman received eleven votes, and Solomon Burch 
eleven votes ; and for Supervisor, Lewis B. Williams received ten votes. 
The Election Board consisted of Thomas Lewis, Inspector ; William F. 
Wakeman and Lewis B. Williams, Judges ; Basil Justus and Ezekiel H. 
Davis. Clerks. 

E.VRLV COrRTS. 

The first term of any court held within the limits of the present county 
of Benton was a term of the Commissioners' Court which was held at Parish 
Grove, in the spring of the year 1888, whilst Benton County yet constituted a 
part of Jasper County, the Commissioners being Amos White, Joseph Smith 



232 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

and Frederick Conoyer. In the fall of the same year, the first term of the 
Circuit Court was held at the same place, the officers of said court being 
Hon. Isaac Naylor, Judge ; Gleorge Spitler, Clerk ; Henry Robertson, SheriflF; 
and Joseph A. Wright, of Indiana, then 

"A youth to fortune and to fame unknown," 

but who subsequently filled the high and responsible office of Governor 
of the State of Indiana, and United States Minister at the Court of Ber- 
lin, was Prosecuting Attorney. The first term of the Circuit Court of Ben- 
ion County was held at the house of Basil Justus, November 4, 1840, the 
officers of the court being Isaac A. Na^'lor, President Judge ; David Mc- 
Connell and Matthew Terwilligev, Associate Judges ; Basil Justus, Clerk ; 
Henry Robertson, Sheriff, and the Prosecuting Attorney was Joseph E. Mc- 
Donald, then a rising young attorney, who has since occupied the ex- 
alted position of United States Senator, and is prominently* spoken of as a 
candidate for President of the United States. The attorneys sworn and ad- 
mitted at said first term were Daniel Mace, John Pettit, William M. Jen- 
ners, Robert A. Chandler, Benjamin F. Gregory, Zebulon Baird and Joseph 
Tatman, none of whom resided in Bencon County. The following persons 
constituted the first grand jury : Aaron Wood, Lewis Reynolds, Elias Smith, 
Benjamin A. Timmons, John Wallace, John Lane, William P. Carson, Will- 
iam Smith, Jr., Samuel Robertson, John Frost, William Foster, William F. 
Wakeman, Thomas McConnell, Robert Pollock and Louis B.Williams — John 
Wallace, foreman ; and the first " petted jury" was composed of the follow- 
ing-named persons : William McConnell, Solomon Burch, Perigan Garland, 
Hannaniah Hewitt, William Smith, Sr.. James Thomas, xlmos White, Sr., 
James 0. Denton, William Denton, John Sheetz, Eli Woods and Samuel 
McConnell. There being no suitable room to which the jury might retire 
for the purpose of deliberating upon a verdict when cases were submitted to 
them for their final consideration, they were placed in charge of a bailiff, 
who had instructions so retire with them to a certain large stump in the vi- 
cinity of the house in which court was being held, with the usual interdiction of 
all communication, etc., etc., except etc., etc.; and from this circumstance, this 
firstjury was ever after known as '' the atump jury." The first term of the Ben- 
ton County Probate Court was held at the house of Basil Justus, commencing 
on the second Monday in November, 1840, the first Probate Judge being 
Samuel McConnell. The names of those who served as petit jurors at the 
first term of the Benton Circuit Court have been given. The full list of petit 
jurors selected by the Board of Commissioners, at their September session 
1840, contains several names that do not appear in the list of those who 
served. It is as follows : William McConnell, Jacob Baugh, Solomon Burch, 
William Garland, Perigan Garland, Hannaniah Hewitt, Hugh McConnell, Will- 
iam Smith, Sr., Thomas Martin, Silas Henderson, Joshua Howell, Robert Al- 
exander, Henry Robertson, James Thomas, Amos White, Sr., James, C. Denton 
Lebius W. Wattles, John Sheetz, David Miller, William Denton, John White, 



HISTOKV OF BENTON COUNTY. 283 

Eli Wood, Samuel McConnell and Philip Jackson. The flrst terms of all the 
Courts (Commissioners', Probate and Circuit), were held at the house of Basil 
Justus, as were all subseciuent terms up to the year 1848, when the place of 
convening the different courts was changed to the house of James T. Parker, 
at which place the Commissioners' Court convened for the lirst time at their 
April session, 1843 ; the Circuit Court, April 12, 1843, and the Probate, 
Court, on the second Monday- in May, 1843. Thereafter the terms of the 
different courts continued to be held at the house of James T. Parker up to 
1845. After which time they were held at the court house at Oxford, it 
having been completed in the spring of that year. 

LOCATION OF SEAT OF JUSTICE AND ERECTION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

On the third Monday in June, 1843, William Sill, Samuel Milroy, George 
Wolfer and AVilliam Coon, who had been named in an act of the Legislature 
as a committee to locate the county seat of Benton County, met and " lo- 
cated the seal of justice on the south half pf the southeast quarter of Sec- 
tion 18, in Township 34 north, of Range 7 west, donated by Henry W. Ella- 
worth, agent for Henry L. Ellsworth and David Watkinson, for the use and 
benefit of Benton County, for the seat of Justice of said county ; also the 
ea.st half of tlie southeast quarter of Section 20, in same township and 
range aforesaid. A bond for the conveyance of the above described real 
estate, also a note for the payment of .$300 to be applied to the erection of a 
court house are herewith submitted." At the next ensuing session of the 
Board of Commissioners, an order for the survey of the county seat was 
made, which was accordingh' done b}' Henr}' Robertson, surve3'or, assisted 
by James Q. McKinley, E. H. Davis and James T. Parker. The following 
description of the surve}' of the town of Oxford, the county seat of Benton 
County: "Beginning at the southwest corner of Block No. 8, on the section line 
four chains and forty-five and one-half links west of the center line of the do- 
nation ; Ihence extending north, at a variation of the magnectic needle of five 
degrees to the northwest corner of Block No. 3, thence east at right angles 
to the northeast corner of Block No. 1, thence south to the southeast corner 
of Block No. 6. on the section line, thence based on the section line, west to 
the place of beginning, comprising an area of fourteen and eight^'-eight 
hundredths acres more or less. The lots all to be sixty feet, by one hun- 
dred and twenty feet, alleys twelve feet wide, and the streets sixty feet 
wide. Streets and alleys all cross each other at right angles. The public 
square is one hundred and twenty feet, by two hundred and fiftj-two feet." 
An<l it was " ordered that the above description of said town be confirmed 
by the Board of Commissioners of Benton County." 

The Board of Commissioners, at the September terra of Commissioners' 
Court, in the year 1843, 'ordered that the county agent proceeil to let the 
building of a court house in the town of Milroy to the lowest bidder, which 
is to be as follows, to wit : The house is to be a frame, twenty feet in 
width, and thirty feet in length, two stories high ; the lower stor}* to be 



234 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

eight and one-half feet high, and the upper story to be seven and one-half 
feet high. A room is to be partitioned off in one end of the building suitable 
for a clerk's office, ten feet wide, also a stairwa}- to pass up, and a partition 
to be put in the center, across the house, in the upper story. The letting to 
take place between now and the 15th of October next, and to be completed 
by the first of June, 1844." It appears from the foregoing extract from 
the Commissioners' order book that the town was at first called Mih'oy. It 
was so named in honor of Samuel Milroy, one of the Commissioners who lo- 
cated the county seat, but it being subsequently ascertained that thei'e was 
alread}^ a town of that name in the State, the Board of Commissioners at 
their October session, in the 3'ear 1843, "ordered that the seat of justice in 
Benton County be called Oxford." The entry in the order book shows, 
however, that in entering this order, the name had first been written " Hart- 
ford," and that at a subsequent time, and with ink of a different color from 
that with which the entry was first made, the name " Hartford " had been 
marked out, and the name Oxford inserted. How long afterward this was 
done, cannot, of course, be ascertained, yet that it was not done at the time 
of making the entry is pretty clearly proven by the fact of the erasui-e and 
interlineation having been made with ink of a different color from that with 
which the body of the entry was made. 

FIRST COURT HOUSE IN THE COUNTY. 

At the December session of the Board of Commissioners, 1843, it was 
" oVdered that the court house of Benton Count}^ be erected on Lot No. 7, in 
Block No. 2, in the plat of the county seat of said county," which was where 
the Buckeye Block now stands. The building of the court house could not 
have been pushed forward very energetically, for the records show that the 
terms of the various courts continued to be held at the house of James T 
Parker up to 1845 ; the first term of the Probate Court having been held in 
the court house in August, 1845, and the first term of the Circut Court in 
September, 1846. The court house was the first house built in the town of 
Oxford, Francis Bojaiton being the architect and builder ; Dr. Thompson , 
late of Rainsville, plasterer ; and Isaac Lewis, of Oxford, hod-carrier. At 
the March session of the Board of Commissioners, it was " ordered that the 
contract be let for the completion of the court house as follows, to wit : Lath 
and plaster sides and ends of upper storj' ; also, three stone chimneys in 
rooms below ; also, one stone chimney in center of house above, and to case 
the windows on the inside in the upper stoiy." It is difficult to conceive 
any good reason why the work should have lagged thus, inasmuch as all the 
the public business, in the interim, was of necessity transacted at a private 
house, greatly to the inconvenience, no doubt, of both the public and the 
family of Mr. Parker, at whose house the public business was transacted. 
Subsequently the court house was removed to the public square, afterward 
to the ground now occupied b}^ Zeis' grocer}^ store, and then to its present 
resting place, where it is now occupied by James Connell}', as a saloon. In 



HISTORV OF BENTON COUNTV. 235 

the lower room — the court room — the ceiling is about seven feet high. The^ 
second story is divided into two apartments. Small as this structure was 
it was ample in those days, and resounded to the eloquence of Senators, 
Henr}' S. Lane, Joseph E. McDonald. Joseph A. Wright and D. W. Voor- 
hees, Gen. Lew Wallace, Godlove S. Orth, Judges Porter, Pettit, Gregory 
and Na^'lor, who have since written their names upon the scroll of fame. 
Though the old court house is now used for a purpose quite different from 
that for which it was originally designed — it being now the scene of the 
origin of numerous difficulties between man and his fellow-man, such as it 
was originally designed should be settled here — yet, it still has its bar, as of 
old ; albeit, in speaking of its present bar, it must be borne in mind that the 
word " bar " is not a collective noun. It is said that at the time of raising 
the frame of the court house, there were not men enough in Benton County 
within eas}' distance, and it was necessary to call upon some of the Warren 
County friends for assistance ; and, the jackoaks are said to have been so 
thick in the new count}' seat then that Judges, officers, lawyers and clients 
had to follow cow-paths to find the new court house. Hartley T. Howard, 
with his family, occupied the court house up to the latter part of the year 
1849. The Board of Commissioners, at their August session, in the year 
1849, made the following order in relation to Howard's occupancy of the 
court house : " Ordered that an order be made that Hartley T. Howard shall 
remove his family out of the court house in Oxford, the county seat of Ben- 
ton County, in three months, if John Ferguson, the builder of H. L. Ells- 
worth's house in said town, keeps his usual health, and if there should be 
any providential interference as above stated, H. T. Howard shall pay a 
reasonable compensation for said house until a room in said Ellsworth's 
house is furnished." The latter clause of the order seems to impl}- that 
Mr. Howard had been occupying the building free of rent. With Mr. How- 
ard and his family, lived Aaron Wood, who was Mr. Howard's brother-in- 
law. They occupied the upper rooms of the court house, and were, for a 
long time, the only occupants of the town. During this period, a slight dis- 
agreement arose between them concerning some trivial matter, and Aaron 
Wood waggishl}- declared that there were the meanest people in this town 
he ever saw. 

FIRST JAIL IN BENTON COUNTY. 

During the first decade of years after the organization of Benton County, 
there was no jail, or place for the confinement of malefactors, within the 
limits of the county. This may have been due, in some measure, to the 
honesty and to the law-abiding and peace-loving disposition of the good 
people of Benton Count}' ; but, in truth and in fact, it was chiefly due to the 
fact that there was a good jail at La Fayette, in which Benton could incar- 
cerate her criminals, on conditions that were deemed so reasonable that it 
was not considered worth while to incur the expense of building a jail, whilst 
the county was yet so sparsely settled, and her people (as is usually the case 
in newly settled districts) so poor. There was a contract let. some time 



2 36 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

during the 3'ear 1848, for the building of a jail ; but, for some reason, at the 
February term, 1849, it was declared void, and an order made that the contract 
be re-let, which was accordingly done ; the contract being let to Basil Justus, 
and the consideration therefor being the conveyance to Justus of a portion 
of the land donated by Henry L. Ellsworth and David Watkinson, to the coun- 
ty. It seems that when the Commissioners did make up their minds to build, 
they got in a great hurry all at once, and would brook no delay ; for we find 
that at their February session, 1849, they made an order " that Ellsworth 
and Scott, attorneys, be authorized to institute suits against Basil Justus 
and James T. Parker, to recover lands deeded to Basil Justus as a consid- 
eration for building county jail, said jail not having been built." And suits 
must have been begun, for we find that at the June term of Commissioners' 
Court, 1850, it was ordered that the suits be discontinued, and that the jail 
be accepted. Hence, it may be inferred that the first jail built in Benton 
County was completed about May, 1850. It was built of heavy hewed 
logs, and stood on a lot only a few feet west of where the Odd Fellows' 
building now stands. It is said that there never was a prisoner, save one 
(a man), confined in it, and he but a short time. He was charged with 
horse-stealing ; and, in the hope of effecting his escape, fired the building, 
which was entirel}' burned down, and the prisoner's life saved with great diflfi- 
culty. The jail is said to have been built with a double wall of hewed logs, 
with straw between ; the entrance being by means of a trap door on the top. 
The prisoner thought to burn a hole through the logs, and then make his 
escape through the hole ; but, the straw taking fire, the roof was very quickly 
in flames, and it was only through the heroic efforts of Mark Briar and 
Ed. Blanchfield that the door was finally reached, and the half-roasted 
prisoner saved from cremation. 

SECOND COURT HOUSE AT OXFORD. 

The first court house built in the county was in use but a very few 3'ears 
before it was found to be inadequate to the purpose for which it was designed, 
and, accordingly, in the spring of 1854, the Commissioners of the county 
entered into a contract with George Brown, of La Fayette, for the erection of 
a new one, to be completed on or before December 1, 1855, for which the 
said George Brown was to receive the sum of $10,850, of which |2,000 was 
to be paid in hand, $4,425 on or before March 1, 1855, and the balance on 
or before March 1, 1856. As the funds necessary for the prosecution of this 
work were not already in the treasury of the count}^, an order was made 
at the June term of Commissioners' Court for the issuance of bonds in the 
sum of $8,000, only a portion of which, however, $4,875, was issued. At a 
special session of the board in Jul}', 1855, the following order was made : 
"Whereas, at the June term of 1855, an order was made to issue bonds to 
the amount of $8,000, for defra3nng the expense of building a court house ; 
and whereas, in pursuance of said order, bonds were issued to the amount of 
$4,875, payable in two, three and four years, and delivered to the Treasurer 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 237 

for negotiation ; and whereas, said Treasurer found the negotiation of said 
bonds to be wholly impracticable, aud thereupon returns said bonds to the 
Auditor, and wishes a credit therefor upon his books, which was accordingly 
done ; therefore, it is ordered that orders be issued to the amount of $6,000, 
payable in two years from the date thereof, the same to be issued in amount 
of $1,000 each, and the Treasurer is ordered to negotiate said bonds if he 
can, and report at next regular session.' The bonds were issued, as provided 
for in the foregoing order, but, owing to some defect, were not negotiated, 
but others were issued in their stead, as is shown by the following order made 
by the Commissioners at a special session, August 13, 1855 : " Whereas, by 
a recent decision- of the United States Circuit Court, Benton County has 
failed to collect certain taxes heretofore assessed, in consequence of which 
the Commissioners are unable to meet their liabilities in building the court 
house ; and whereas, a debt has been incurred in anticipation of said taxes 
in building said court house, and unless said debt is liquidated, the building of 
said courthouse will have to be abandoned, to the great detriment and disad- 
vantage of said county ; and whereas, the revenues of Benton Count}' do not, 
by reasonable taxation, afford funds sufficient for the extinction of said debt, 
and the completion of said court house, therefore, it is ordered by the Com- 
missioners now here, that the Auditor shall issue a bond for $6,000, payable 
in two years from this date, and that he deliver the same to the Treasurer 
for negotiation, as the law requires. And whereas, bonds have heretofore 
been issued b}- the order of this board ; and whereas, said bonds were im- 
properly and informall}' issued, and have not been negotiated, it is ordered 
that the Auditor recall all such bonds from the hands of the Treasurer that 
he may have, and that he cancel and destro}' the same, as well as an}' on 
hand, not delivered to the Treasurer, before issuing the bond above men- 
tioned. And now comes the Auditor, and in the presence of the board, all 
of said bonds are full}' canceled and destroyed, and one bond is issued for 
$6,000, signed by us, and dated this 13th day of August, 1855, payable in 
two years after date. It was found* to be necessary, in order to avoid op- 
pressing the taxpayers (as must have been the case had the whole tax for 
the building of the court house been levied in one or two years), to fund this 
debt several times before it was finally paid ; there being an order made at 
the special session begun August 8, 18f*7, for the issuance of a bond for 
$6,000, due in one year, to raise funds with which to redeem the bond 
issued at the June term, 1855, and again, at the June session, 1858, there 
WHS an order made that bonds be issued to the amount $3,238.63, for the 
redemption of bonds previously issued. This appears to have been the last 
time that any portion of this debt was funded. The second court house, 
which w:is a brick structure 50x80 feet, was begun in 1855, and completed 
the following year. The first, or lower story was divided into eight offices, 
and the second, or upper story, contained the court room and two jury rooms. 
Above all was a well-proportioned cupola, the top of which was seventy feet 
from the foundation. 



238 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

THE SECOND JAIL IN THE COUNTY. 

At the June term of Commissioners' Court 1859, Jasper N. McConnell 
filed his bond for the erection of a new jail at the county seat, and the same 
was approved by the board. The building was to be completed by Septem- 
ber 1, 1860, and the contract price was $1,925, which was to be paid in pay- 
ments as follows: $600 June 1, 1860, $600 July 1, 1860, and the balance Sep- 
tember 1, 18G0. The Commissioners, at their June session, 1860, contracted 
with Williamson & Hough, of Indianapolis, for putting iron cells in the jail, 
at a cost of $2,250, of which $250 was to be paid in two months after date, 
$250 in four months, and the balance in twelve months. The Commissioners' 
records do not show whether this improvement was ever made or not; but it 
probably was not, for we find that the Commissioners, at their special June 
session, 1872, contracted with Hough & Co., of Indianapolis for " improve- 
ments on jail in Oxford," which consisted in lining one room with quarter- 
inch plate-iron, and furnishing four window gratings, for which the Com- 
missioners agreed to pay the sum of $1,600, the sum of $800 to be paid 
when work was completed, and $800 in ninety days after the completion of 
the work. A little computation will 'show that, if all the improvements con- 
tracted for were made, the cost of the improvements exactly doubled the or- 
iginal cost of the building, making the aggregate cost of building and im- 
provements $5,775. At the September term of Commissioners' Court, it 
was ordered that a warrant be drawn on the Treasurer for $1,600, in favor 
of Hough & Co., to pay for improvements made by them on the county jail. 
This building, which is still standing, and is now used by the town of Ox- 
ford as a calaboose, is composed of brick, and, so far as external appear- 
ance is concerned, does not much surpass many of the country schoolhouses 
in some of the older and moi'e wealthy counties, and one would hardly sup- 
pose that the cost of it was very nearly $6,000. * 

COUNTY FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON. 

In October, 1869, the Board of County Commissioners purchased of 
John E. Fenton and Martha L. Fenton, his wife, the southeast quarter of 
Section 19, the east half of Section 30 and the northeast quarter of Section 
31, all in Township 25 north, of Range 7 west, for a county farm, and at 
the same time gave the grantors a mortgage on the same to secure the pay- 
ment of four promissory notes given for the unpaid purchase money, aggre- 
gating the sum of $15,750, as follows : One for $5,000, due March 1, 1870; 
one for $3,750, due March 1, 1871; one for $3,750, due March 1, 1872, and 
one for $3,250, due March 1, 1873. At a special session of the Board of 
Commissioners, held on the 23d of December, 1872, "for the purpose of mak- 
ing sale of the northeast quarter of Section 31 and the southeast quarter of 
Section 19, in Township 25 north, of Range 7 west; and for the purpose of 
executing the necessary papers for such transfer " the following entry is 
made in the Commissioners' order book: " Comes now Zimri Atkinson and 
presents to the court a proposition to purchase said land at the sum of $35 




rJ' 




e^j 



XP. 



>^^^^<^/>^>f_ 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 241 

per acre, $2,240 cash and balance in four annual payments of $2,240 
each, without interest." The record then made shows further that 
Mr. Atkinson's proposition was accepted and that a deed was then exe- 
cuted. This must have been an error, however, for we see that the board, 
at a special session in October, 1876, ordered that the Sheriff make a deed 
to Zimri Atkinson for the same real estate. At the January session, 1875, 
the Board of Commissioners sold to Cei>lias Atkinson, for $4,800, the north- 
east quarter of Section 30, in Township 25 north, of Range 7 west, leaving 
the county still the owner of the southeast quarter of Section 30. The 
county leased the farm, from time to time, to various parties, at so much per 
annum for the use of the farm, the countj' paying the lessee a certain stip- 
ulated sum per capita for furnishing the paupers of the county with lodging, 
food and apparel. Latterly, however, the Commissioners have adopted the 
better plan of employing some competent am^i trust}- person to superintend 
the farm, paying him a liberal salary, and the county receives the proceeds 
or avails. This method is found to work better, for the reason that in this 
way the farm is kept in better condition, as it is hot to the interest of those 
who work it to make the most of it during the brief time that they have pos- 
session of it, without regard to the impoverishment of the soil. 

The Commissioners' record does not show that any improvements had 
been made on the county farm prior to 1874. The Board of Commissioners, 
at their June session in that year, entered into a contract with Alonzo D. 
Sleeper, for the furnishing and setting out of fruit and ornamental trees on 
the poor farm, for which the Commissioners agreed to pay the sum of $773. 
At a special term of Commissioners' Court, a contract was entered into with 
Messrs. Beardsley & Shapley, of Benton County, for the erection of a house 
on the count}' farm, for the sum of $2,757.77, which house was to be com- 
pleted by September 3, 1879. The structure is of brick, and is a credit to 
the county. At the October term, 1879, the board contracted with Henry 
C. Patton for the building of a barn on the count}- farm, at a cost of $445, 
to be completed on or before December 1, 1879. The county farm is sit- 
uated about four miles north of Oxford, and is one of the most handsome 
sites in the county. 

RE-LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT. 

As will readily be seen by consulting a map of the county, Oxford, the 
original seat of justice in Benton County, is situated far to the south of the 
center of the county, its site being about two miles from the south line, and 
about four miles east of a line drawn from north to south through the center 
of the county. It was very indiscreet, evidently, in the Commissioners who 
located the county seat, to locate it so far from the center of the county. 
It was located there, no doubt, for the reason that almost the entire popula- 
tion of the county at that time resided in the south and east portions of the 
county. It would seem, however, that a little foresight on the part of the 
Locating Commissioners must have shown to them that in the course of a 
few years the then unsettled portions of the county would become settled 

18 



242 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

up, and that there would then be great dissatisfaction on the part of those 
who resided remote from the county seat. It is probably a fact that Oxford 
is built upon the best town site that could have been found in Benton 
County ; 3'et it certainly must have occurred to the Commissioners who lo- 
cated the county seat there, that the time must inevitabl}^ come when the 
count}' seat, if located at Oxford, would be as far removed from the center 
of the population of the county as from the geographical center. To sup- 
pose that they did not foresee this would be anything but complimentary 
to the intelligence of those men. The site selected for the county seat was, 
manifestl}', far more convenient for those who were at that time residing in 
the county than it would have been had it been located at the geographical 
center of the count}' ; and, as a majority of men do not look beyond their 
own personal interest in such matters, it is very probable that a strong pres- 
sure was brought to bear upon those men to induce them to locate it where 
they did ; and, as they did ncft live in or have any interest in the count}', 
they did not choose to bring down upon themselves the execrations of the 
citizens of the county by. resisting that pressure. However it may have 
come about, the county seat was located where the town of Oxford was sub- 
sequently built ; and, in view of the damaging effect that its removal has 
had upon the then thriving and pleasantly situated town of Oxford, and of 
the animosities thereby engendered among the inhabitants of different por- 
tions of the county, it would seem, to a wholly disinterested person, to be a 
matter of regret that the county seat was not permitted to remain where 
first located, notwithstanding that the act of locating it there may have 
been an impolitic one. The agitation of the question of the removal of the 
county seat from Oxford was begun in the year 1873. It is quite probable 
that the question would not have come up so soon had it not been for the 
fact that the Commissioners of the county were then contemplating the 
erection of a new court house and jail at Oxford, and those who were in 
favor of the removal saw that if it was not made before this was done, it 
must be postponed for several years, if, in fact, it should ever be made at 
all. Although the court house and jail had been built but about seventeen 
and thirteen years respectively, and ought yet to have been in good condi- 
tion, they had, in fact, reached that state of dilapidation that they were 
deemed unsafe, and the Board of Commissioners accordingly instructed the 
Auditor of the county to employ a competent architect to make an exam- 
ination of them, with a view to having them repaired. G. P. Randall, of 
Chicago, was the architect employed, whose report was as follows : 

To THE County Commissioners of Benton County, Ind. : 

Oentlemen — Agreeably to your request, as communicated through the County- 
Auditor, I have this day made a critical examination of your court house and 
jail buildings at this place (Oxford) and find as follows, to wit: That the court 
house was originally built on a very poor and insufficient foundation, the walls 
being of bowlders, or cobble stone, poorly laid, and apparently without much 
mortar to cement them together; that the frost has from year to year disinte- 
grated the foundation wall until at the present time it seems to be hardly in a 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 243 

condition to carry the walls resting upon them. For this cause tiie walls of 
the superstructure are giving away from time to time, as the walls beneath are 
breaking away by the causes enumerated; and it is at present evidently border- 
ing upon a condition that might be considered dangerous; and still it may not 
fall down for years. Yet, in its present condition it would not be a matter of 
surprise if it should give way at any time. The vaults are in no respect tire proof, 
nor were they ever so; and, should a fire occur, or the walls of the building give 
way, the vaults would be found to be a total wreck, probably involvin'.^ a loss of all 
their contents. I came here with the understanding that you desired me to indicate 
how this building could be repaired and put into a safe condition. I frankly confess 
my inability to do this, and for the reason that there is nothing to build upon, as 
the building is a complete wreck from foundation to cupola; and, I think that any 
money expended in repairing it, beyond that of some slight or temporary repairs, ' 
would be a waste of money. If the super.^tructure was good. 3^ou might replace the 
foundation by a better one; or, if the foundations were good, you might mend the 
superstructure so that it would answer for a time; but, it is all breaking and broken 
to pieces, and not worth the making any repairs that would involve much expense. 
Of tlie jail, I shall have to make a report similar to that of the court house. The 
walls of the building are on a foundation of no particular use, and afford hardly any 
obstructions to the egress of a prisoner if he preferred to go out through the wall, 
rather than by some other means of exit. The iron work of the walls, grates, lin- 
ings of corridors, ceilings, floors, etc., is all a great deal too light, having in general 
not more than one-fourth of the iron in the several parts which isrecpiisite to safety; 
and it so light, and so badly put together that I should consider a prisoner as being 
very indolent who could not go out of it in any direction in half an hour if he had 
any motive for desiring freedom, or wanted to change his boarding place. There is 
the same difficulty in repairing or reconstructing this as the court house building — 
there is nothing there to build to. Every piece and part of the building is insuffi- 
cient, and unfit for the place; and if left in it, would spoil the whole. I therefore 
can see no way out of the difficulty, only to budd a new and suitable jail in accord- 
ance with modern ideas and necessities. The present one is surely of no account as 
a place for the safe-keeping of rogues, as you have seen practicall}- demonstrated 
quite recently. It is my advice, therefore, that you make no further use of this 
building for jail purposes. All of which is respectfully submitted. 

Q. P. Randall, Architect. 

Chicago, March 20, 1873. 

It would seem from the foregoing report that the court liou.se and jail, 
and especiall}- the former, must have been in a very bad plight, indeed ; 
and, as a further evidence of that fact, the board, after meeting at the court 
house, at their June session, 187.3, deeming it unsafe, imraediatelv adjourned 
to the Town Hall, where the remainder of the session was hold. Also, the 
Judge of the Circuit Court refused to hold the April term of court in the 
court house, on account of the unsafe condition of tiie house. There being 
such a manifest necessity for a new court iiouse, the Board of Commission- 
ers, at the June terra of Commissioners Court, declared it to he thoir impera- 
tive duty to proceed without delay to have new county buildings erected, 
and the Auditor was ordered to pnjcuri! plans and specificntions for a court 
house and county offices, combined, to cost not less than $55,000. At the 
same terra the Sheriff was ordered to sell the material of the old court house. 
At a special session of the board, held in Julj , 1873, the boaid adopted 
drafts, plans and specifications, furnished by G. P. Randall & Co., of Chicago 



244 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

for a court house, and ordered that the Auditor give notice that he will re- 
ceive sealed proposals for the erection of a court house in the town of Ox- 
ford, in accordance with such plans and specifications, and that G-. P. Randall 
be employed to superintend the building of said court house. Also, at this 
session, it was ordered that the order made at the June session, directing 
the Sheriff to sell the material of the old court house be rescinded ; and 
that the Sheriff take down the old house in a careful manner, and pile up 
the material on the public square, and that he advertise the sale of material 
at public sale, one-third of the price to be paid in cash, one-third in six 
months, and the balance in one year from the date of the sale. A second 
special session of the boai'd was held in the month of July, 1873, at which 
the order made at the first special session in the same month, directing the 
Auditor to give notice of the letting of the contract for the erection of a 
court house was slightly modified ; the modification consisting principally 
in this, that the Auditor is ordered to give notice that the Commissioners will 
receive proposals instead of the Auditor, and the size of the building, and 
the materials to be used are specified, and it is provided that the contractor 
shall give bond for the performance of the work in accordance with the 
specifications. At the regular session in September, 1873, Moses Fowler 
and Adams Earl, and their wives, produced and delivered to the board a 
deed for two lots of land, the one containing two and one-fourth acres 
and upward, and the other more than one-fourth of an acre, upon which to 
erect a court house and jail, together with an abstract of title thereto. At 
this term a petition for the relocation of the county seat, which petition, the 
record shows, was accompanied with $250, of which $100 was for the pur- 
pose of employing an architect, and the balance to defray the expenses of 
assessing the value of the property of the county at Oxford, the then seat 
of justice of the county. On September 11, 1873, during a term of Com- 
missioners' Court, there being but two of the Commissioners present, namely, 
Henry Robertson and Robert M. Atkinson, and the question of the reloca- 
tion of the county seat being then pending in said court, Robert M. At- 
kinson, one of the Commissioners, resigned, and Henry Robertson, the onl}- 
other member of the board present, and William Snyder, the Auditor of the 
county, appointed William Marvin a Commissioner to fill the vacanc}'. 
At the same time, the petitioners objected to the consideration of the ques- 
tion of the relocation of the county seat by the board as then constituted, 
" upon the ground that William Marvin was not appointed a Commissioner 
according to law, and had no authority to sit as a Commissioner of said 
county." 

Upon their objection being overruled, the petitioners dismissed their pro- 
ceedings, and asked leave to withdraw their petition and other papers from 
the files. Leave was granted to withdraw the deed and the money which 
they had deposited ; but the privilege was denied as to all the other plead- 
ings in the case. Thereupon an order is made by the board reciting that 
"Whereas, on the 5th day of September, 1873, His Honor, E. P. Hammond, 



HISTORY OF HENTOX COUNTY. 245 

Judge of the Benton Circuit Court, by virtue of a petition filed in his court 
by Leroy Templeton, granted an injunction restraining this board from let- 
ting a contract for the building of a new court house in the town of Oxford, 
the county seat of Benton County ; and, whereas, afterward the said Judge 
did, at the instance of said Templeton, continue said injunction until such time 
as a certain petition for the relocation of the county seat then pending before 
this board should be heard and determined ; and, whereas, said pending pe- 
tition has been this day dismissed by the said petitioners, and is not now 
pending before this board, or any other court of competent jurisdiction, but 
is fully determined ; and, whereas, said injunction has been dissolved b}- the 
dismissal of said petition, and by the terms of the order of injunction ; it is 
therefore considered to be the dut}' of this board to proceed to let the con- 
tract for the erection of a new court house in the town of Oxford." The 
board then proceeded to open the bids that had been received prior to the 
institution of the injunction proceedings, and to award the contract to Isaac 
W. Lewis and John F. McConnell, for the sum of $55,1)00 ; and the said 
Lewis and McConnell thereupon filed their bond in the penal sura of 
$100,000, which was accepted and approved b}' the Board. At a special 
session in September, 1873, it was " Ordered b}- the board that, whereas, an 
injunction suit is now pending before His Honor, E. P. Hammond, Judge of 
the Benton Circuit Court, to enjoin this board from proceeding to build a 
court house, the Auditor is authorized to emplo}- counsel to appear and an- 
swer for and defend the interests of the county in that behalf." From this 
it appears that a new injunction had been granted, restraining the board 
from proceeding with the erection of a court house under the contract 
entered into with Lewis and McConnell at the regular session in the same 
month. Why the petitioners should dismiss their proceeding in the Commis- 
sioners' Court, thereby dissolving the injunction which the}' had obtained 
in the Circuit Court, and leaving the Board of Commissioners at libert}' to 
proceed to let the contract for the building of a court house at Oxford, 
which they did without loss of time, thereby placing those who desired a re- 
moval of the county seat from Oxford, under the necessity of beginning de 
novo in both the Circuit and Commissioners' Courts ; and wh}' the Board of 
Commissioners, who were evidently in favor of retaining the count}' seat at 
Oxford, should let the contract in such haste, when they must have known 
that those who favored the change, being represented by as good legal talent 
as could be procured in the State, as the}' were, could not permit their ob- 
ject to be thus frustrated, are questions which will naturally present them- 
selves. Was this a bit of finesse on the part of the legal luminaries who 
were of counsel for the respective parties, with the object of gaining some 
advantage over their opponents? (Jr was it the object to thus prolong the 
case, and make it appear a very tedious and toilsome one, requiring a vast 
amount of legal acumen and no end of labor, .so that attorney's fees might 
be increased aiJ lihifuni, without creating in the minds of their clients any 
dissatisfaction on account thereof, thus proving the truth of those lines in 
Hudibras : 



246 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTF. 

"Lawyers, lest the bear defendant, 
And plaintiff dog, should make an end on't, 
Do stave and tail with writs of error. 
Reverse of judgment and demurrer, 
To let them breathe awhile, and then 
Cry whoop, and set them on agen ?" 

At the December term of Commissioners' Court in 1873, an election 
having been lield in the county since the dismissal of the petition for the 
relocation of the county seat, and the Board of Commissioners, as now 
constituted, being favorable to the change, a new petition, having 1,221 sign- 
ers, was filed. The petition was accompanied with $250 in money, with 
which to employ an architect, and to pa}' the expense of having the property 
of the county at Oxford appraised ; together with a deed for two lots, on 
which to build a court house and jail, the same as had accompanied the 
former petition. Joseph Perkins, John F. Boswell, and Robert M. Atkin- 
son conr3tituted the board of Commissioners at that time. On Tuesday, the 
second day of the term, Commissioner Atkinson being absent, the question 
of the removal of the county seat from Oxford to Fowler was passed upon 
by the Board, and the prayer of the petitioners granted. An order was 
made for the removal of the county seat to Fowler, and the Auditor was 
ordered to employ G-. P. Randall & Co., of Chicago, to prepare and present 
plans, specifications, and estimates for new county buildings. The records 
show that Commissioner Atkinson was present next (Wednesday) morning. 
At the March term, 1874, the reiDort of James B. Foley, Mahlon D. 3Ianson 
and John Brownfield, Commissioners appointed by the (lovernor for the 
purpose of appraising the public property at Oxford, was filed, showing the 
value thereof to be $6,750. It appears of record, in the record of the pro- 
ceedings of this term (March, 1874), that a certificate of deposit was issued 
by the National State Bank of La Fa^'ette, for $40,000, to the credit of Thomas 
Johnston, Edward C. Sumner, and William J. Templeton, to be by them 
held in trust for the purpose of building a court house at Fowler, the trustees 
named signing a contract to pa}' the money over upon the order of the Board 
of Commissioners. This sum was contributed by Moses Fowler and Adams 
Earl, the largest land owners, b}' far, in the count}' (neither of whom resided 
in the county, however), each contributing a sum proportional to the amount 
of land that he owned in the county, the value of which would be enhanced 
by the location of the county seat at Fowler. No other question that was 
ever before the people of Benton County so convulsed society to its very 
*^ center as this question of the relocation of the county seat. Of a truth, 
the antipathies then engendered have not yet altogether died out ; and there 
are many in Oxford who stoutly declare, and with seeming sincerity, that 
ere many years, the county seat will again be established at Oxford. As 
before observed, it was certainly not the part of wisdom to establish the 
county seat at Oxford in the first instance, on account of its being so far 
removed from the geographical center of the county ; yet, it having been 
once located there, the act of removing it was certainly of doubtful propri • 



HISTOKY OF BENTON COUNTY. 247 

ety, to say the least. The fact of its not being conveniently accessible to those 
residing in tlie northern and western parts of the count}', does not constitute 
a very potent argument in favor of the removal of the count}' seat from Ox- 
ford ; for those citizens who resided in those portions of the county bought 
their land, and located there with a full knowledge of the existent state of 
things, so far as the location of the county seat was concerned, and they 
ought not to be heard afterward to complain. On the other hand, those who 
invested their capital in and about Oxford, did so knowing that it was then 
the county seat, and in the reasonable belief, no doubt, that it would remain 
so ; and no doubt they paid more for their property than the}' would had 
they had any apprehension that the county seat would be removed. Since 
the change has been made, however, and since there have been such magnifi- 
cent county buildings erected at Fowler, costing, in the aggregate, over 
$85,000, and especially since it would be impossible to again change the 
location of the county seat without occasioning the most intensely bitter 
feelings between the citizens of the different portions of the county, it is 
certainly the duty of all good citizens, who have the well-being of their 
county at heart, to discountenance any further agitation of that vexed ques- 
tion and to treat it as forever settled. It is probably true that the town of 
Oxford sustained a temporary check to her progress in wealth and popula- 
tion by the removal of the county seat to Fowler ; yet, if such was the case, 
that check was but temporary, as she seems to be at present entering upon 
an era of greater prosperity than she has ever heretofore known. It would 
appear, from the fact that Fowler, which has had an existence of but about 
eleven years, has already outstripped Oxford, which has had an existence of 
about forty years, that the removal of the county seat, at some future time, 
on account of its being so far from the geographical center of the county, 
must have been anticipated ; and, that the fact of the removal being antici- 
pated was what so retarded the growth of Oxford would seem to be a rea- 
sonable presumption. As has been stated, the action brought to enjoin the 
Board of Commissioners from proceeding to build a court house at Oxford, 
was instituted in the Circuit Court of Benton County ; but the cause was 
afterward transferred to Warren County, by change of venue, as appears from 
the following entry in the record of the proceedings of the Board of Com- 
missioners at their March session, 187-4 : Whereas, tlie Warren Circuit Court 
has, at the suit of Leroy Templeton, granted an injunction against the perform- 
ance of an alleged contract between the Board of Commissioners of the 
county of Benton and Isaac W. Lewis and John F. McConnell, for the build- 
ing of a court house at the town of Oxford, Benton County, Ind., and in 
the opinion of this board the public interest of the county requires that said 
injunction should be continued, it is ordered that the board will no further 
resist the proceeding for injunction. An order having been made for the 
removal of the county seat, the next thing in order was to proceed to build a 

COURT HOUSE AT FOWLER. 

The contract was let to Levi L. Leach, in June. 1874, for the building of 



248 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

a court hou8e at Fowler, the new county seat, in accordance with plans, 
specifications and estimates furnished by G. P. Randall & Co., architects of 
Chicago, for the sum of $54,884. B3' the terras of the contract, monthly 
estimates were to be made by the architect of work done and materials fur- 
nished, and eighty per cent of the estimate was to be then paid, the other 
twenty per cent to be paid when the building should be completed. Six 
months after the order was made by which Fowler became the county seat, 
that is, at the second session of the Board thereafter, which occurred in 
June, 1874, the following order was made by the Board : "Whereas, Moses 
Fowler has made a conditional donation of $40,000 to aid in the erection of 
a court house, provided that such county seat is permanently located at 
Fowler within one year from August 2, 1873 ; and whereas, there is no court 
house in the county of Benton, and no offices for the use of the Clerk, Re- 
corder or Treasurer, and the county records are in insecure places ; and 
whereas, a two-stoiy brick slate-roofed building, with commodious fire-proof 
brick vault, situated on the corner of Fifth and Washington streets, in Fowler, 
is tendered to the Commissioners for the use of the county, free of charge, 
until the court house is completed, it is ordered that the books, papers, and 
furniture of the offices he removed from Oxford to said building in Fowler 
on or before July 10, 1874, and that all courts shall be held, and all busi- 
ness transacted at said town of Fowler, on and after said date. This action 
on the part of the Commissioners called forth a remonstrance from Alonzo 
Cowgill, Cyrus Foltz and others, which the Commissioners overruled, and 
the remonstrators thereupon appealed to the Circuit Court, and filed an ap- 
peal bond. On account of the remonstrance, or for some other reason, the 
Commissioners did not carry out their purpose of removing the files, records 
and other appurtenances of the different offices to the building in Fowler, 
as the order quoted above indicates that they contemplated doing ; but at a 
special session begun on the 30th day of December, 1874, the record of the 
proceedings at that session shows that a report of Gr. P. Randall, architect, 
was filed, showing the whole cost of the court house to have been $57,192.- 
36, and that the Board of Commissioners accepted the house as being sub- 
stantially in compliance with the terms of the contract, and made an order 
directing " the removal of all books, papers and furniture of the several 
count}' offices, from Oxford to said new court house at Fowler, in said 
county, forthwith." At the same session, the board entered into a contract 
with William S. Wooton for furniture for the court house, at the price of 
$1,695. G-. P. Randall was allowed the sum of $3,032.91, for his services as 
architect at the same term. The grounds of the public square, about the 
court house, were graded in the fall of 1874, at a cost of $2,032.50. The 
court house at Fowler, taking into account the grading of the public grounds, 
cost $62,257.77, as follows : contract price, $54,884 ; extra work, $2,308.36 ; 
paid to Gr. P. Randall for services as architect, $3,032.91 ; grading of 
grounds, $2,032.50. There probably is not a county in the State, with no 
greater population than Benton, that has as good public buildings, includ- 





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"fr^^^^c-^. 



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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 251 

ing court house, jail and infirmary. The court house is situated well to the 
east side of the town of Fowler, it being about half a mile from the central 
portion of the town ; and, exacth' in the geographical center of the county, 
it is said. Of course, it may be an inch or two this way or that, but then it 
is near enough for all practical purposes. A few 3'ears after the removal of 
the count}- seat from Oxford to Fowler, a paper was found among the pub- 
lic documents that had been removed from the old to the new county seat, 
in which the writer, whose name this paper does not disclose, thus apostro- 
phizes the old court house : 

APOSTROPHE TO THE OLD COURT HOUSE. 

" 'Death loves a shining mark,' and ere many days our court house had 
fallen. Where once it towered in majestic beauty, naught but ruins lie ; the 
breezes float over it, gentl}- sighing. ' It might have been.' As I step along 
over the pavements that once composed that noble structure, ever}' step 
beats its funeral march. Dear old court house, had we let thee stand as 
thou mightst have stood, a fit emblem of our architectural powers, Moses 
would not have drawn from his huge bosom $40,000, and crushed out 
our budding prospects and taken our capitol from our midst. Never 
again will a court house grace the square, but the weeping willow alone will 
mark thy grave. The gloomy owl will flit about in mournful silence, finding 
no cupola upon which to rest his weary flight, no high-toned bell to greet 
his ear, and in harmony with his mighty hoot send forth its clarion notes 
upon the sighing wind. Ere long, whilst the county seat is flourishing in 
the centre, we can only walk our lonely streets, and in the words of Selkirk 

exclaim : 

" 'Ob! Solitude, where are the charms 
That sages have seen in thy face ? 
Better dwell in the midst of alarms 
Than reign in this horrible place.' " 

When I remember the games of ball against its friendly wall, which now, 
alas ! are o'er forever, heart sighs with heart, and dark melancholy reigns. 
Could we restore thee back again, as ye stood not long ago, gladly would 
we sacrifice labor and wealth. The world may say it was not much, but 
the associations that were formed within its walls are dear to us. Youth 
and beauty soon pass away, and we, too, will soon follow in the 
footsteps of the departed. But we had hoped to leave the court house as a 
monument to future generations. But its memory alone remains to tell, 
and that, I hope, may live forever. When I ponder o'er what might have 
been ours, I cannot refrain from quoting that old familiar hymn : 

" ' Could I but climb where Moses stood, 

And view the landscape o'er. 
We'd let our court bouse ever stand. 
Till time should be no more.' " 



252 - HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

THE JAIL AT FOWLER. 

The contract for the building of the Benton County Jail at Fowler was 
let to Meteer & Scovill, of Kankakee, 111., for the sum of $25,000, at 
a special term of Commissioners' Court in February', 1876. Notwithstand- 
ing the county had not, at that time, any jail in which to confine its crim- 
inals, this act of the Board of Commissioners was quite severely censured 
by many, and a remonstrance was presented, signed by ninety-seven of the 
one hundred and sixteen voters in York Township. The jail was built, 
however', and with so little deviation from the terms of the contract that 
the extra work amounted to but $175. This was a magnificent building, 
substantially built, and as commodious as any exigency is likely to render 
necessary in Benton County for many years hence. This building was 
composed almost exclusively of incombustible materials, and was probably 
considered practicall}" fire-proof, as well as proof against all efforts on the 
part of those incarcerated within its walls to reclaim their much-coveted 
liberty. But, notwithstanding the extraordinary precaution taken in its 
construction to insure its durability, as well as to render it efficient to a 
degree for the purpose for which it was designed, in the month of February, 
1880, it took fire, and was damaged to such an extent that it cost the sum 
of $7,791.50 to •' rebuild and reconstruct " it. The contract was let to Henr}* 
C. Pelton and Lero}' Templeton, at a special session in July, 1880, '' to fur- 
nish all necessar}' labor and material to rebuild and reconstruct the county 
jail and Sheriff's residence " within four months from the date of the con- 
tract. The greater portion of the material of the old building — the most 
expensive portion at least — was used in the construction of the new. The 
present jail is a verj* fine structure, and has the appearance (viewed exter- 
nally) of being a very secure place wherein to confine malefactors. 



MILITARY HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 



BY E. A. MOSSMAN. 



THE GREAT REBELLION. 

WHEN the great rebellion of 1861 was precipitated upon the country, 
deluging the land with blood, and robbing thousands of households 
of their loved ones, Benton Count}' was not found wanting in those who 
were willing to pour out their life-blood, if need be, a free-will offering upon 
the altar of their country. 

Benton s First. Company. — Among the first to march into Camp Tippe- 
canoe, at La Fayette, was acompan}' of men from Benton County, composed 
of ninety-eight enlisted men and three commissioned officers. The names 
of the commissioned officers, all of whom were from Oxford, were William 
J. Templeton, Captain ; John Burns, First Lieutenant ; James Young, Sec- 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 253 

ond Lieutenant ; and the names of the enlisted men were : First Sergeant, 
James F. Parker ; Sergeants, Robert J. Templeton, John Thompson, James 
Mitchell and Commodore P. Hurt"; Corporals, Daniel D. Redmond, George 
T. Clark, Alvin Maxson, Mark Walker, William Snyder, Abram S. Gaskill, 
Oliver P. Murph}' and George Furgeson ; musicians, John Jay Wright and 
William II. Claspill ; Wagoner. Ira Brown ; Privates, Washington L. Adams, 
Frederick M. Adams, Hiram Adams, Watson Allison, John Barnes, Calvin 
Barkhurst, Absalom Beaver, Benjamin F. Booth, Sanford Bowen, Edwin F. 
Bolmer. Thomas H. Burns, Columbus M. Bushong, Benedict Climeaged, 
Lucian Clark, Russel Cole, John B. Creviston, William H. Curl, Abram 
Davenport, John Dopson, George W. Dusenberry, William H. Duncan, Wal- 
lace E. Edwards, John Ekey, John Enlow, Adam Everheart, Michael Flanl- 
gan, Conrad Ghering-, Frederick Ghering, Allen C. Gobble, Thomas Graham, 
William Graham, Benjamin Hawk, Sherman Haskill, William Hanley, 
George Hedges, Rile}' Hickman, William H. Hauck, Edward Houghton, 
Lero}' Hovey, Henry Holmes, Aaron R. Hudson, Charles D. Irwin, John 
Jett, Hugh Johnson, John Kenned}-, John Kelley, Levi Kemp, John Kinney, 
John Krummel, Edward Lovejoy, M:irtin Loyd, Ephraim Ludlum, Oliver N. 
Maxson, William McFarland, Barney Miller, William S. Moore, Walter S. 
Osborne, John Pankey, Zachariah Perdy, Oliver H. Perry, Edward Popple- 
stone, David L. Ream, John F. Richard, William L. Ross, Charles F. Russia, 
John Saunders, Frank Sewell, John Shafer, Henry L. Smith, James D. Smith, 
John J. W. Smith, George W. Snodgrass, Benjamin F. Stabler, John A. Sul- 
livan, Isaac Thorp, John S. Tracy, Joseph P. Turner, Abram Wainscott, 
Isaac N. Williams and John B. Williams. This company was attached to 
the Fifteenth Regiment, which was originally organized as one of the six reg- 
iments of State troops, at La Fayette, in May, 1861, and was re-organized 
and mustered into the United States service for three years, at the same 
place, on the 14th of June, 1861, with George D. Wagner as Colonel. This 
company was designated as Company D, in the regiment to which it was 
attached. The regiment, soon after its organization was completed, went 
from La Fayette to Indianapolis, where it remained until July 1, 1861, 
when it started for West Virginia, stopping at Cincinnati until July 4. 
The regiment was transported by railroad to Clarksburg, whence it marched 
to Rich Mountain, arriving on the 11th of July, during the progress of the 
battle. Next day, the regiment joined in the pursuit of the enemy, and 
assisted in capturing many prisoners. Afterward, the regiment moved to 
Elkwater Valley, and remained stationed there until November 19, when 
it left Huttonville for Louisville, at which place it arrived the latter part of 
the same month, and reported to Gen. Buell. While at Elkwater Valley, the 
regiment took an active part in the operations of Gen. Reynolds, among 
which were the repulse of Gen. Lee, and the battle of Greenbrier. The 
regiment reached Shiloh while the battle was in progress, and rendered very 
efficient aid in the nick of time to save the Union army from utter defeat. 
During the siege of Corinth, the regiment was constantly in the van ; and, 



254 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

after the evacuation of that position by the enemy, it I'eturned with Buell's 
army to Louisville, Ky., arriving there about the 25th of September. It 
left Louisville in time to take part in the closing scenes of the battle of 
Perry ville. The Fifteenth joined in the pursuit of Bragg toward Cumber- 
land Gap, and the duties were very arduous, forced marches and skirmishes 
being the daily routine for some time. The regiment marched to Nashville 
in November, 1862, in connection with other troops, at which place the army 
of the Cumberland was re-organized, with Gren. Rosecrans chief in command. 
On the 29th of November, Col. Wagner was appointed a Brigadier General, 
and Lieut. Col. Gustavus A. Wand was commissioned to succeed him as 
Colonel. The regiment bore a conspicuous part in the battle of Stone River 
on December 31, 1862, and January 1 and 2, 1863, losing 197 officers 
and men killed and wounded, out of 440 engaged. The loss of the com- 
pany in this action was : Killed, Capt. Robert J. Templeton, Sergt. Commo- 
dore P. Huff, privates Columbus M. Bushong and Isaac N. Williams ; mor- 
tally wounded, private Benedict Climeaged. The regiment remained at 
Murfreesboro after the battle of the Stone River, until June 24, and took 
part in the various expeditions sent out from that place. Upon leaving 
Murfreesboro, it marched to Tullahoma, where, as part of Crittenden's corps, 
it aided in turning the rebel position on the left, compelling the evacuation 
of Tullahoma. The regiment then rested in camp at Pelham, Tenn., until 
August 17, when the advance upon Chattanooga was begun ; which place 
Gen. Wagner's brigade (of which the Fifteenth constituted a portion) was 
the first to enter. The regiment remained on post duty at Chattanooga 
from September 9 until shortly before the battle of Missionary Ridge, in 
which the regiment sustained a very heavy loss. The loss of the regimen 
was 202 out of 334 engaged, whilst the loss of the company in this action 
Was two (Benjamin Hawk and Frank Sewell) killed, and several wounded, 
among whom were William Graham and Sergt. George Hedges. On the day 
succeeding the battle of Mission Ridge, the regiment marched to the relief 
of Gen. Burnside at Knoxville. This march of over 100 miles was made 
in six days, a great many of the men being without shoes, and all on very 
short rations the while. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Knox- 
ville, on very severe duty, destitute of tents or baggage, and on very short 
rations, until February, 1864, when it was ordered to Chattanooga to do gar- 
rison duty. A portion of the regiment having re-enlisted on the 15th of 
February, 1864, the non-veterans remained at Chattanooga, under Gen. Stead- 
man, until June 16, 1864, when in obedience to orders from Gen. Thomas it 
left for Indianapolis to be mustered out of the service, its time having ex- 
pired on the 14th of June. The veterans and recruits were transferred to 
the Seventeenth Indiana Volunteers in the month of June, 1864, and served 
with that organization until the 8th of August, 1864, when they were finally 
disbanded. 

A brief history of the regiment, as shown by Adjt. Gen. W. H. H. 
Terrell's report, is here given, for the reason that the company's history is 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 255 

inseparable from that of the regiment, and in giving the history of the lat- 
ter, the leading points in the history of the former, which is all that is prac- 
ticable or desirable to give, are given. It will be of interest, no doubt, to 
many into whose hands this book may come, to know when and how each 
member of this com pan}' ceased to be connected therewith. For the benefit 
of such, the following statement of facts drawn chiefly from Adjt. Gen. 
Terrell's report, is given : 

John Burns, the first First Lieutenant in the company, resigned in July, 
1861, and John Pearce, of Attica, Second Lieutenant in Corapan}' A, was 
commissioned First Lieutenant in Company D, to fill the vacaucy. In No- 
vember, 1861, William J. Terapleton, the first Captain, resigned to accept a 
commission as Major in the Sixtieth Regiment ; and about the same time, 
First Lieut. John Pearce also resigned, whereupon First Sorgt. James 
F. Parker was promoted Captain, and Sergt. Robert J. Templeton was 
advanced to the position of First Lieutenant, both being promoted over 
Second Lieut. James Young. Lieut. Young resigned May 4, 1862, and 
Sergt. John Thompson was promoted to fill the vacanc}-. June 3, 1862, 
Capt. Parker resigned, and First Lieut. Robert J. Templeton was pro- 
moted to fill the vacanc}', whilst Second Lieut. John Thompson was 
advanced to the position of First Lieutenant, and Corporal Daniel D. 
Redmond was promoted Second Lieutenant. November 22, 1862, First 
Lieut. John Thompson resigned, and Second Lieut. Daniel D. Red- 
mond was promoted to fill the vacancy, whilst Corporal Mark Walker 
was made Second Lieutenant. Capt. Robert J. Templeton was killed at the 
battle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, and First Lieut. Daniel D. 
Redmond was advanced to the position of Captain ; Second Lieut. 
Mark Walker, to the position of First Lieutenant, and Corporal Alvin Max- 
son to that of Second Lieutenant, all of whom were mustered out at the ex- 
piration of their term of service, June 26, 1864. Sergt. James 
Mitchell was discharged July 2, 1862 ; cause, disability ; Sergt. Commo- 
dore P. Huff was killed at Stone River, December 31, 1862 ; Corporal 
George T. Clark was discharged to accept commission in the Ninetj'-first 
Regiment, in 1862 ; Corporal William Snyder was appointed Sergeant, and 
discharged in May, 1864, on account of wounds ; Corporal Oliver P. Mur- 
phy was discharged August 25, 1861, cause, disability ; Musician John 
Jay Wright was discharged on account of disabilit^^ July 9, 1862 ; Wagoner 
Ira Brown, was discharged October 14, 1861, for disability ; Washington L. 
Adams, missing at Nashville, December 12, 1862 ; Frederick M. Adams was 
appointed Corporal, and subsequently transferred to the Veteran Reserve 
Corps, on account of wounds received at Stone River ; Hiram Adams was 
appointed Principal Musician ; Watson Allison died at Camp Wickliffe, Ky., 
January 25, 1862 ; John Barnes died at Camp Dennison, Ohio, Februar}' 
18, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River; Thomas H. Burns was dis- 
charged for disabilit}', August 21, 1861 ; Columbus M. Bushong was killed 
at Stone River, December 31, 1862 ; Benedict Climeaged died January 18, 



1^56 HISTORY OF BENTOxN COUNTY. 

1863, of wounds received at Stone River ; Lucian Clark, a veteran, was 
transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment, May 13, 1864; RiisselCole was 
discharged October 7, 1861, on account of disability ; John B. Creviston 
was transferred to the Fourth United States Artillery, February 3, 1863 ; 
William H. Curl, discharged November 7, 1861, for disability ; Abram 
Davenport, discharged April 21, 1863, wounds received at Stone River ; 
John Dopson discharged July 22, 1862, disability ; William H. Duncan, trans- 
ferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, November 15, 1863; Wallace E. Edwards, 
transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps November 15, 1864 ; wounds received 
at Stone River; John Ekey, missing at Vervilla, Tenn., August 21, 1862 ; 
John Enlow, dischai'ged September 10, 1861, disability ; Adam Everheart 
died at Bardstown, Ky., October 7, 1862 ; Frederick Gehring, transferred 
to Veteran Reserve Corps, September 30, 1864, wounds received at Stone 
River ; Thomas Graham, missing before Chattanooga, August 29, 1863 ; Ben- 
jamin Hawk, killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863 ; Sherman HaskilL 
discharged August 14, 1861, disability; Riley Hickman, died February 3, 
1864 ; William H. Hauck, veteran, transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment ; 
Henry Holmes, missing before Chattanooga, August 29, 1863 ; John Jett, 
discharged August 28, 1861 ; Hugh Johnson, appointed Corporal, and 
transferred to the Fourth United States Artiller}', February 3, 1863 ; John 
Kennedy, discharged March 30, 1863, wounds received at Stone River; 
John Kelley, missing at Louisville, Ky., October 1, 1862, while under sen- 
tence of general court martial ; Levi Kemp, missing at Vervilla, Tenn., 
August 21, 1862 ; John Kinney, apprehended and transferred to the Seven- 
teenth Regiment ; John Krimmel, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, No- 
vember 1, 1863; Martin Loyd, discharged May 24, 1862, disability ; 
Ephraim Ludlum, missing at Nashville, Decembar 12, 1863 ; Barney Miller, 
transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, July 1, 1863 ; William W. More, died 
May 21, 1862, at Corinth, Miss.; Walter S. Osborne, missing at Louisville, 
Ky., October 1, 1862 ; John Paukey, discharged October 7, 1861, disability ; 
Zachariah Perdy, missing at Louisville, Ky., October 1, 1862 ; Oliver H. 
Perry, died May 27, 1862 ; David L. Ream, died at Chattanooga, November 
28, 1863, of wounds ; John F. Richards, leg amputated Ma}' 24, 1862, and 
discharged; William L. Ross, discharged November 18, 1861, disability ; 
Charles F. Russle, transferred to the Mississippi Marine Brigade, February 
19, 1863 ; John Saunders, discharged November 27, 1862, disability ; Frank 
Sewell, killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1863 ; John Shafer, deserted, 
afterward joined the Twenty-fourth Ohio Regiment, and died at Cheat 
Mountain; John W. Smith, deserted December 10, 1861, and afterward 
joined the Nineteenth United States Infantry ; George W. Snodgrass, ap- 
pointed Corporal, and afterward transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, 
January 15, 1864 ; Benjamin F. Stabler, discharged November 19, 1861, 
disability ; John A. Sullivan missing at Louisville, Ky., October 1, 1862 ; 
Isaac Thorp, discharged December 16, 1862, disability ; Joseph P. Turner, 
discharged February 2, 1863, disability ; Isaac N. Williams, appointed Cor- 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 257 

poral, and afterward killed at battle of Stone River ; John B. Williams, dis- 
charged May 24, 18(32, disability ; Augustus Adolphus, Samuel Blue, Har- 
vey H. Pugh and Guilford D. Snodgrass, all recruits, transferred to the 
Seventeenth Regiment, May 31, 1864. 

The following were mustered out at Indianapolis, at the expiration of 
their term of service, June 25, 18G4 : Abram S. Gaskill, George Ferguson 
(appointed Sergeant), Calvin Barkhurst, Absalom Beaver, Benjamin T. Booth, 
Edwin F. Bolmer, John H. Burns, George W. Dusenberry, Michael Flanigaur 
Conrad Geiiring, (appointed First Sergeant), McAUen C. Gobble, William 
Graham (wounded at Mission Ridge), William Hanley (wounded at Stone 
River), George Hedges (appointed Sergeant, wounded at Stone River, and 
also at Mission Ridge), Edgar Houghton, Leroy Hovey, Aaron R. Hudson, 
Charles D. Irwin, Edward Lovejoy, Oliver N. Maxson, Edward Popplcstone, 
Henr}' L. Smith, James D. Smith (appointed Corporal), Thomas F. Stock- 
ton, John S. Tracy, (appointed Sergeant). The Adjutant General's report 
from which the foregoing facts Were obtained, does not show when or how 
the following members of the company severed their connection therewith : 
William H. Claspill, Sanford Bowen, Abram Wainscott and Hiram Adams. 
To sum up : Number mustered out at expiration of term of service, thirt}'- 
four ; discharged before expiration of term of service on account of dis- 
ability, eighteen ; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps and other organi- 
nations, seventeen ; deserted, ten ; discharged on account of wounds, five ; 
killed, six ; died of disease, five ; died of wounds, three ; promoted and 
resigned, two ; discharged to accept commission in another regiment, one ; 
veterans, two. This company is justh' entitled to a fair share of the glory 
won b}- the renowned old Fifteenth Regiment. No higher encomium could 
be bestowed upon them. 

Benton s Second Company. — The next company that marched to the front 
from Benton County was officered as follows : Joseph F. Taylor, Captain ; 
Job H. Van Natta, First Lieutenant, and Stephen Sappington, Second Lieu- 
tenant. The enlisted men of this company were First Sergeant, James 
Dougherty, died March 7th, 18G2 ; Sergeants, James Laroe, promoted Sec- 
ond Lieutenant ; Warren Sheets, promoted First Lieutenant ; Levi Haw- 
kins, promoted Second Lieutenant ; Alonzo Cowgill, appointed First Ser- 
geant, and mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Corporals, Hallet Swift, trans- 
ferred to Vereran Reserve Corps, February 15, 1S64 ; Ross McGee, ap- 
pointed Sergeant, and mustered out Septemijcr 19, 1864 ; Wilber F. Ste- 
phenson, appointed Sergeant, and mustered out September 19, 1864 ; James 
Killen, discharged for promotion. February 22, 1863 : James Godman, 
killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863 ; David Millholland, appointed 
Sergeant and mustered out September 19, 1864 ; James B. Shaw, mustered 
out September 20, 1864 ; Anthony C. Thompson, detached as Sergeant 
Thirteenth Battery, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Musicians, Salathiel 
Cowgill, discharged October 15, 1862, disability ; Perry L. Jennings, vet- 
eran, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment, and mustered out May 25, 1865 ; 



258 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Wagoner, William A. Wells, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Privates, 
Joseph M. Adwell, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Garret Auth, mus- 
tered out September 19, 1864 ; John Auth, died October 14, 1861 ; Samuel 
Ballentyne, died Februar}^ 20, 1863; George W. Bannin, mustered out Sep- 
tember 19, 1864; John W. Barnard, veteran, transferred to the Fifty-eighth 
Regiment ; Ira D. Barnard, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Charles Ba- 
ker, discharged June 8, 1863, to enlist in the Marine service ; Thomas F. S. 
Bennett, died at Campbellsville, Ky., January 30, 1862, disease ; John M. 
Bockover, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Daniel C Boyer, mustered 
out September 19, 1864 ; Alexander Campbell, discharged October 14, 1862, 
disability ; James M. Coffman, mustered out September 19, 1864; John N. 
Coffman, mustered out September 19,1864; Thomas M. Cook, died Feb- 
ruary 12, 1862 ; Calvin Creek, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Moses 
Cuppy, died January 23, 1862 ; John G. Davis, transferred to Veteran Re- 
serve Corps, December 15, 1863 ; Charles M. Dawson, mustered out Sep- 
tember 19, 1864 ; John F. Dolan, died November 10, 1863, of wounds re- 
ceived at Chickamauga ; Ancil B. Downing, mustered out September 19, 
1864 ; Wingate T. Downing, mustered out September 19, 1863 ; Joseph H. 
Evans, mustered out September 19, 1864; Jonathan Evans, mustered out 
September 19, 1864 ; Nelson D. Felters, mustered out September 19, 1864; 
William Fisher, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Henry Foster, mustered 
out September 19, 1864 ; Daniel R. Gaines, veteran, appointed Corporal, 
transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; John M. Gear, veteran, transferred to 
Fifty-eighth Regiment ; John A. Grant, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; 
George M. Haigh, appointed Sergeant, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; 
John M. Harbison, killed at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863 ; James Haw 
kins, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Joseph Hinate, mustered out Sep- 
tember 19, 1864 ; William B. Holton, killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 

1863 ; Samuel Horner, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, April 10, 1863 ; 
Michael Jakes, discharged February 27, 1863, disability ; Nelson M. Jakes, 
discharged September 18, 1862, disability ; Elnathan C. Jennings, mustered 
out September 19, 1864 ; John F. Killen, discharged October 29, 1862, 
cause disability ; Elisha Little, appointed Corporal, mustered out September 
19, 1864 ; Luther Loomis, veteran, appointed Corporal, transferred to the 
Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Elisha M. Mattox, appointed Corporal, mustered 
out September 19,1864; Patrick M. Head, mustered out September 19, 

1864 ; Samuel Mcllvain, appointed Corporal, died of injuries received at 
Shell Mound, September 8, 1863 ; Robert G. McQueen, appointed Cor- 
poral, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; Anthony C. Miller, mustered out 
September 19, 1864 ; George Miller, veteran, transferred to Fifty-eighth 
Regiment ; Henry C. Moore, discharged December 23, 1862, disability ; 
Benjamin R. Moffltt, discharged Jnne 18, 1862, disability ; Samuel E. Nuss, 
mustered out September 19, 1864 ; George W. Nuss, mustered out September 
19, 1864 ; William M. Owens, discharged October 14, 1862, disability ; Nathan 
J. Page, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; George M. Pugh, appointed Cor- 




^'.'ilif ^ 



imk^jik^ 



■\i 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 261 

poral, missing at Cliickamauga, supposed to have died of wounds ; John 
Riley, died of wounds received at Kenesaw, June 21, 1864 ; Charles Reed 
discharged at Louisville, date unknown ; William 0. Robinson and Henry 
Rogers, veteran, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; James Ross, Joseph 
Rittenour. James Sauster, Jacob Shambaugh, Samuel Simmons, mustered 
out September 19, 1864 ; James M. Snyder, discharged January 31, 1863, to 
€nter marine service ; Ebene^er E. Sparrow, appointed Corporal, died Octo- 
ber 22, 1862 ; Joel Stanfield and John W. Switzer, mustered out September 
19, 1864 ; John W. Timraons, died March 1, 1862 ; Thomas J. Thompson 
discharged February 12, 1863, disabilitj' ; James K. Turvey and David Vor- 
hees, mustered out September 19, 1864 ; John Whitmore, died March 5, 
1862 ; Benjamin V. "White, died October 14, 1862 ; James Whited, died 
Ma3-8, 1862; Philip Woodhams and Henry Woodhams, mustered out Sep- 
tember 19, 1864; William Finley, transferred to Fift3'-eighth Regiment; 
Alexander Williams, killed at Chickamauga, September 19th, 1863 ; Peter 
M. Wilds and George Willis, mustered out September 19, 1864. 

The following recruits were received by this companj* : Charles Bowl- 
ing, veteran, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Robert N. Brink, trans- 
ferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment, musttred out August 7, 1864 ; William H. 
Brown, missing October 15, 1862, at Danville, Ky.; Isaac N. Chenoweth, 
George J. Dexter, Thomas M. Davis, John Foster and Josiah Foster, trans- 
ferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Jonas Herron, killed at Chickamauga 
September 19, 1863; Robert W. Hampton, died April 9,1864; Charles J. 
Johnston, William Loufton, Henry H. B. Moore and Perry Moore, trans- 
ferred to Fifty -eighth Regiment ; Elihu Mason, discharged February 22, 
1864, for promotion ; Meredith B. Mason, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regi- 
ment ; Ferguson McLain,died May 30, 1864; Amos W. Nash, died at New- 
burg, Ind., May 29, 1862, of disease ; Albert H. Nagle, transferred to Fifty- 
eighth Regiment ; John P. Nagle, died May 13, 1864 ; William H. Pratt 
died March 13, 1864 ; Edward Riley, died November 24, 1863 ; Francis M. 
Robinson, transferred to Fifty-eighth Regiment ; Alfred Sheets, discharged 
February 19, 1864, disability ; Charles W. Stackhouse transferred to Fifty- 
eighth Regiment ; Albert Stair, appointed Corporal, transferred to Fifty- 
eighth Regiment ; Frederick Sheets, George W. Shigley, Frederick Wood- 
hams, John Welch and John Weber, transferred to Fiftj'-eighth Regiment. 

This company rendezvoused at Indianapolis, and was mustered into the 
service September 18, 1861, as Company D of the Tenth Regiment, of which 
Mahlon D. Manson was Colonel. On the 22d of September, it left Indian- 
apolis for Kentucky, and after remaining a few days at Louisville, was moved 
to Bardstown, where it went into camp. Here it remained for about a month 
when it was marched to New Haven and Lebanon, in which vicinity it re- 
mained until the advance to meet Zollikofer's forces in January, 1862. On 
the 19th of January, it participated in the battle of Mill Springs, or Logan's 
Fields, and there achieved an enviable reputation for gallantr}-, the regiment 
at one time saving the day by its firm resistance of a desperate charge of 

16 



262 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Zollikofer's forces. After the battle, it remained in that vicinity until the 
march of Buell's army to the Tennessee River in March, in which it took 
part. The regiment reached the field of Shiloh after the battle and remained 
there until the siege of Corinth was commenced. It then marched with the 
army and participated in the investment of that place, and the marches which 
followed the evacuation. Returning to Nashville, it joined in the pursuit of 
Bragg through Kentucky, engaging in the battle of Champion Hills, at 
Perry ville. It was then stationed in the district of country south of the 
Cumberland River, and east of Nashville ; and afterward joined in the 
march of the Army of the Cumberland across the Cumberland Mountains 
to Chattanooga, and participated in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th 
and 20th of September, 1863, in which engagement its commanding officer, 
Col. William B. Carroll, was filled. On the 14th of January, 1864, a portion 
of the regiment re-enlisted at Chattanooga, Tenn., and in the spring follow- 
ing, participated in Sherman's march upon Atlanta, taking part in the many 
engagements of that campaign. On the 8th of September, 1864. the veter- 
ans and recruits were, by order of Gen. Thomas, transferred to the Fifty- 
eighth Regiment, and on the 19th of September, 1864, the non-veterans were 
mustered out of the service. The transferred men served with the Fifty-eighth 
Regiment in Sherman's march through Georgia to Savannah, and through 
South Carolina and North Cai'olina, and finally were mustered out with that 
organization at Louisville, Ky., on the 25th day of July, 1865. Joseph F. 
Taylor, the company's first Captain, was discharged December 31, 1861. 
About the same time (the exact date is not known). Second Lieut. Ste- 
phen Sappingtoft resigned, leaving the position of Captain and Second Lieu- 
tenant vacant. First Lieut. Job H. VanNatta was promoted Captain, 
Sergt. Warren Sheets was advanced to the position of First Lieutenant, 
and Sergt. James Laroe to that of Second Lieutenant, November 18, 
1862, Capt. VanNatta was commissioned Major, and First Lieut. Sheets was 
made Captain, whilst Second Lieut. Laroe became First Lieutenant, and Sergt. 
Levi Hawkins, Second Lieutenant. First Lieut. Laroe resigned Decem- 
ber 24, 1863, and Second Lieut. Levi Hawkins was promoted to fill the 
vacancy, leaving a vacancy in the office of Second Lieutenant, which does 
not seem to have been filled. Maj. VanNatta was commissioned Lieutenant 
Colonel September 21, 1863, but was not mustered as such. He was mus- 
tered out as Major at the expiration of his term of service, September 20, 
1864. 

Benton s Third Company. — The next company from Benton Count}^ was re- 
cruited in the spring of 1862, being mustered about March 20. The commis- 
sioned officers of this company were : John Burns, Captain; Samuel L. Young, 
First Lieutenant; and John A. Savage, Second Lieutenant. The enlisted men 
wei'e: First Sergeant, John M. Crosson, promoted First Lieutenant; Sergeants, 
Hiram V. Wilkinson, promoted second Lieutenant ; William F. Baker, trans- 
ferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 18, 1862 ; James J 
Keys, discharged November 30, 1862, disability; David W. Miller, mustered 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 263 

out March 21, 1865 ; Corporals, Hugh H. Keys, died at St. Louis, April 4, 
1863, wounds ; Thomas Kennedy, discharged December 1, 1862, disability; 
Elijah McVey, promoted Second Lieutenant ; William Smith, died in Lou- 
isiana, June 1, 1863 ; William M. McConnell, discharged November 23, 
1863 ; Edward D. Pugh, discharged January 24, 1865 ; George D. Yar- 
borough. discharged January 24, 1805; Walter F. Sergeant, mustered out 
March 21, 1865 ; Musician, Hiram Benedict, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; 
Frank Wager, missing August 20, 1862 ; Privates, William B. Adams, 
discharged August 11, 1863; Abraham Aldridge, missing November 14, 
1862 ; John Ale, discharged August 4, 1862, disability ; Joseph H.Alex- 
ander, discharged August 15, 1863, disability ; David Ashler, discharged 
August 4, 1862, disability ; Israel Balch, discharged ; John A. Barns, dis- 
charged, disability ; Lee Beans, transferred to Eleventh United States In- 
fantry November 23, 1862 ; Charles Bechtold, died February 5, 1863, of 
wounds received at Arkansas Post ; Frederick Bechtold, mustered out March 
21, 1865; Johu E. Bliss, discharged September 14, 1862, disability ; Cor- 
nelius Boice, transferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 22, 
1862 ; Joseph Borders, killed at Jackson, Miss , July 10, 1862 ; Charles 
Buwecker, transferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 29, 
1862; Amos Campbell, killed at Arkansas Post January 11, 1863; Philis 
Canette, mustered out March 21, 1865; Matthew W. Clark, discharged 
November 22, 1862, disability ; Charles B. Conklin, discharged November 
29, 1862, minor; Washington Crabb, discharged August 8, 1863, disabilitj' ; 
William L. Dewyear, missing June 4, 1862 ; Mortimore Ford, missing June 
1, 1862; Jacob Gibbons, discharged October 2, 1863, disability; William 
Gillespie, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Hiram J. Gilbert, missing Novem- 
ber 22, 1862 ; Daniel S. Harris, discharged August 22, 1862, disability ; 
Samuel C. Harris, Henry C. Harris and Myer Harris, mustered out March 
21, 1865; Thomas E. Hamilton, discharged June 10, 1862, disability; 
Joseph Hale, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; Joseph Hatciier, died at Leb- 
anon, Ky., August 14, 1862 ; Charles M. Hatcher, mustered out March 21, 
1865 ; Samuel Henry, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps March 15, 
1864 ; George W. Helfield, missing May 8, 1862 ; William L Hixson, mus- 
tered out March 21, 1865 ; Isaac Hoagland, died at Memphis April 4, 1863, 
wounds; Andrew P. Johnson, mustered out March 21, 1863, as Sergeant; 
Albert Leneke, transferred to Eleventh United States Infantry November 
25, 1862 ; George Liptrap, mustered out Mareli 21, 1865 ; Jackson McDaniel, 
died at St. Louis, May 12, 1863 ; Thomas B. McClelland, disciiarged Janu- 
ary 24, 1865; Thomas McGregor, mustered out March 21, 1865, as First 
Sergeant ; John L. Mehaffy, discharged December 8, 1863, disability ; Henry 
Mayer, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; William J. Newman, missing Novem- 
ber 1, 1862; John Prosser, missing June 17,1862; Abel I*iigli, missing 
June 1, 1862 ; William H. Rickstravv, mustered out March 21. 1S65 ; John 
Selby, died at Carrollton, La., December 8, 1863 ; Frank Shell, missing May 
12,1862; Francis H. Shrade, mustered out March 21, 1865; William F. 



264 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Smith, discharged September 28, 1864, disability ; Reuben D. Steeley, died 
at Thibodeaux, October 11, 1864 ; James C. Tea, Milton B. Thompson and 
Abram L. Thompson, mustered out March 21, 1865 ; William Vanover, dis- 
charged November 20, 1862, disability ; Frederick D. Walker, mustered out 
March 21, 1865 ; Peter Ward, missing November 22, 1862 ; James E. War- 
ren and Sylvester Warren, missing November 9, 1862 ; Joel C. Wilmoth, 
transferred to Signal Corps, September 5, 1863 ; William C. Wilkinson, mus- 
tered out March 21, 1865 ; Robert V. Williams, discharged December 19, 
1863, disability ; James W. Williamson, discharged July 15, 1864, disability ; 
James G. W. Woods, missing November 15, 1862 ; Recruits, George Bless- 
ing, George Boynton and James W. Cook, transferred to Twenty-sixth 
Regiment February 24, 1865 ; Morris C. Freeman, discharged August 6, 
1863, disability ; John McCaslin, missing December 26, 1864 ; Robert Stan- 
ley and James Starr, transferred to Twenty-sixth Regiment February 24 
1865 ; Wade W. Williams, transferred to First United States Cavalry Novem- 
ber 20, 1862 ; Robert A. Young and John A. Young, transferred to Twenty- 
sixth Regiment February 24, 1865. Capt. Burns resigned November 30, 
1862, and Lieut. Savage resigned on the same day, thus creating vacancies 
in the offices of Captain and Second Lieutenant. First Lieut. Samuel L. 
Young was promoted to Captain ; First Sergt. John M. Crosson, to First 
Lieutenant, and Sergt. Hiram V. Wilkinson, to Second Lieutenant. Febru- 
arv 9, 1863, Capt. Young resigned, and John M. Crosson was advanced to 
the position of Captain ; Hiram V. Wilkinson to that of First Lieutenant, 
and Corporal Elijah McVey to that of Second Lieutenant. There were no 
further changes in the commissioned officers of the company up to the time 
when the entire regiment was mustered out. 

This company was assigned to the Sixtieth Ptegiment (Richard Owen, 
Colonel), in which it was designated as Company D. " A partial organization 
of this regiment was effected at Evansville, in November, 1861, and during 
the progress of enlisting the regiment was ordered to Camp Morton, Indi- 
anapolis, on the 22d of February, 1862, to guard rebel prisoners. While 
there the organization was perfected, the last companies being mustered in 
in the month of March. On the 20th of June, it left Indianapolis for Louis- 
ville, Ky., whence it proceeded to Lebanon. After remaining there for a 
time, it moved to Munfordville, where, on the 14th of September, the advance 
of Bragg's army surrounded the place and its works, and compelled the 
garrison to surrender after a gallant resistance. Among the captured were 
a number of Indiana regiments, and seven companies of the Sixtieth, under 
command of Col. Owen. The other companies were, at the time of the capt- 
ure, guarding a railroad bridge over Rolling Fork, near Lebanon Junction, 
under command of Maj. Cox, and were not captured. The captured companies 
-were paroled, and proceeded to Indianapolis, where they went into parole 
camps, and were there joined by the other portion of the regiment. Upon 
being exchanged in November, the regiment proceeded to Memphis, joining 
the Army of the Mississippi, and participating in the movements of that 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 265 

army during the winter of 1862. On the 10th of Januar}-, 1863, it took 
part in the battle of Arkansas Post, losing a number in killed and wounded. 
In the campaign against Vicksburg, it moved with the First Brigade (Bur- 
bridge's), Tenth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, from Milliken's Bend, on 
the 14th of April, making rapid and fatiguing marches through swamps, 
ba^-ous and streams, under scorching suns, drenching rains, and engaging in 
five desperate and hard-fought battles. At Port Gibson, on the 1st of May, 
it was among the first to enter the town ; at Champion Hills, on the 16th of 
May, it was in the advance, and at Black River, on the 17th of May, it 
behaved with gallantry. In the siege of Vicksburg, it took an active part, 
remaining in the trenches until the surrender on the 4th of July. After the 
capitulation, the Sixtieth marched with its brigade to Jackson, participating 
in the skirmishes on the route and the siege of Jackson, losing several in 
killed and wounded. Returning to Vicksburg, it remained there until 
August, when it was transported to New Orleans, where it was assigned to 
Banks' army. From New Orleans, it moved to Berwick City, and thence 
up the Teche, engaging in the battle of G-rand Coteau Plains on the 3d of 
November, losing a few in killed and wounded. Returning to the vicinity 
of New Iberia, it remained there a short time, and then proceeded to Algiers, 
near New Orleans, where it embarked on steamship for Texas. Landing in 
that State, it was stationed at Pass Cavallo for a brief period, and then 
returned to New Orleans, where it joined Banks' unfortunate expedition up 
Red River. This expedition was organized early in March, and proceeded 
with but little opposition to Alexandria, reaching there on the 19th of 
March. At Sabine Cross Roads, on the 8th of April, the Sixtieth lost 
heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners. 

" After this campaign, the regiment went to Indiana on veteran furlough, 
the regiment having re-enlisted. Its re-muster was not, however, approved 
b}' the War Department, the regiment not having, in its opinion, served a 
suflScient length of time to entitle it to be mustered as a veteran organiza- 
tion. Returning to the field, it was stationed at Thibodeaux, La., where it 
remained until the fall of 1864. On the 3d of November, it was engaged in 
the battle of Carrion Crow Bayou, losing largely in killed, wounded and 
prisoners. After this the regiment was stationed at Algiers, near New 
Orleans, remaining there until February 24, 1865, when the remaining 
recruits were transferred to the Twenty-sixth Indiana, and the balance of 
the regiment proceeded to Indianapolis, where it was mustered out on the 
21st of March, 1865." 

Other of Benton s Volunteers. — It might be possible to give the names of 
all those who went out from Benton County to do battle against their 
country's foes, but, as the task of ascertaining them would be a ver}' oner- 
ous one, owing to the fact of there having been a great many companies 
that had been principall}- made up elsewhere, in each of which there were a 
few — from one to twenty — Benton County men, the information is not 
deemed of sufficient importance to justify the attempt. Some of those 



266 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

companies are Compaii}' C, of the Niuetj'-uinth Regiment, in wliich there 
were twenty men from Benton County ; Company E, of the Fortieth 
Regiment, in which there were six ; Company H, of the One Hundred 
and Fifty-fifth Regiment, in which there were fifteen ; Company A, of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, in which there were thirt3'-nine ; 
Company K, of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, in which 
there were thirty ; and Company K of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth, 
in which there were twelve ; Company C, of the Ninet3'^-ninth Regiment 
was raised principal!}' in Porter Count}-. The members of that company 
from Benton Count}' were David R. Lucas, First Lieutenant, promoted 
Chaplain September 27, 1862 ; Charles M. Scott, promoted from Sergeant to 
Captain, February 8, 1864 ; Miles A. Barber, mustered out June 5, 1865, as 
Sergeant; James Beazell. died at Louisville, Ky., November 10, 1862; 
Henry J. Bushong, discharged ; Charles Catey, James Campbell and James 
D. Campbell, mustered out June 5, 1865 ; Ether A. Cook, died at Keokuk, 
Iowa, January 15, 1868; Henry German, mustered out June 5, 1865 ; Rea- 
son Johnson, died at Camp Fowler, Tenn., February 26, 1863 ; Milton Keys, 
mustered out June 5, 1865; William D. Kolb, mustered out June 5, 1865 ; 
Robert B. Lank, dischai^ged March 6, 1863 ; George W. Parker, transferred 
to V. R. C, October 26, 1863; William Savage, promoted First Lieutenant 
February 1, 1865 ; James Vanover, supposed lost on Sultana, April 27, 
1865; Joseph Williams and William H. Young, mustered out June 5, 1865. 

In Company E of the Fortieth Regiment were Richard Kolb, pro- 
moted First Lieutenant, April 17, 1863, and resigned December 13, 1864 ; 
Jasper Kolb, promoted First Lieutenant March 20, 1865, and mustered out 
with the regiment ; Frederick Cain, discharged ; Brooks C. Dunwiddie, 
veteran, mustered out December 21, 1864, as Sergeant ; Joseph Green- 
wood, veteran, mustered out December 21, 1865, as Sergeant ; Smith W. 
Perigo, veteran, mustered out December 21, 1865, as Sergeant. 

Those in Company H of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment 
were John H. Barber, mustered out May 15, 1865 ; Robert Brinkley, Will- 
iam W. Clark, Charles W. Clifton, David S. Clifton, Jefferson Donahue, 
Henry EUer, Aaron Jones, Benjamin Miller, Benjamin C. Miller, Franklin 
Obermyer, George Rover, Nathan Thompson and Arza B. Truitt, all mus- 
tered out August 4, 1865 ; and James F. Waterman, missing April 27, 
1865 ; and those in Company K of the same regiment were James Bell, 
promoted Second Lieutenant April 17, 1865, mustered out with regiment; 
Alfred Cover, mustered out August 4, 1865 ; Joseph A. Chandler, promoted 
Assistant Surgeon ; William L. Bnglen, mustered out August 4, 1865, as 
First Sergeant ; John W. Fites, William W. Fitraw, William Jenkins, Jere- 
miah Manihan, Leroy A. Swift, John Stoneberger, George J. Thompson and 
Samuel E. Walton, all mustered out August 4, 1865. 

In Company K of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh, there were 
Capt. Thomas Kennedy, mustered out with the regiment ; Sergeants James 
J. Keys, William M. McConnell, George W. Crosson and Henry M. Smith ; 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 267 

Corporals William H. Yanover, Alonzo Sleepei", John Elmore, John F. 
Stokes and Joseph Emer3' ; and Privates Jacob Albaugh, Robert Balantine, 
Edward Bromley, Mark J. Briar, James BlanchfiU, Jerry Doyle, John Gilles- 
pie, William Greenwood, Daniel W. Henderson, Alexander Hukill, James H. 
McDaniel, Andrew J. MeConnell, William E. Orr, George Perigo, James 
Ritner, Lewis Rolane, David Snyder, Jonathan Vanhorn, Isaac S. Wade and 
Isaac Ward, all of whom were mustered out August 4, 1865, except Alonzo 
Sleeper, who was mustered out June 2, 1865, and David Snyder who died 
at Indianapolis, March 14, 1865. 

Company A of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment had in 
it the following : First Lieutenant, William S. Freeman, promoted Captain 
December 1, 1864, aud mustered out as such with the regiment ; First Ser- 
geant, Lewis A. Campbell, promoted Second Lieutenant January 10, 1865, 
and mustered out as such with the regiment ; Sergt. George D. Boyd, 
discharged February 2, 1866 ; Corporals Jacob Shirm, mustered out Octo- 
ber 5, 1865 ; Jeremiah Anstill, discharged July 10, 1865, and John B. Crane 
mustered out April 10, 1866, as First Sergeant ; Privates, James Beal, 
Joseph Carter, Rinaldo Childs, James K. Coleman, Charles B. Conklin, P. 
A. Carnahan, mustered out April 10, 1866, as Quartermaster Sergeant; 
Strawder DeHart, William H. Dugan, John M. Ford, Allen Ford, William C. 
Garland, Owen Ganoth}^, Eugene B. Glasgow, James M. Hobson, William 
H. Hopkins, John Hutfman, William Handy, George Kee, died at Atlanta, 
Ga., October y, 1864 : Stephen S. Kitchen, discharged May 21, 1865 ; William 
Louderback, John McBride, William ^IcCounell, William Michaels, Isaiah 
R. Morris, transferred to V. R. C, April 1, 1865 ; John W. Odle, discharged 
January 5, 1866 ; Charles R. Tate, John Templin, Robert Wright, died at 
Galesville, Ala., October 20, 1864 ; Henry Wight, Paul Windier, William 
Phillips, discharged July 10, 1865; Milton Young and James C. Young, dis- 
charged July 10, 1865. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment was a three-years, 
regiment, and was mustered in between October 1, 1863, and January 31, 
1864, the greater part of the men being mustered December 15, 1864. They 
were mustered out at various times, but the majority of them were mustered 
out April 10, 1864, none of them serving the full term of their enlistment. 
The Ninety-ninth was also a three-3-ears regiment, and a large majority of 
the men were mustered into the service August 15, 1862. They were all, 
with a very few exceptions, mustered out June 5, 1865, the time served 
being a little short of three years. 

The One Hundred and Forty-seventh, the One Hundred and Forty- 
eighth, and the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiments, were in the service 
but a very short time, and during that time saw but little, if any, of the 
hardships and dangers of active military duty. Neither of those three 
regiments had a man killed or mortally wounded during the time thev were 
in the service. They performed quite an important part in the closing 
scene of this great drama, however, the part that they were doubtless 



268 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY, 

designed to perfoi*m. They were employed to garrison posts at various 
points along the lines of railroad over which our supplies were conveyed, 
thus relieving and sending to the front several thousand soldiers who had 
had long experience in the service, and whose valor had been proven on 
many an ensanguined field. 

The Ninety-ninth and the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiments, 
although not among the first to respond to their country's call for succor, 
nevertheless entered the service in time to render very efficient aid to the 
cause of the Union, the loss of the former, in killed and mortally wounded, 
being forty-one, and that of the latter twenty-eight. The Ninety-ninth par- 
ticipated in Sherman's campaign against Vicksburg in the summer of 1863, 
and in the operations which led to the evacuation of Jackson, Miss., the same 
summer. After remaining in camp at Big Black River until the latter part 
of September, 1863, the regiment moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., by way of 
Memphis, Corinth, luka, Florence, Decherd and Stevenson, arriving at Chat- 
tanooga on the 24th day of November, and engaging in the battle of Mission 
Ridge on the following day. It took part in the Atlanta campaign, and 
participated in many of the most sanguinary- engagements fought during 
that campaign. It accompanied Sherman in his march to the sea, and on 
the 15th of December, 1864, took part in the charge upon Fort McAlister. 
Leaving Savannah, after a short rest, the regiment started on its way through 
the Carolinas, skirmishing with the enemy at Duck Creek and Edisto River, 
and occupying Columbia, S. C, on the 17th of February, 1865. The 
regiment broke camp at Columbia, after a brief rest, and, marching by 
way of Camden, Cheraw and Fayetteville on the 19th of March, reinforced 
the Twentieth Corps at the battle of Bentonville. By way of Groldsboro, 
Raleigh, Warrenton, Petersburg and Richmond, the regiment marched over- 
land to Washington, D. C, and was there mustered out of the service of the 
United States on 15th day of June, 1865. During its term of service, the 
Ninetj'-ninth Regiment marched over four thousand miles, and endured 
many hardships. 

The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment was raised in the 
Ninth Congressional District, during the fall and winter of 1863, rendez- 
voused at Michigan, City, and was mustered into the service on the 18th 
day of March, 1864. On the 23d, the regiment left Michigan City by rail, 
and proceeded to Nashville by way of Indianapolis and Louisville. The 
regiment proceeded on its way southward, passing through Stevenson, 
Bridgeport and Chattanooga, and reaching Charleston, Tenn., April 21. 
From Charleston it marched in the direction of Atlanta, actively participat- 
ing in that most energetic, sanguinary and decisive campaign. The One 
Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment was conspicuously engaged in many 
of the severest engagements of this campaign, and " from the 8th of May 
until the 5th of September, under the broiling sun b}' day and the pesti- 
lential dews by night, through difficult ravines, skirmishing in dense forests, 
drenched by heavy rains, struggling through mud and mire, our troops 



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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 271 

pressed on. Some portion of the regiment was on the skirmish line nearly 
every day for four moutlis." After the fall of Atlanta the regiment marched 
from Jonesboro to Decatur, Ga., where it went into camp with the rest of 
the corps. The regiment was in the engagement at Franklin, Tenn., in 
which it lost several officers and men. It was also engaged in the battle of 
Nashville, December 15 and 16, but its loss was vcrj- light. On the 5th of 
January, 1865, the regiment left Columbia, Tenn., and, marching to Clifton, 
on the Tennessee River, there embarked on a transport for Cincinnati, Ohio; 
whence it moved by rail to Washington, and thence to Alexandria, Va., 
from which place it sailed, on the 20th of February, on the steamer Atlantic, 
to Fort Fisher, N. C, and thence to Morehead City, N. C. On the 10th of 
March, the regiment took an active part in the battle of Kingston or Wise's 
Fork, losing several in killed and wounded. 

Public Sentiment and Civil Action. — It is said by those who then resided 
in the county that there was not in Benton Count}' the same bitter resent- 
ments and deep-seated animosities engendered by the war that there were in 
many other portions of the country. The sentiment in favor of the sup- 
pression of the rebellion was, it is said, almost universally prevalent. The 
alacrity with which Benton County responded to the call to arms, won for it 
the following commendator}' notice from the State Sentinel \n May, 1861: 
" The little count}' of Benton, with a voting population of 500, has sent a 
company of ninety men to the war, and fine looking fellows they are. Good 
for Benton Count3^ Capt. W. J. Templeton commands this compan}*." 
Benton County was not lavish, in any marked degree, in the expenditure of 
money for the payment of local bounties; yet it does not appear, from the 
Adjutant General's report that there were ever more than two men — one 
in Prairie Township and one in York — drafted. The amounts of mone}' 
paid by the county, and by the several townships, for local bounties, as 
shown by the Adjutant General's report, were as follows : Benton County, 
030,840; Parish Grove Township, $10,715.50; Pine Township, $7,340; Oak 
Grove Township, $2,250; York Township, $2,500; Prairie Township, $415; 
Bolivar Township, $9,550; Union Township, $900; making a total in the 
county of $64,510.50. The amounts paid for the relief of soldiers' families 
were : By the county, $3,635.08; by Pine Township, $345; by Oak Grove 
Township, $330; by Prairie Township, $15; by Bolivar Township, $60, mak- 
ing a total in the county of $4,385.08. 

At a special session of the Board of Commissioners, held April 30, 
1861 (Benjamin Hawkins, Robert M. Atkinson and Samuel Mcllvaine. Com- 
missioners; William Jones, Auditor, and Samuel Chapman, Sheriff), it was 
" Ordered that $1,000 be, and is hereby, appropriated out of the county 
funds, or so much of the same as may be needed for the purpose of defraj'- 
ing the expenses of board and lodging of the volunteers of the Benton 
County Guards, and for the benefit of the families of such volunteers as 
may need assistance, arising from their absence. The orders for the money 
for volunteers to be issued in sucli amounts as the Captain, or other officer 



272 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

in command, may, from time to time, require. That used for the benefit 
of the families to be used in such amounts as David McConnell, Dr. J. J. 
Rawlings and Basil Justus, who are hereby appointed to act as agents for the 
county in expending the same, may, from time to time, require." 

At the June session, 1861, it was " Ordered that a county order be made 
to Tippecanoe County for $73 for quartering ninety men by order of Capt. 
W. J. Templeton, as by his bill on file." At the same term, it was ordered 
that the order made April 30th, which has been alluded to, be amended to 
read as follows : •' That there be a suitable person appointed to inquire into 
the necessities of all destitute families of those that have husbands and 
sons now in the army, on whom they have heretofore depended for support, 
and also that the merchants of Oxford be notified not to sell to such persons 
without an order from said person, appointed by the Board of County Com- 
missioners." 

At a special session, held November 10, 1863, it was "Ordered that a 
bounty of $50 be paid out of the county treasurj^ to each volunteer enlist- 
ing from the county of Benton under the late call of the President for 300,- 
000 men ; and that there be an allowance made monthly of $5 to the fami- 
lies dependent on volunteers so recruited, and to all families whose sup- 
porters have heretofore enlisted in the army of the United States and still 
remain in the service of the same. Ordered that the Auditor draw orders 
on the Treasurer for the above bounty, when the certificate of the muster- 
ing officer is produced that the applicant has been duly received and mus- 
tered into the service of the United States." 

At a special session, held Februarj^ 23, 1864, it was " Ordered by the 
board that a bounty of $50 be paid out of the county treasury to each a'oI- 
unteer enlisting from the county of Benton under the late call of the Pres- 
ident for 200,000 men, upon the certificate of the mustering officer being 
produced that the applicant has been duly mustered into the service 
of the United States." December, 186-4, it was " Ordered by this court 
that an order made by this board at a special term held on the 10th 
day of November, 1863, allowing $5 per month to the wives of soldiers in 
the service of the United States, from this county, be, and the same is, 
hereby rescinded; and further, that, in lieu of said order, the following be 
substituted : ' Ordered by the board that the wives of private soldiers and 
non-commissioned officers (until they receive their pension from the Govern- 
ment), who are credited to this county, shall receive as a bounty the sum of 
$3 per month to each woman, and $2 per month to each child under ten 
years of age; and further, that, in order that the Auditor may know the 
proper amount due such families, such women, or their representatives, shall 
file with the County Auditor a sworn statement of the number of children 
entitled to pay under this order.' " 

At a special session of the Commissioners' Court, held Februar}- 8, 1865 
(present Benjamin Hawkins, Robert M. Atkinson and William Marvin, Com- 
missioners), it was " Ordered that a bounty of $400 be paid out of the county 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 273 

treasury to each volunteer wlio ma}- be mustered into the service, and 
credited to the several townships of this county ; provided^ that no bounties 
be paid to volunteers after the quotas of the several townships are 
filled ; and provided further, that no bounty shall be paid to any person or 
persons resident or enrolled in one township who shall volunteer in an}- 
other township and have himself credited thereto, until the quota in the 
township in which he resides or is enrolled shall be full ; said bounty to be 
paid as follows, to wit : County orders shall be issued by the Auditor in 
denominations ranging from $25 to $400 ; and, inasmuch as the funds are 
not now on hand for the redemption of the orders above named, it is here- 
by further ordered that if the residents of any township shall furnish the 
funds uecessar}' to redeem said orders up to the amount necessary to fill the 
quota of such township, the funds so furnished by such township shall be 
paid out to volunteers to fill the quota of such township ; and, in case the 
quota of any township is not filled b}' volunteering, the Auditor shall issue 
to such persons as ma}' be drafted to fill up such quota, orders to the 
amount of $400 each to such drafted men as ma}' be accepted and mustered 
into the service, and all bounties, whether to volunteers or drafted men, shall 
onl}' be paid on the presentation to the person who may be authorized to 
pay the same, the certificate of the mustering officer, which certificate shall 
specify the township to which he is credited." 

The last order made by the board in relation to bounties was made in 
March, 1865, and was as follows : " Ordered that the order made at the 
special session of the board, held on the 8th day of February, 1865, allow- 
ing a bounty to volunteers and drafted men, be so amended that any person 
in any township in this county, who ma}- be drafted to fill the quota of his 
township, and who shall procure and have mustered into the service of the 
United States for one year an acceptable substitute, shall, on the presenta- 
tion of the proper certificate of the Auditor that such substitute has been 
mustered in, be entitled to receive the amount of county orders allowed in 
said order ; and, any person in any township which has not filled its quota, 
who shall procure and have mustered into the service as aforesaid, and cred- 
ited to his township, a representative volunteer for one year, shall, on the 
presentation of the certificate as aforesaid, be entitled to receive the bounty 
provided for in said order. And it is further ordered that the Auditor be, 
and he hereby is authorized and directed to issue to James Emerson, of 
Bolivar Township, orders to the amount of $8,400, being the amount neces- 
sary to pay the bounty on the number of men required to fill the quota of 
said Bolivar Township, taking the said Emerson's receipt for said orders, 
which said receipt shall contain the number and date of said orders, and 
require the said Emerson to return to said Auditor all of said orders not 
used in filling the quota of said township ; and for each $400 of said orders 
not returned to tlie Auditor by said Emerson, he shall be required to Qle 
with said Auditor the certificate of muster-in of a volunteer for one year, 
credited to said township." 



27-i HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Conclusion. — The men, a very large majority of them, at least, who went 
out from the county to serve in the army during the late rebellion, were men 
who had been residing in the county prior to their enlistment ; and those of 
them who survived the perils of war returned to the county, and are, most 
of them, still residing therein ; wherefore it is believed that all facts of 
interest pertaining to those companies, and fragmentary companies that 
went out from Benton County, will have a peculiar interest for a very nu- 
merous class of the citizens of the county. It is in view of these facts, and 
of the further fact that the Adjutant General's report, from which the fore- 
going has been chiefly drawn, is not readily accessible to the general public, 
that so much space has been devoted to this subject. 



PAST EVENTS— PRESENT CONDITION. 

BY ED MOBSMAN. 

THE SPAULDING TRAGEDY. 

ON the 15th da}- of November, 1882, a double murder and suicide occurred 
in York Township, of which the Oxford Tribune gives the following 
account : " On the l-Ath inst., James P. Spaulding, of near Raub, Ind., mur- 
dered his wife and child, and then committed suicide. Spaulding had 
sold his farm recently, and received cash in consideration. This money was 
deposited in the Bank of Kentland, where it now is. On the previous even- 
ing, he was heard to complain of selling the place too cheap, and seemed very 
morose in consequence. He was seen in the morning with lantern in hand, 
doing the chores about the barn, where later the horses were found with 
harness on. The cows had been milked, and wood chopped for the day. 
The bodies were discovered by a relative. The lamp was burning on a 
table ; the mother and son la}^ side by side, while the father lay across them, 
face downward. Spaulding was thirty-five years of age ; his wife, thirty 
years of age, and the boy four years and six months. At the time the mur- 
der was committed, the wife was engaged in making bread, as her hands were 
covered with dough, and all preparation had been made for baking. From 
what investigation has been made, it is firmly believed that the husband 
killed the wife and child, and then cut his own throat. It is supposed that he 
first came in from the barn quietly, and knocked his wife in the head with a 
singletree that was found on the floor covered with blood and hair, and then 
cut her throat with a razor which was found covered with blood, and iden- 
tified as his own. The door knob had finger marks, showing signs of a 
struggle. The little boy ran out into the back 3'ard, whither his father pur- 
sued him and knocked him down with the singletree. He then cut the boy's 
throat from ear to ear. di'agged him into the house, and laid him alongside 
the mother. Spaulding then cut his own throat, and fell across the 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 275 

bodies of his wife and child. It is plain that the murder was not committed 
for the purpose of robber}-, as Spaulding's purse, containing a considerable 
sum of money, was found on his person, while his watch was taken from his 
vest pocket, and the crystal found to be covered with finger-marks and blood." 
The foregoing newspapsr article contains the fa.!ts in the case, except as to 
one or two particulars. The Coroner's report shows that the tragedy occurred 
on the 15th, instead of on the 14th of the month, as stated in the article. 
It also shows that Spaulding's name was Jasper, and not James K. as stated 
in the article. The Coroners report discloses the further facts that Mrs. 
Spaulding's name was Georgia, and little boy's, Harry. 

LANDS ENTERED BY II. L. ELLSWORTH. 

Henry L. Ellsworth, of LaFaj-ette, entered about 65,000 acres of land in 
the county, a great deal of it being entered as late as the year 1851. He en- 
tered a great many entire sections, and never less than a quarter section in 
any one section. He entered land in each Congressional township in the 
count}', except in Township 25, of Range 6. The number of acres entered b}- 
him in each township was as follows : Township 2-4, Range 6, 4,636 acres ; 
Township 26, Range 6, 4,020 ; Township 24, Range 7, 4,800 ; Township 25, 
Range 7, 9,700 ; Township 26, Range 7, 4,302 ; Township 24, Range 8, 1,280 ; 
Township 25, Range 8, 4,000 ; Township 26, Range 8, 6,320 ; Township 24, 
Range 9, 1 1,200 ; Township 25, Range 9, 8,600 ; Township 26, Range 9, 5,940. 

VOTING POPULATION AT INTERVALS BY TOWNSHIPS. 

In 1842, there were twenty-four voters in Parish Grove Township, thirty 
three in Pine, and twenty-five in Oak Grove ; in 1846, there were forty-one 
in Parish Grove, forty-two in Pine, and thirty-seven in Oak Grove ; in 1849, 
there were fifty-one in Parish Grove, forty-two in Pine, and sixt3'-nine in 
Oak Grove; in 1854, there were eighty-six in Parish Grove, seventy-two in 
Pine, and one hundred and seventy-six in Oak Grove ; in 1859, there were 
thirty eight in Parish Grove, eighty-two in Pine, two hundred forty-two in 
Oak Grove, and seventy-two in West Pine ; in 1864, there were seventeen in 
Parish Grove, sevent3--seven in Pine, one hundred thirty-seven in Oak Grove, 
sixty-four in West Pine, sixteen in York, twenty-one in Prairie, one hundred 
seven in Bolivar, and ten in Union ; in 1869, there were eleven in Parish 
Grove, sixty-nine in Pine, two hundred two in Oak Grove, fifty-six in York, 
forty in Prairie, one hundred thirty-nine in Bolivar, thirty-three in Union, 
sixty-seven in Gilboa, forty three in Richland, and one hundred twenty-four 
in Grant; in 1874, there were fifty-eight in Parish Grove, ninety-eight in 
Pine, one hundred fifty in Oak Grove, eighty -seven in York, one hundred 
ninety-seven in Prairie, one hundred thirty-nine in Bolivar, one hundred 
thirty-three in Union, one hundred thirty-nine in Gilboa, one hundred sixty- 
six in Richland, and two hundred forty -six in Grant ; in 1879, there were 
one hundred thirty-three in Parish Grove, seventy-six in Pine, one hundred 
twenty-nine in Oak Grove, one hundred nine in York, one hundred seventy 



276 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

in Bolivar, one hundred fifty- two in Union, one hundred forty-two in G-ilboa, 
two hundred two in Richland, two hundred fourteen in Grant, and one hun- 
dred sixty-six in Center, one hundred sixty-seven in Hickory G-rove, ninety- 
eight in Oxford, and one hundred fifty-eight in Fowler ; in 1882, there were 
one hundred fifty-five in Parish Grove, ninety-five in Pine, one hundred 
thirty-seven in Oak Grove, one hundred thirty in York, one hundred ninety- 
seven in Bolivar, one hundred sixty in Union, one hundred forty-three in 
Gilboa, one hundred sixty-seven in Richland, two hundred forty-seven in 
Grant, one hundred twenty-two in Center, one hundred ninety-seven in Hick- 
ory Grove, one hundred fifty-three in Oxford, and one hundred eighty-one in 
Fowler. It will be seen that in certain townships the number was less at 
some periods than it had been at previous periods. From this it might be 
inferred that the population of the county was becoming less, for some rea- 
son. It will be seen, however, that the population of the county has been 
steadily increasing, if the aggregate population of all the townships be con- 
sidered. Thus, in 1842, the population of the county was eighty-two ; in 
1846, it was one hundred twenty, being an increase of thirty-eight, or over 
forty -seven percent ; the increase from 1846 to 1849 was sixty-five, an in- 
crease of over fifty-four per cent ; from 1849 to 1854, it was one hundred forty- 
nine, or seventy-nine per cent ; from 1854 to 1859, it was one hundred, an in- 
crease of over twenty-nine per cent; from 1859 to 1864, it was fifteen, an 
increase of three and one-fourth per cent ; from 1864 to 1869, it was three 
hundred thirty-five, an increase of over seventy-four per cent ; from 1869 to 
1874, it was six hundred and twenty-nine, and increase of eighty per cent ; 
from 1874 to 1879, it was five hundred three, an increase of over thirty-five 
per cent; and from 1879 to 1882, it was one hundred and sixty-eight, an increase 
of nearly nine per cent in three years. The lowest per cent of increase — 
three and one-fourth— was from 1859 to 1864. This period covers the greater 
portion of the late civil war, and it is probably due to this that the rate 
of increase is so small. That some of the townships appear to have lost 
ground at times is due to the fact that their territorial limits have been di- 
minished by the creation of new townships, out of a part of their territory. 
The changes made in the townships of this county have been very numerous. 
When the county was first organized, and for several years afterward, there 
were but three townships in the county, and now there are eleven. Again, 
there have been several townships unmade by rescinding the order creating 
them, whilst the names of others have been changed. 

RAILROADS. 

The first railroad projected in Benton County was called the La Fayette, 
Oxford & Bloomiugton Railroad. The Board of Commissioners, at their 
March session, 1868, undertook and agreed to make up to the company any 
delinquency, not exceeding $10,000, that the company might not be able to 
collect of $50,000 that the citizens of Benton County had subscribed to aid 
in the construction of the road, which was to run from La Fayette, in Tippe- 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 277 

canoe County, Ind., to Bloomington, 111., passing through Oxford en route. 
The road was never built, however, as originally projected, and the board, 
at their June session, 1869, rescinded the order they had made at their 
March session, 1868, above alluded to. At the July session of the board 
(special session), 1869, a petition was presented teethe board, signed by 108 
freeholders of the county, praying the board to order elections to be held 
in the several townships of the county, to vote upon the question whether 
the county should aid the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, to the 
amount of $40,000, either by way of an appropriation of that amount or by 
taking stock in the company. The Commissioners decided to take stock, 
and ordered elections to be held in the several townships on the 28th day of 
the next ensuing month. The vote in the several townships was as follows : 
Parish Grove Township, none for, none against; Pine Township, twenty-nine 
for, forty-seven against ; Oak Grove Township, two hundred and fifty-one 
for, seven against ; Gilboa Township, none for, none against ; York, two 
for, twenty against ; Prairie Township, thirty-nine for, five against ; Bolivar 
Township, one hundred and twenty-two for, none against ; Union 
Township, none for, none against; Richland Towiiship, twenty-five for, 
nineteen against ; Grant Township, one hundred and thirty-nine for, 
none against ; making the total vote of the count}' six hundred 
and seven for, and ninet3'-eight against. In three of the ten town- 
ships — Parish Grove, Gilboa and Union — no votes were cast, either for or 
against ; whilst two — Pine and York — gave a majority against the appro- 
priation, and two — Bolivar and Grant — voted unanimously in favor of it. 
The townships in the northern tier — Gilboa, Union, Richland and York — 
being situated farthest from the line of the proposed road, and there being 
already a railroad within a mile or two of their northern boundary, it is not 
strange that the}' should give a raajorit}' against making the appropriation ; 
for it would benefit the people of that section but little, notwithstanding 
the benefit to the county would be incalculable. But that Parish Grove, 
Prairie and Pine, constituting the middle tier of townships, should have 
given as small a majority in favor of the appropriation as they did, is some- 
what surprising, inasmuch as those townships must have been benefited 
but little less than the southern tier of townships, through which the road 
was proposed to be made. In the northern tier of townships the majority 
against the appropriation was twelve, whilst the middle tier gave a majority 
of sixteen, and the southern tier a majority of five hundred and five in favor 
of it ; there being but seven votes against it in the southern tier of town- 
ships, all of which were cast in Oak Grove Township. It being discovered 
by the Commissioners that $-10,000 was in excess of one per cent of the 
taxable property of the county — the utmost amount that could be lawfuU}- 
levied in aid of a private enterprise — it was ordered at the June term of Com- 
missioners' Court, 1870, that one-iialf the amount of the appropriation, 
$20,000, should be then levied, and that the balance of it be levied at the 
June session, 1871. The construction of the road does not seem to have 



278 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

been pushed forward very energetically, for we find in the record of the 
proceedings of the Board of Commissioners, at their December term, 1875, 
after reciting that quo warranto proceedings by information, in the name of 
the State of Indiana, on the relation of William B. Walls, Prosecuting 
Attorney of the Twentieth Judicial Cix'cuit. are pending in the Clinton 
Circuit Court against the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, to 
wrest from said company its corporate franchises, and that the count}' is a 
stockholder to the amount of $39,150, the board " request the Grovernor, 
Lieutenant G-overnor and Attorney Greneral to dismiss said proceedings, as 
said road is now nearly completed." This road runs in a northwesterly 
direction from La Fayette to Templeton, thence nearly due west to Boswell, 
and thence to the State line, a little south of west. The L., M. & B. Rail- 
road, after several successive consolidations with other roads and changes 
of name, has come to be known as the Lake Erie & Western Railway, and 
with its connections forms one of the great trunk lines of the country. It 
is doing a good business both in freight and passenger traffic. The con- 
struction of this road has been of incalculable benefit to the count}^ caus- 
ing the towns of Templeton, Chase, Boswell, Talbot and Ambia to spring 
up, and greatly promoting the settlement of the southwestern portion of 
the county. Besides the $40,000 of stock subscribed by the county, the 
citizens of the county subscribed some $60,000, making in the aggregate 
$100,000 obtained by the road out of Benton County to aid in its construc- 
tion. Verily, the county ought to be greatly benefited by the construction 
of the road, for although this enormous sum of $100,000 was not designed 
to be a donation, yet by the chicanery usually resorted to, they being small 
fish, tropically speaking, were swallowed up by the leviathans into whose 
power they had unwarily placed themselves, thus making it in effect a dona- 
tion. Neither the county, nor an}^ individual of the county, ever received a 
dollar for the stock subscribed to this road. It is ever thus. 

About the same time that the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington road 
was projected, or very soon afterward, a road was surveyed to run from La 
Fayette to Chicago, to be known as the Cincinnati, La Fayette & Chicago 
Railroad, which was to diverge to the north from the line of the La Fayette, 
Muncie & Bloomington Railroad, at Templeton, and run centrally to the north- 
west corner of the county. This road was completed about the same time 
that the other road was completed, and, like it, benefited the county at 
large very greatly, and those near the center of the county immeasurably. 
On this line of road, the towns of Atkinson, Fowler, Earl Park and Raub 
sprang up. This road, like the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington road, 
has been consolidated with other roads, and the name has been changed, 
until it is now a continuous line from Cincinnati to Chicago, and is known 
as the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad, or, other- 
wise as the Big Four road, and is one of the best lines of road in the 
country. All trains on this road pass over the track of the Lake Erie & 
Western road between La Fayette and Templeton, under some sort of agree- 




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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 281 

merit between the two roads, but they make no stops between those points 
for the purpose of taking on passengers or freight. 

At a special session of the Board of Commissioners, held in April, 1880, 
elections were ordered to be held in Union and Oak Grove Townships for 
the purpose of voting aid to the Indiana & Chicago Railroad, in the sum 
of $9,000 in the former and $15,000 in the latter. The election in Union 
was ordered for May 22, 1880, and in Oak Grove for June 1, 1880. The 
elections were held, as ordered, and resulted as follows : In Union Township, 
88 votes for, and 34 against ; in Oak Grove, 2-49 votes for, and 75 against. 
This road has been completed through the county, and runs very nearly in 
a due north and south direction, running through Goodland, in Newton 
Count3-, crossing the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad 
about four or five miles south of Fowler, and passing on thence through Ox- 
ford. Its termini are, for the present, Chicago and Brazil. The town of 
Fowler refused to aid anywise in the construction of the road, owing to 
some misconception of the facts ; the}' probably either doubted the ability 
of the parties who were at the head of the scheme to bring it to a success- 
ful issue, or else they thought that the road would be built anyhow, whether 
they contributed to the enterprise or not, and, consequent! }■, the road was lo- 
cated so as to pass just to the east of Fowler, missing it about two miles, and 
almost wholly, if not quite, cutting the town off from all benefits on account 
of the road being built. This will undoubtedly become an excellent freight 
line, as it will be the most direct route between the extensive coal fields of 
Clay County and Chicago, the great metropolis of the West. The name by 
which it is now designated is the Chicago & Great Southern Railroad. The 
three roads mentioned are the only ones, as yet, that have been com- 
pleted, or upon which work has been begun, although there have been two 
others projected, and they will probably both be built in the near future. 
These are the Michigan, Indiana & St. Louis and the Delphi, Fowler & 
Western. A petition from the citizens of Center Township was presented 
to the Board of Commissioners at a special session in March, 1882, asking 
that an election be ordered for that township, for the purpose of voting aid 
to the latter road in the sum of $22,567, and an election was accordingly 
ordered for that purpose, to be held on the 2d day of May, 1882. At the 
same session, a similar petition was presented from citizens of Pine Town- 
ship for an election to vote upon the proposition of donating the sam of 
$7,100, to aid in the construction of the same road, and an election was 
ordered for the same day as in Center Township. A canvass of the votes in 
Center Township showed that 289 votes were cast for, and 151 against, the 
proposition. In Pine Township, 51 were in favor of the donation and 47 
against it. At the October session, an election was asked for in Parish 
Grove Township to vote upon the proposition to donate the sum of $9,600, 
to aid in the construction of the same road, and an election was ordered to 
be held on the 24th day of November, 1882. The election was accordingly 
held, and resulted in 79 votes being cast in favor of the proposition, and 45 

17 



282 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

against it. There has been a survey made of the line of this proposed road, 
but no work has been done on it as yet, in the county, though it is very con- 
fidentl}' predicted by those who are wise in such matters, that it will be built 
in a very short time. Steps have been taken to secure the right-of-way, and 
the same has been generally, if not fully, secured through the county. 

A petition from the citizens of Oak Grove Township, praying for an 
election to be ordered in that township for the purpose of voting upon the 
proposition of making a donation of $15,000 to aid in the construction of 
the Michigan, Indiana & St. Louis Railroad, was presented to the Board of 
Commissioners, at a special session of the board held in the month of May, 
1882, and an election was ordered, as prayed for, and the time fixed therefor 
June 7, 1882. The election was held on that da}', and resulted as follows : 
For the proposition, 236 ; against it, 125. When those two roads are built, 
as they undoubtedly will be, for they are evidently judiciously located, there 
will be no township in the county except Gilboa without a railroad. Then, 
with all the advantages of cheap transportation, coupled with the advantages 
that she already possesses, of an extraordinarily fertile soil, there is every 
reason to believe that Benton County will be among the most wealthy and 
prosperous counties in the State ere another quarter of a century shall have 
passed. Notwithstanding the fact that railroads are much inveighed against, 
denounced as grasping monopolies, and all that, yet the fact is patent that 
they create markets for the commodities of the land where before there was 
none, and that they bear a very large part of the burden of taxes ; to all of 
which facts a majority of the people of Benton County seem to be alive, 
judging from the way in which they vote aid to railroads. 

OTHER ROADS. 

To describe all the roads in the county, and give the date of their estab- 
lishment, would of itself require a good-sized volume. It is not the inten- 
tion to attempt this, but to give only the date of one or two of the early ones, 
with a general description of their course. By an act of the Legislature, 
approved February 24, 1840, Amos White was appointed a Commissioner to 
locate and establish a State road from La Fayette to Parish Grove. Henry 
Robertson acted as surveyor, and the report made by the Commissioner and 
surveyor to the Board of County Commissioners at their December session, 
1840, shows that the road was located, to run by way of Milton Jennings', 
Basil Justus' and Robert Alexander's, and on to the State line. This is 
probably the first road ever located in the county. The next probably was 
a State road from Independence, in Warren County, to Newton, in Jasper 
County, which was established in June, 1841. F. C. Webb, of Warren Coun- 
ty, was the Commissioner who located the road. About the same time, or 
earlier it may have been, a State road from Williamsport, in Warren County, 
to Michigan City, was established. It was certainly established prior to May, 
1843, for we find that the Board of Commissioners made an appropriation, 
at a special session, in that month, for a bridge across Big Pine Creek, at 
the lower crossing on that road. 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 283 

BRIDGES. 

Benton County has some first-class iron bridges. In 1 867. there was an iron 
bridge, of the kind known as the King's Patent Tubular Arch Wrought Iron 
Bridge, erected across Pine Creek, about three miles east of Oxford, on the 
Oxford & La Fayette road, at a cost of 85,(]00. 

At a special session of the board held in November, 1874, the Commis- 
sioners entered into a contract with the Smith Bridge Company, of Toledo, 
Ohio, for the building of two bridges across Pine Creek at Aydelott, in Pine 
Township, and at Emerson's, in Bolivar Township. They were to be of the 
kind known as the Smith's Open Arch Bridge (iron), and the extreme length 
of each ninety-four feet; roadwa}-, sixteen feet in the clear, and height of 
truss about twelve feet. The contractors were to have the bridge completed 
by January 25, 1875, and were to receive S17.40 per lineal foot. In Janu- 
ary, 1875, the Commissioners accepted the bridges and allowed the contract- 
ors 8100 for extra work, making the two bridges cost the county in the ag- 
gregate the sum of $3,371.20. In December, 1879, the Commissioners 
contracted with the Cleveland Bridge & Iron Companj-, of Cleveland 
Ohio, for the building of an iron bridge across Mud Pine, at or near the town 
of Chase, which was to be completed by March 1, 1880, and for which the 
contractors were to receive the sum of $810. These are all the bridges in the 
county of sufficient importance to deserve special mention. 

OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY. 

Circuit Judges. — Isaac A. Naylor, from organization of the county up to 
1852; William P. Bryant, 1852 to 1854; John Pettit, 1854 to 185G; Charles 
H. Test, 1856 to 1870; David P. Vinton, 1870 to 1872; Edwin P. Hammond, 
1872 to 1883; Peter H. Ward, 1883 to present time. 

Associate Judges. — David McConnell and Matthew Terwilliger. from or- 
ganization of the county to 1844; Basil Justus and John Shoetz, from 1844 
to 1850; Harvey H. Crawford and John McConnell, from 1850 until the office 
was abolished. 

Frohnte Judges. — Samuel McConnelJ, 1840 to 1847; William Cochran, 
1847 to 1855, when the office was abolished. 

Common Pleas Judges. — Daniel Mills, William R. Boyer, G. A. Wood, 
David P. Vinton and Alfred Reed, Daniel Mills lacing the only one who re- 
sided in Benton Count}-. 

Clerks. — The following entry may be seen in the probate order book: 
"Be it remembered that Samuel McConnell was commissioned to the 
office of Probate Judge from the 27th day of July, 1840, and afterward, to wit, 
on the 5th day of November, 1840, he personally appeared before the Clerk 
of the Benton Circuit Court, and took the oath, as required by the Statute of 
Indiana, as appears from papers on file in this office. Witness, J. T. Parker, 
Clerk, p. t." The foregoing is given for the reason that it shows James T. 
Parker to have been the first Clerk, which is opposed to the generally re- 
ceived opinion that Basil Justus was the first. The Clerks after James T. 



284 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Parker were: Basil Justus, 1840 to 1844; James T. Parker, 1844 to 1847. 
Hartley T. Howard, 1847 to 1858; Luther D. Hawley, 1858 to 1866; Cbarles M.' 
Scott, 1866 to 1874; Simon F. Carter, 1874 to 1882; Mahlon D. Smith, 1882 
to present time. 

Auditors.— James F. Parker, 1840 to 1847; Hartley T. Howard, 1847 to 
1856; William H. Calkins 1856 to 1860; William Jones, 1860 to 1868; Will- 
iam Sn3'der, 1868 to 1876; James S. Bradley, 1876 to the present time. 

Sherifs.—Fjzekiel H. Davis. 1840 to 1844; Benjamin Timmons, 1844 to 
1848; Elijah Littler, 1848 to 1852; Evan E. Thompson, 1852 to 1854; Sam- 
uel A. Keys, 1854 to 1856; William J. Tbmpleton, 1856 to 1858; Samuel 
Chapman, 1858 to 1862; William S. Freeman, 1862 to 1864; Samuel Savage, 
1864 to 1866; Alonzo Cowgill, 1866 to 1870; Elnathan C. Jennings, 1870 to 
1872; Henry C. Harris, 1872 to 1876; Theophilus K. Harmon, 1876 to 1880; 
Carver Stanfield, 1880 to 1882; Michael Scanlin, 1882 to the present time. 

Treasurers — Milton Jennings, 1840 until his death; Thomas Griffin ap- 
pointed at a special session, January 15, 1847, vice Jennings, deceased, till 
election in 1847; James Emerson, 1847 to 1853; James N. Holton, 1853 to 
1856; James Vawter, 1856 to 1859; Alfred J. Carnahan, 1859 to 1862; John 
J. Rawlings, 1862 to 1866; James T. Parker, 1866 to 1870; William McCon- 
nell, 1870 to 1874; William Marvin, 1874 to 1876: Walter B. Hixson, 1876 to 
1880; William Moore, 1880 to the present time. 

Recorders.— Basil Justus, 1840 to 1844; James T. Parker, 1844 to 1847; 
Hartley T. Howard, 1847 to 1857; John Burns, 1857 to 1862; Simon F. Car- 
ter, 1862 to 1870; Isaac H. Phares, 1870 to 1878; Thomas A. Baldwin, 1878 
to 1882; Newton Sheetz, 1882 to the present time. 

Commissioners. — John W. Robertson, Thomas Lewis and Amos White, 
1840 ; Samuel Bair, 1841 ; John W. Robertson, 1842 ; Francis Boynton, 1844 ; 
Amos White, Jr., 1844 ; J. T. Parker, 1846 ; William Smith, 1847 ; Thomas 
Lewis, 1848 ; Amos White, 1848 ; Theophilus Smiley, 1849 ; Robert Hawkins 
1849 ; Henry Robertson, 1850 ; Charles Johnston, 1851; Benjamin A. Tim- 
mons, 1851 ; William T. Rose, 1851; Joseph Carswell, 1852 ; William Coch- 
ran, 1852 ; Joseph Carswell, 1853 ; Benjamin A. Timmons, 1853 ; Jacob Cas- 
sel, 1854 ; Thomas Atkinson, 1855 ; Benjamin Hawkins, 1856 ; Robert M. 
Atkinson, 1858; Samuel Mcllvain, 1860; Benjamin Hawkins, 1862, and 
again in 1865 ; William Marvin, 1867 ; Robert M. Atkinson, 1867 ; John 
M. Swan, 1868 ; Henry Robertson, 1870 ; Robert Atkinson, 1870 ; Joseph 
Perkins, 1871 ; William Marvin, 1873 ; John F. Boswell, 1873 ; Robert M. 
Atkinson, 1873 ; Thomas Wilcox, 1874 ; John F. Boswell, 1875 ; W. G-. W. 
Norwood, 1876; Henry Robertson, 1876; Francis P. Greenwood, 1876; 
John W. O'Connor, 1876 ; Samuel McHvain, 1878 ; James G. Travis, 1879 ■; 
Henry Robertson, 1879 ; Anthony Dehner, 1880; William R. Menefee, 1882. 

Coroners.— Benjamin A. Timmons, Samuel Savage, Eli Frazier, Johnathan 
Kolb, William IM. Sleeper, James W. Barnes, J. F. Kinney, Joseph L. Car- 
nahan, James H. Whitcomb, William M. Jones and William R. Hardesty. 

Surveyors. — Henry Robertson, Thomas E. Torrence, Jesse McNeal, Daniel 
Campbell, William M. Jones, Thomas A. Baldwin and James Wharry. 



/ 

HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 285 

Justices of the Peace. — The following list contains the names of all the 
Justices of the Peace of the count}', so far as the}' could be ascertained 
from the files and records, together with the date of their election, or 
qualification. It is manifestl}- incomplete, yet it is as complete as it could 
be made. No attempt has been made to designate the township in which 
they served. Following is the list : 1840, William B. Foster and Thomas 
• Martin ; 1841, William B. Foster and Stephen Buckley ; 1842, Basil Den- 
ton ; 1849, Charles Johnston; 1850, John Hopper, Daniel Mills, William 
Wisher [and John W. Ferguson ; 1851, James McClure and William R. 
Johnston ; 1852, Ezekiel Dawson ; 1855, William Marvin, William Wisher 
and William R. Johnston ; 1856, Ezekiel Dawson, James W. Barnes, Will- 
iam R. Johnston and Bertram W. Temphill ; 1857, Samuel A. Keys ; 1858, 
Elisha Sargenl, Duncan McA. Williams and Joseph F. Taylor; 1859, Will- 
iam Marvin and Duncan McA. Williams ; 1860, Ezekiel Dawson and New- 
ton Murphy ; 1861, James Smiley; 1862, Samson McMillen ; 1863, William 
Bartlett and'James McElhaney ; 1864, Rinaldo Sutton, Robinson Timmona 
and Newton Murphy ; 1865, William M. Tryon and William Cochran ; 1867, 
William Bartlett ; 1868, Rinaldo Sutton, Newton Murphy and Thomas 
Mott ; 1869, Thomas A. McKnight, Elmer A. Black, William S. Turvey, A. 
Knotts and Benjamin A. Timmons ; 1870, Jacob Miller, Austin V. Flint, 
Daniel M. Kirkpatrick and John T. Stokes ; 1872, Edward O'Brien, Holmes 
M. Beckwith, John Lee, William Cochran, Jacob P. Isley and George W. 
Lane; 1873, William S. Turney ; 1874, Jacob Miller, Miles A. Barber, Ri- 
naldo Sutton, James 0. Brown, David Strachan, Sylvester King, Winfield 
Menefee and Austin V. Flint ; 1875, Matthew H. Walker and Samuel T. Du 
Bois ; 1876, John Whofe, Hiram A. Boswell, Charles Phillips, Hugh C. Sid- 
dons, Daniel Frasier, Matthew H. Walker, Samuel T. Du Bois, Herbert C. 
Woodham. John Burns and John W. Cole ; 1877, William Cochran, John P. 
Isley and Thomas Mott; 1878, Samuel A. Parker, James D. Smith, Thomas 
Parker, John Burns, Freeman VV. Hatch, Rinaldo Sutton, John A. Calais, 
Jacob Miller, Miles A. Barber, Austin V. Flint, Joseph F. Smith and Syl- 
vester King ; 1879, William H. Sale, George Wadsworth and Clinton Baker ; 
1880, William H. Sale, John L. Richards, Horace L. Remie and Hiram A. 
Boswell ; 1881, John A. Walker; 1882, William M. Marvin, Thomas Parks, 
Job H. Killen, Hugh C. Siddons, Clinton Meade, William H. Harmon, Will- 
iam Cochran, George H. Stewart, Jacob Buck, James W. Bailev, Jacob 
Miller and Clark Cook ; 1883, Rinaldo Sutton. 

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES. 

Following is a list of the Trustees of the various townships, from the 
time of their organization to the present time, witii the dates when they 
served. To avoid the necessity of employing so many figures in expressing 
the dates of the election, or appointment of all the difllerent Trustees, each 
date is used but once, and then the Trustees of all the townships in the 
county, for that year, are given, in the following order : Parish Grove, Oak 



28t3 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Grove, Pine, West Pine, York, Pz-airie, Bolivar, Union, Gilboa, Richland, 
Grant, Center, Hickory Grove. A part of the time there was more than one 
Trustee to each township, and a part of the time there was but one. A semi- 
colon is placed after the names of the Trustees, or Trustee, of each town- 
ship each year, and when a hiatus occurs in a township, as is frequently the 
case, the name of the next township in which there is no hiatus, is given, so 
that there need be no difficulty in ascertaining from the following list who 
was the Trustee in any particular township in any year. It will be neces- 
sary to bear in mind the dates when the several townships came respectively 
into the list, that is to say, when they commenced to have Trustees, which 
is as follows : Parish Grove, 1844 ; Oak Grove, 1852 ; Pine, 1853 ; West 
Pine, 1858; York, 1860; Prairie, 1861; Bolivar, 1861 ; Union, 1864; Gil- 
boa, 1866; Richland, 1869; Grant, 1869; Center, 1876; Hickory Grove, 
1876. The list is as follows: 1844, Samuel Jolly and John Ross ; 1852, 
Oak Grove, Basil Justus ; 1853, Thomas Martin, William Cochran and 
Joshua Howell ; Samuel Barkhurst and Francis Boynton ; William Hawk- 
ins, Elijah Dawson and Robert Hawkins ; 1854, Jacob Cassel and William 
Surface ; John Hopper and Robert W. Thompson ; James Emerson ; 1855, 
Samuel Mcllvain, Thomas Martin and George Liptrap ; Isaac Runner ; 1856, 
John T. Stokes ; George Champley and William Moore ; Benjamin Hawkins 
and Robert Hawkins, elected in April, and William M. Turney, appointed in 
June ; 1857, Oak Grove, John Hopper ; 1858, Parnham Boswell, E. C. Sum- 
ner and Henry Robertson ; George H. Finch ; Isaac Bowyer ; Asa H. Van- 
over ; 1859, Henry Robertson ; Anson Hurd ; James Emerson ; John T. 
Stokes; 1860, Henry Robertson ; Daniel Campbell; Isaac Bowyer; John 
T. Stokes ; Isaac Hull ; 1861, Henry Robertson; William S. Freeman ; Isaac 
Bowyer ; James M. Harris ; John Fleming ; William Wisher ; Cyrus Por- 
ter ; 1862, Daniel Garwood; John T. Williams; Isaac Bowyer; James M. 
Harris ; John Fleming ; William Wisher ; Philip P. Griffin ; 1863, Duncan 
McA. Williams ; John T. Williams ; James T. Clement ; James M. Harris ; 
Prairie, John E. Fenton ; Marcus Blessing ; 1864, Henry Robertson ; John 
T. Williams ; James T. Clement ; James M. Harris ; John Fleming ; George 
Armstrong; Marcus Blessing; John W. Nutt ; 1865, James Kirtley ; John 
T. Williams ; James T. Clement. (West Pine is not in after 1864.) John 
Fleming; Thomas Childs; Marcus Blessing ; EphraimSayers ; 1866, James 
Kirtley ; Daniel R. Lucas ; Daniel M. Kirkpatrick ; John E. Fenton ; Mar- 
cus Blessing; Ephraim Sayers ; James Witham ; 18)7 James Kirtley; 
Daniel R. Lucas (Henry Parker appointed June 10) ; Jonathan Lamborn ; 
Anthony Dehner ; Thomas Childs ; Joseph Kinsey ; John W. Nutt ; John 
Garretson ; 1868, James Kirtley ; James Vawter ; John Morris ; James 
Coulter (James Keyt appointed December 19); Thomas Childs; James 
Loyd ; Henry Timmons ; John Garretson; 1869, Oak Grove, James Vaw- 
ler (W. M. Jones appointed June 16) ; John Morris ; Isaac Loyal ; Nathan 
Hibbs; James Emerson; Richland, Michael Sigal ; James Kirtley; 1870, 
William Boswell ; John T. Williams ; Jol^|i Ross ; William Hughes ; James 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 287 

Emerson ; Henry Timmons ; William Owens elected, John Garretson ap- 
pointed November 1 ; Anthon}' Dehner ; James Kirtley ; 1872, William H. 
Boswell ; John Carson ; W. G. W. Norwood ; S. W. McClurg ; William 
Hughes ; James Emerson ; Abraham W. Williams ; John McMurtr}- ; Rob- 
ert Kelley ; A. R. Gilgar ; 1874, William H. Boswell ; John N. Crosson ; 
Robert Sickler ; Socrates McClurg ; William Hughes (the last in Prairie); 
John W. Ryan ; Jay Battenburg ; John McMurtry ; Edward M. Slant ; A. 
R. Gilger ; 1876. Oak Grove, John N. Crosson ; Carver Stanfield ; Socrates 
McClurg; John W. Ryan; Jay Battenburg; John McMurtry; William H. 
Boswell; Amos R. Gilger; William Hughes; James W. Siddens ; 1878, 
William Burnett ; Robert Wood ; Carver Stanfield ; John Ross ; John W. 
R3'an ; Lorenzo D. Timmons ; John McMurtr}- ; Anthony Dehner ; John S. 
Lawson ; John W. Switzer ; James Siddens; 1880, William Bennett; Rob- 
ert Wood ; Warren B. Sheets ; John Ross ; Andrew McSmith ; Maurice N. 
Pelton ; Henry C. Bugbee ; Gustavus Jewell ; John S. Lamson ; John W. 
Switzer; Thomas J. Lewis; 1882, Frank K. Knapp ; John N. Crosson; 
Warren B. Sheets ; James Ross ; E. W. Timmons ; George H. Smith ; Henry 
C. Bugbee ; Gustavus W. Jewell ; William H. McKnight ; Osmer C. Brock- 
way ; Dennis Barragree. 

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES. 

At the December term of Commissioners' Court, 1847, it was " Ordered 
that an order be made to hold an election at the schoolhouse in Township 
24, of Range 7, on the second Saturday in January, 1848 ; and, likewise, 
that an election be held at the schoolhouse in Township 25, Range 7, same 
date." These are the first instances that we find in the Commissioners' rec- 
ord of an election being held at a schoolhouse, and, as it is quite probable 
that they commenced to hold their elections at schoolhouses as soon as there 
were an}- built, on account of the inconvenience of holding elections at pri- 
vate houses, it is probable that those were among the first, if not the first, 
schoolhouses built in the county. At the June term, 1847, the board ordered 
that the place of holding elections in Pine Township be removed to the 
schoolhouse near William R. Johnston's residence. The first school in Ox- 
ford, if not in the county, was taught by Samuel McConnell, in a building 
just south of the graveyard. There are, at present, ninetj'-one schools in 
the county, distributed as follows : Gilboa, nine ; Union, nine ; Richland, 
eight ; York, five ; Parish Grove, seven ^ Center, eight ; Pine, eight ; Boli- 
var, ten; Oak Grove, nine ; Grant, ten ; Hickory Grove, six ; town of Fow- 
ler, one ; town of Oxford, one. There are seven schools in the county that 
employ more than one teacher each. They are, Earl Park, two ; Raub, two ; 
Ambia, two ; Boswell, three ; Oxford, four; Fowler, five. The total num- 
ber of teachers in the county is eighty-nine. Value of school property in 
the count}', $65,520. Average wages paid teachers in the county in 1881 
and 1882, $41. The number of school children in the county, as shown by 
the last enumeration, 3,729, distributed among the several townships as fol- 



288 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

lows: Center, 185; Pine, 195; Fowler, 418; Oxford,, 272 ; Parish Grove, 
219 ; Richland, 368 ; Gilboa, 322 ; Union, 302 ; Hickory Grove, 289 ; York, 
159 ; Grant, 391 ; Oak Grove, 242 ; Bolivar, 367. 

There is an academy at Oxford, built in 1867, of which Rev. Lynn, then 
pastor of the Presbyterian Church, was the first Principal. He was a rigid 
disciplinarian, and became unpopular. He was succeeded after five months 
by Dr. "Wells, who remained in charge until 1870. Rev. Neil, of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, was in charge of the school from 1870 to 1873. At 
this time the school was at its zenith, in number and zeal. Miss 
Wright taught the school years of 1873 to 1875, both inclusive, and was 
succeeded by Prof. Barr, for one year and a half No fault could be found 
with his teaching, but he was extremely careless with financial matters, 
which led to his removal. Prof Johnson took charge of the school early in 
1877, and taught until the close of the school year of 1880. There was 
more looking up and fitting up of the school under his administration than 
an}' other. Prof Bosworth taught the past year, and has been secured for 
the next. The school building is delightfully located, and there is nothing 
lacking but worthy efforts to make it a successful and prominent feature of 
Oxford. 

The public school building of the town of Fowler is a commodious 
frame, two stories in height, built about 1876, and cost about $3,000. If 
the population of the town continues to increase in the future as in the past, 
it will not be a great while until the house will not be large enough to ac- 
commodate all the children of the town. Prof Brazell has been Superin- 
tendent of the schools in the town of Fowler for some time past, and has 
given good satisfaction. He is still in charge of the schools, and is likely 
to remain in charge of them for some time to come. 

It was at one time contemplated to build a large Catholic school or col- 
lege near the town of Fowler, and Rev. Bishop Dewenger, of Fort Wayne, 
bought two hundred acres of land of Moses Fowler, adjoining Summit 
Grove, in September, 1 875, for that purpose. The conveyance was made 
upon the condition that the deed was to be void if the grantee should fail to 
have a building erected on the land conveyed, within one year from the date 
of the conveyance, for the purpose of a college, and to be worth a specified 
sum. The grantee failed to comply with the conditions entitling him to an 
absolute conveyance, and the project was abandoned ; and, on the 12th of 
January, 1876, Bishop Dewenger quit-claimed to Moses Fowler, and that 
was an end of the matter. It is greatly to be regretted that the enterprise 
did not succeed, as the location was a most delightful one, and the building, 
had it been built in accordance with the design, would have been a credit, 
and a great ornament to the town of Fowl-er. 3Ir. Fowler agreed that upon 
the completion of the building, he would donate the grove — Summit Grove 
adjoining, which is a beautiful grove situated on a high elevation about half 
a mile south of the town of Fowler — the highest point of land within sev- 
eral miles. 





''^'>^j>(Dn,^^ 



DECEASED. 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 291 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The first newspaper published in Benton County was the Oxford Eoen- 
ing Mall, started in 18o5, b}- Joseph W. Jackson, editor and publisher. In 
1858, he sold to S. F. Curton, who changed the name of the paper to Benton 
Register. After about a 3'ear, the paper was discontinued. The next was 
the Oxford Chronoti/pc, which existed but for a short time and was discon- 
tinued. The Oxford Tribune was the next, of which D. R. Lucas was ed- 
itor and proprietor. It was first issued on September 11, 1865. October 1, 
1870, A. Cowgill became editor and proprietor. Later, but at what date is 
not known, A. W. Carnahan became editor and proprietor, and in 1882 the 
present proprietor, J. P. Carr, Jr., purchased it, and has greatly improved 
it. Mr. Carr is editor as well as proprietor, and, to say the least, it is as 
good a paper as there is in the county. The next was the Central Clarion 
of which Duncan McArthiir Williams was editor and proprietor. It was 
first issued in May, 1873, at Fowler. In August, 1874, the name was changed 
to Benton County Herald., and, at the same time it changed hands, Messrs. 
Ingrim and Maxwell becoming editors and proprietors. In May, 1876, D. 
McA. Williams again became editor, and the name was changed to Fowler 
Era. The Uoswell Leader was first issued November 19, 1874, in the town 
of Boswell, G. C. Lyon being editor, and H. N. Carson, proprietor. It 
changed hands several times, Calvin Gault being editor in 1875, and in Sep- 
tember, 1876, Messrs. Seavey & Wallace of Hoopeston, 111., became its ed- 
itors and proprietors. Its publication was finally suspended, and October 
21, 1881, the Boswell Courier was established. It was owned by Mc- 
Neil & Graham of the Fowler Eye^ and edited by Charles W. Lee. It is a 
six-column folio. Republican in politics, and a zealous advocate of the cause 
of temperance. Charles H. Miller has been its owner and proprietor since 
February, 1882. The office contains a good Foster hand press and a neat job 
outfit. It is published on Thursdays, and has a ver^' fair circulation, with 
a good business that is steadily increasing. Mr. Miller, the present propri. 
etor, was formerly' connected with the Kentland Gazette, and also with the 
Fowler Era, with Messrs. Mauck and Corkins. The Earl Park Mirror com- 
menced publication October 31, 1874, but suspended after three issues. 
The Benton Democrat was first issued July 2, 1875, in the town of Fowler, 
with W. B. Maddock, editor and proprietor. Subsequently, Thomas Red- 
mond became editor and proprietor, and in March, 1883, it passed into the 
hands and under the editorial management of Mr. Eastburn, the present 
proprietor. The Templeton Tocsin, at Templeton, was first issued in March, 
1876, but soon ceased to exist. These are all the newspapers that have 
ever been published in Benton County. 

SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS. 

The first society organized in Benton County was probabl}- Oxford 
Lodge, No. 190, A. F. & A. M., whose charter bears date July 24, 1855. 
The first officers were Elisha Sargent, Worshipful Master ; Alfred J. Carna- 



292 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

ban, Senior Warden ; Jesse Daile}', Junior Warden ; E. N. Curl, Treasurer ; 
S. McMillen, Secretar}- ; B. Q. Norris, Senior Deacon ; T. E. Torrenee, Junior 
Deacon, and George Champley, Tiler. The present officers are Hiram Smith, 
Worshipful Master ; Aaron D. Huffman, Senior Warden ; Henry C. McCon- 
nell, Junior Warden ; Daniel A. Messner, Treasurer ; Charles Dailey, Secre- 
tary ; Joseph F. Sleeper, Senior Deacon ; John Gr. Carnahan, Junior Deacon ; 
Winfield Menefee, Tiler, and Allen W. Wells, Alonzo D. Sleeper, Stewards. 
The building in which this lodge holds its meetings was built in the year 
1874, at a cost of about $1,200. The lodge has carpet and furniture worth 
about $300, and is in a healthy and prosperous condition. 

Oxford Lodge, No. 169, I. 0. 0. F., was chartered July 18, 1855, but 
was not instituted, for some reason, until September 30, 1857. The follow- 
ing names appear on the charter : Martin Benedict, Alfred Walk, John E. 
Walk, Jesse Dailey, James Vawter and A. J. Carnahan. The first officers 
were J. W. Barnes, Noble Grand ; John Sheetz, Vice Grand ; A. J. Carna- 
han, Treasurer, and Jesse Daile}^, Secretary. The present officers are Job 
W. Sabin, Noble Grand ; John P. Ross, Vice Grand ; Mark Brier, Treasurer, 
and V. M. Benedict, Secretar3^ The building in which the lodge hall is 
situated was built by the Oxford Lodge, No. 169, I. 0. 0. F. Building Asso- 
ciation, organized May 2, 1864. The building was erected in 1874, and was 
dedicated the same year by Past Grand Master Thomas Underwood, of 
La Fayette. It is a two-story bi'ick building, situated on the east two-thirds 
of Lot No. 1, in Block No. 8, in the original plat of the town of Oxford, and 
80 feet in length by 40 feet in width, with a hall above and business rooms 
below. The cost of the building and ground was $8,000. The stock of the 
association was divided into 320 shares, of $25 each, of which the lodge 
took, originally, 96. The lodge has acquired a great many more shares 
since, by donation some, and some by purchase, and now owns a controlling 
interest in the stock of the association. The regalia and other hall furni- 
ture belonging to the lodge is worth about $600. Present membership, 45. 
The largest membership the lodge ever had was 92. 

Oak Grove Encampment, No. 137, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted by dispen- 
sation of the Grand Patriarch August 26, 1875, and a charter was granted 
by the Grand Lodge November 16, 1875. The following names appear on 
the charter : Jacob S. Albaugh, W. C. Wilkinson, Austin Minturn, H. C. 
Shenkenberger, William M. Scott, V. M. Benedict and John T. Morgan. 
First officers : H. C. Shenkenberger, Chief Patriarch ; Jacob S. Albaugh, 
High Priest ; W. C. Wilkinson, Senior Warden ; John J. Morgan, Junior 
Warden ; Austin Minturn, Treasurer, and V. M. Benedict, Scribe. The 
present officers are Jacob S. Albaugh, Chief Patriarch ; H. C. Shenkenberger, 
High Priest ; E. M. Dodson, Senior Warden ; V. M. Benedict, Junior Warden ; 
M. J. Brier, Treasurer, and Jacob Miller, Scribe. 

Omega, Rebecca Degree, Lodge, No. 186, I. 0. 0. F., at Oxford, was 
instituted by dispensation of the Grand Master February 25, 1878, and 
charter granted March 12, 1878. The following names appear on the charter : 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 293 

William M. Scott, Jacob H. Armour, H. C. Shenkenberger, V. M. Benedict. 
A. E. Mj'ers, Jacob Miller, Mrs. Hattie Scott, Mrs. Marcia Armour, Mrs. 
Sarah A. Shenkenberger, Mrs. Sallie Benedict, Carrie Myers and Magdalena 
Miller. First officers : J. S. Albaugh, Noble Grand ; Rachel Atkinson, 
Vice Grand ; Sallie Benedict, Secretary, and Magdalena Miller, Treasurer. 
Present officers : Kachel Atkinson, Noble Grand ; Sarah A. Kelley, Vice 
Grand ; Jacob Miller, Secretary, and Magdalena Miller, Treasurer. 

Benton Lodge, No. 521, F. & A. M., at Fowler, was organized in Jul}', 
1875, with nineteen charter members, and the following as the first officers : 
Dr. J. L. Carnahan, Worshipful Master ; Jacob Smith, Senior Warden ; 
Charles Van Auker, Junior Warden ; M. II. Ingrim, Secretary ; Paul E. 
Hitze, Treasurer ; J. M. Dickson, Senior Deacon, and Julius Averil, Tiler. 
The fraternity was out of debt, and in a prosperous condition, until the 10th 
of July, 1883, when, owing to a disastrous fire, their charter and records, 
together with all their lodge furniture, were destroyed. Present membership 
about forty. The following are the present officers : J. H. Hartley, Wor- 
shipful Master ; S. F. Barnes, Senior Warden ; George Richmire, Junior 
Wax-den ; Jacob Smith, Senior Deacon ; Dr. J. S. Mavity, Junior Deacon ; 
G. S. Hartley, Treasurer ; F. Smith, Secretary, and F. Herman, Tiler. 

Fowler Lodge, No. 460, I. 0. 0. F., was chartered bj' the Grand Lodge 
of Indiana November 19, 1874, on the application of Dr. A. J. Purdy, H. T. 
V. Huls and R. Williams. The first officers were C. W. Van Auker, Noble 
Grand ; A. J. Purdy, Vice Grand ; E. M. Carr, Secretary ; W. M. Jones, 
Permanent Secretary; H. D. Clark, Treasurer ; Ed Alkire, Right Supporter ; 
E. H. HoUis, Left Supporter ; T. K. Harmon, Warden ; George Heisler, 
Chaplain ; Andrew Alkire, Right Scene Supporter ; John Reid, Left Scene 
Supporter, and C M. Noble, Inside Guard. They have a total of 70 mem- 
bers, with 44 in good standing, and are out of debt. The property owned 
by the lodge, of all kinds, is worth about $800. Their regular meetings are 
held on Friday evening of each week. Following is a list of the present 
officers of the lodge : William Jones, N. G. ; Thomas Shapley, V. G. ; J. C. 
Pearson, Secretary ; Ed Westman, Treasurer ; John Longwell, Warden ; M. 
L. Pearson, I. S. G. ; John Gilburg, Cond. ; Joseph Danner, P. G. of N. G. ; 
John Chaffer, L. S. of V. G. ; Perry Leraasters, R. S. S. ; Nelson Hanger, 
L. S. S. There is a Daughter of Rebecca Lodge at Fowler ; but the data 
for a complete history of it could not be obtained. The name and number 
are not known. The lodge was organized October 3, 1877, with the following as 
first officers : W. W. Hamer, N. G. ; IMrs. Ingrim, V. G. ; Mrs. C. Westman, 
Secretary, and Mrs. S. Woodington, Treasurer. Present officers : Mrs. 
John Longwell, N. G. ; Mrs. John Calais, V. G. ; Mrs. C. W. Van Auker, 
Secretary ; Mrs. S. Woodington, Treasurer ; Mrs. U. Z. Wiley, Warden ; 
Mrs. William Jones, R. S. of N. G. ; Mrs. Ed Westman, L. S. of N. G. ; Mrs. 
T. L. Merrick, R. S. of V. G. ; M. L. Pearson, L. S. of V. G., and C. H. Van 
Auker, I. S. G. 

Benton Post, No. 25, G. A. R., at Fowler, was chartered May 13, 1881, with 



294 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

thirty-six charter members, and with the following as the first officers : 
Dawson Smith, P. C. ; Capt. P. Zinn, S. V. C. ; W. W. Sales, J. V. C. ; J. W. 
Warner, Adjutant; William Battenberg, Surgeon ; J. M. Pearson, Chaplain ; 
James Wharry, 0. D. ; John E. Rial, 0. G. ; T. K. Harmon, Q. M. ; C. C. 
Jackson, Q. S. The Post has enjoj^ed an unusual degree of prosperity', and 
now numbers seventy -seven members. Since the}' have been an organized 
body, only one member, P. D. Corkins, has died. The}- meet twice each 
month in the old Clarion Block, and own property to the value of about $500. 
The following is a list of the present officers of the Post : W. S. Freeman, 
P. C. ; H. V. Huls, S. V. C. ; John W. Longwell, J. V. C. ; P. M. Wiles, 
Adjutant. 

Boswell Lodge, No. 486, F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation 
August 25, 1873, with first officers as follows : Duncan McArthur Williams, 
W. M. ; Hiram A. Boswell, S. W. ; Alexander Murphy, J. W. Charter mem- 
bers — Alexander Murphy, Hiram A. Boswell, Jacob Voltz, Duncan McArthur 
Williams, John Spies, Charles Foster, J. A. McKnight, B. F. Hixson, S. G. 
Knour and William Boswell. The lodge was constituted under charter May 
26, 1874, with Alexander Murphy, W. M. ; Hiram A. Boswell, S. W. ; Jacob 
Voltz, J. W. ; J. A. McKnight, Secretary ; B. F. Hixson, Treasurer ; S. G. 
Knour, S. D. ; John Spies, J. D., and Charles Foster, Tiler. The lodge 
meets in a rented hall. Value of lodge property, $175. Present officers 
Alexander Murphy, W. M. ; J. A. McKnight, S. W. ; Marion Menefee, J. W. 
John Spies, Secretary ; Abraham Potter, Treasurer ; Jacob Voltz, S. D. 
John F. Stokes, J. D., and Miles A. Barber, Tiler. A Post of the G. A. R 
the name and number of which could not be ascertained, was organized 
October 1, 1881, at Oxford, with the following chaiter members : H. C. 
Shenkenberger, H. P. Chancellor, J. W. Sargent, Hiram Benedict, William 
M. McConnell, W. W. Vanover, A. P. Carnahan, William D. Kalb, Elisha 
Johnson, A. Tittsworth, P. C. Cuppy, Daniel D. Denman, I. T. Pelham, N. 
D. Coffinberry, John E. Bliss, A. D. Sleeper, J. C. Crosson, J. C. Wilmoth, 
S. Debra, S. B. Hare, Henry S. Lane, J. S. Albaugh, David Kelso, James 
Ogburn and Hiram Smith, and the following as the first officers : J. C. 
Crosson, Commander ; A. D. Sleeper, Senior Vice Commander ; J. S. Albaugh, 
Junior Vice Commander ; H. C. Shenkenberger, Surgeon ; J. C. Wilmoth, 
Officer of the Day ; Hiram Smith, Officer of the Guard ; Z. M. Thomas, 
Quartermaster, and H. P. Chancellor, Chaplain. The present officers are 
H. C. Shenkenberger, Commander of Post ; Elisha Johnston, S. V. C. ; 
William Dugan, J. V. C. ; William M. McConnell, Surgeon ; Hiram Smith, 
of D. ; J. McLaughlin, 0. of G. ; Hiram Benedict, Quartermaster, and Joseph 
Carter, Chaplain. 

At a session of the Board of Commissioners, held in January, 1859, it 
was " Ordered by the Benton County Commissioners, that we appro\'e of the 
organization of the company known as the Benton County Horse Company, 
for the detection and apprehension of horse-thieves and other felons, organ- 
ized December 27, 1858, and to exist ten years. Approved by us this 15th 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 295 

day of JanuaiT, A. D, 1859." At the March session, 1861, the board say : 
" The West Pnie Detectives of Benton County, State of Indiana, organized 
August 24, 1860, is hereby approved by the Board of County Commissioners, 
at their March term, 1861, for the term of ten years." The " Parish Grove 
Guards, ' for tlie purpose of detecting and appreliending horse-thieves and 
other felons, was organized for tlie term nine years, from August 25, 1877, 
to consist of not less than ten, nor more than forty, members. The articles 
of association were signed oy Henr}- Robertson, Adam Harper, A. K. Diltz, 
William H. Boswell, Andrew Johnson, Joseph W. Krmey, Michael Wayman, 
A. H. Boswell, George Fell, A. J. Wolf and A. C. Brink. September 9, 1871, 
W. B. McConnell, Alonzo Cowgill, J. D. Smyth, J. C TuUis, J. W. Barnes, 
J. D. Johnston, H. Clay Cassel, John M. Carson, W. M. Scott, John Furnas 
and John Morgan, all of the town of Oxford, formed an association to be 
known as " The Oxford Flouring Mill Association," to exist for five years 
from date of organization. 

The Benton Count}- Agricultural Society was organized March 25, 1873, 
with a capital of $10,000, which was divided into 500 sliares of $20 each. 
The business of the association was to be transacted by a Board of Directors, 
of whom there were eleven, tvvo of w:hom were to be chosen annually from 
Oak Grove Township, and one from each of the other townships in the county. 

The " Richland & York Fire Insuranc/e Company " was organized in 
November, 1879, to exist for ninet3^-nine years. No risks were to be taken 
except upon farm buildings and their contents, at two-thirds of their value. 
The company was to insure against loss or damage by fire or lightning. 
The affairs of the association were to be managed by five directors, to be 
chosen annually. The articles of association contained nothing concerning 
assessments or subscription of stock. The original members of the associa- 
tion were J. Webb Taylor, George M. Drum, S. J. Curtis, William Drum. 
Richard Carton, Joseph Anstett, John Fisher and Anthony Dehner. 

The Patrons' Mutual Fire & Lightning Insurance Company was orga- 
nized at Oxford, in March, 1880, under act approved March 21, 1879. The 
officers of the company were to be a President, Vice President, Secretary', 
Treasurer and five Directors. The members were James H. Howarth, 
William T. Kirkpatrick, Joseph Greenwood, Francis P. Greenwood, C. G. 
Phares, Samuel Phares, M. V. Bowman, Frank Benedict and George S. Gwin. 

The Benton County Medical Society was organized in December. 1874, 
auxiliary to the State Medical Society. Charter members : A. W. Wells, 
J. W. Barnes and Jonathan Kolb, Oxford ; J. K. Thompson, Otterbein ; L. 
C. Page, Boswell, and S. C. Fenton, Pine Village. 

The Chiquesalonghi Park & Stock Importing Association was organized 
in March, 1872, for the purpose of providing suitable grounds for public 
walks and commons, and to ornament the same with shade trees and shrub- 
bery, and to import horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and other animals for agri- 
cultural purposes. Capital, $10,000 ; divided into 200 shares of $50 each. 
Affairs of the association to be managed bv a Board of Directors, to con- 



296 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

sist of not less than five nor more than seven members, to be elected annually. 
The office and place of business of the association were to be at Templeton. 
The first directors were James Kirtley, M. E. White, J. F. Sleeper, Joseph 
Atkinson, James Blanchfill, L. Templeton and W. J. Templeton. The names 
of the original stockholders were W. J. Templeton, Leroy Templeton, Ira 
Brown, Joseph Atkinson, S. 0. Abernath}', James Kirtley, Cephas Atkinson, 
J. F. Sleeper, M. E. White, James Blanchfill, J. F. Parker, W. S. Lingle 
and L. Boswell. 

The West Pine Detectives were organized August 24, 1860, for the pur- 
pose of mutual protection against horse or cattle thieves, and other wrong- 
doers. Their by-laws provide for the following officers : One President, one 
Vice President, one Secretary, one Treasurer, one Captain and three Lieutenants, 
The articles of association provide that " The Captain, or, in case of his absence, 
the First Lieutenant shall call as many of said company as he may think 
advisable, and pursue, immediately on information, any and all persons 
charged with criminal offenses against this society, particularly horse or 
cattle thieves, and counterfeiters." 

The " Benton County Rangers " were organized in March, 1883, for the 
period of five years, for the purpose of detecting and apprehending horse- 
thieves and other felons. Members : Samuel Phares, James Byard, C. Gr. 
Phares, John Crosson, John S. Lawson, W. T. Kirkpatrick, George W. Hal- 
stead, Nathan Hibbs, Andrew Tittsworth, John Wattles, John W. Boswell, 
Samuel Murphy and J. B. Wattles. The Otterbein Detective's Association 
was organized in December, 1882. 

The Oxford LectTire Association was organized December 11, 1882, with 
Judge Charles Dailey, President ; Prof. E. D. Bosworth, Vice President ; 
James H. Bell, Secretary, and Zimri Dwiggins, Treasurer. Although the 
Lecture Association was not organized until the date stated, yet the citizens 
of Oxford had been having lectures by some of the most distinguished 
lecturers in the field for some two years prior to that time. Since the organ- 
ization of the association, they have had lectures by the following distin- 
guished lecturers : Dr. Samuel Godfrey, Col. L. F. Copeland, Mary A. 
Livermore, Dr. James Headley and Hon. Will Cumback. 

CHURCHES. 

Joseph Dehart settled in Pine Township, in Section 25, in the spring of 
1S49, and says he helped, about the year 1853, to build the first church, as 
he believes, that was ever built in Benton County. It was a United Brethren 
Church, and was erected near where Mr. Dehart lived. David Brown and 
William Brown (brothers) were the first ministers. Among the early mem- 
bers were Carey A. and Jane Eastburn, John Johnson and wife, Denny 
Wiggins, Thomas Bowyer and wife, and Ezekiel Dawson and wife. 

Probably the next church built in the county was the Christian Church, 
at Oxford, which was dedicated to the service of Almighty God on the 19th 
day of October, 1855, on which occasion Elder George Campbell preached 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 297 

the dedicator)' sermon. The society at Oxford, of the denomination known 
as the Church of Christ, was organized at a meeting held at Oxford June 19, 
1853, which was attended by Elders John Longly, H. R. Pritchard, Samuel 
Shortridge and Johnson. The solemn services were performed in the shade 
of a cluster of trees, on the land of Elder George Campbell, just west of the 
village. The names of the first members were George Campbell, Sarah A. 
Campbell, James N. Holton, Lucy Holton, Basil Justus, Jane Justus, Eliza- 
beth Wiles, William D. Frazee, Mrs. R. N. Parker, Mrs. Martha A. Stembel, 
Mrs. Maria Templeton and Nancy Williams. Of all those first members, 
Mrs. Martha A. Stembel and Mrs. Rachel N. Parker are the only ones now 
known to be alive. The following Elders have been in charge at various 
times since the organization of the church : George Campbell (preached for 
the church at intervals for about twelve years), John Langley, John O'Kane, 
William Young, John A. Campbell (two or three years), D. R. Lucas, Joseph 
Franklin, Henry R. Pritchard, William Wilson, Elijah Goodwin, C. G. Bar- 
tholomew, Benjamin Franklin, John Rowe, C. L. Warren, W. D. Owen, John 
H. Kalb, H. C. Cassel, C^ G. Ross, A. J. Frank, William Roe and William 
Jarrett. 

The M. E. Church, near Robert Timmons', was built about 18G0. Early 
members : Rev. Ewen E. Stevenson, first minister ; Benjamin Hawkins and 
wife, John Hawkins and wife, Robert Hawkins and wife, Mrs. Sunderland, 
and Thomas Childs and family. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Oxford about 1852, 
Rev. T. C. Workman was one of its first pastors, and Benjamin Winans Pre- 
siding Elder. Worship was held for years in a hall, and subsequently in 
the Shideler House. By the energy and self-sacrifice of Josiah Shideler 
and others, the present church edifice was erected in 1865. The parsonage 
was built in 1873. The present membership is eight}', with a Sunda}' school 
of over 100. 

St. Patrick's Church at Oxford is the oldest Catholic Church in the 
county. Rev. Father Stephens read the first mass at the Christian Church 
(a fact that greatly redounds to the credit of the professors of religion in 
Oxford at that time, inasmuch as it evinces a freedom from those deep- 
seated denominational and sectarian prejudices, such as is rarely seen even 
at the present day, and must have been very remarkable at that early date, 
when such prejudices were almost universal), next in the old court house, 
then at the schoolhouse, and afterward at various private houses. Rev. 
Father Kilroy, of La Fayette, laid the corner-stone of the present church in 
18G3. Father Stephens and Father O'Calahan superintended the main part 
of the work, and Fatlier Dinneu completed it. At that time, there was no 
railroad at Oxford, and the material had to be all transported from La Fay- 
ette, a distance of twenty miles, by teams. The church was supplied from 
La Fayette until after the war, Father Stephens, who olliciatetl in 18G5, be- 
ing the first resident priest. After this, the church was supplied from La 
Fayette by Father Winters until 1869. Following is a list of the resident 



298 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

priests from that time to the present : Father O'Calahan, from September, 
1864, to April, 1870; Father Dinnen. from April, 1870, to November, 1875 ; 
Father McCarty, from November. 1875, to October, 1877 ; Father Lang, 
from October, 1877, to April. 1882 ; Father Mauj ay, from April, 1882, to 
June, 1882 ; and Father P. J. Crosson, from June, 1882, to the pi'esent time 
For several years after the organization of the church, the members were 
scattered all over Benton County and the north part of Warren County. 
At present, but one mission, namely, St. Bridget's, in Pine Township, is sup- 
plied from Oxford. St. Patrick's Church numbers some 200 communicants. 
The church is a handsome brick structure, the cost of which was about 
$8,000. The altar, and other church furniture, cost about $700. The 
priest's residence is a handsome frame building, the cost of which was about 
$2,200, and was erected by Father Dinnen in 1871. Both the church and 
residence are situated near the depot of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, 
in an inclosure of about three acres, which contains a beautiful natural 
grove, and is surrounded by an arbor vitse hedge, which is kept tastefully 
trimmed, giving the whole a most pleasing aspect. St. Bridget's Church, ^ 
more commonl}^ known, perhaps, as " Ditch Church," from the fact of its 
being situated near the State ditch, was first built by Father McCarty in 
1873. It was a large frame building, nearly as large as St. Patrick's Church 
in Oxford. About the 10th of March, 1876, before it was yet quite completed, 
it was blown down by a furious wind-storm and entirely destroyed. It was 
re-built by Father Cahill, in 1876-77, and completed by Father Dempsey in 
1879, at a cost of about $2,500. The church furniture is worth about $500. 

The Parish Grove Catholic Church, known as Holy Trinity Church, was 
begun in July, 1876, and was completed in September of the same year, at 
a cost of about $850. The membership, which consisted of but about fif- 
teen families at the time of the erection of the church, had been organized 
a short time before. It was built by English, German and French Catholics, 
and is situated on the northwest corner of Section 31, Township 25, Range 
9, on one acre of ground bought of Bryan Brady for $40. In connection 
with the church there is a cemetery of two acres, situated in the southeast 
corner of Section 36, in Township 25, of Range 10. This church seems to 
have been rather multinominous, as it appears to have been called by the 
several names, St. Columbkill's, Peregrine and Holy Trinity. It now includes 
sixty-five families, under the care of Rev. Father John Grogan. They will 
shortly begin the erection of a fine parsonage. 

The Catholic Church at Fowler, known as St. John the Evangelist, was 
built about 1873, at a cost of about $600. There is a plat of ground, con- 
taining about two acres, in connection with the church, on which is situated 
a small but neat and comfortable dwelling, designed for the use and occu- 
pancy of the priest in charge ; also, a small barn, all of which have been 
built under the supervision of Rev. Father C. Maujay, the present priest in 
charge. Father Maujay also supplies the church at Earl Park. 

The Catholic Church at Earl Park was built about 1881, at a cost of 




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HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 301 

about $1,200. This church has not yet been named. There are six Catholic 
Churches in the count}-, namely : Saint Patrick's, at Oxford ; Saint John 
the Evangelist's, at Fowler ; Church at Karl Park, not named ; Holy Trinity, 
twelve miles west of Fowler ; Saint Bridget's, about fourteen miles southeast 
of Fowler, and Saint Anthony's, about five miles east of Earl Park. There 
are cemeteries at Saint Patrick's, Holy Trinity and Saint Anthony's. Those 
churches are served as foUaws : Saint John the Evangelist and Earl Park, 
by Rev. Father C. Mauja}- ; Saint Patrick's and Saint Bridget's, b}- Rev. 
Father Patrick Crosson ; Saint Anthony's, by Rev. Father Hoss, and Holy 
Trinity by Rev. Father John Grogan. There are no Catholic Schools in the 
county. The public at large, without regard to sect or denomination, have 
shown quite a spirit of liberality in the matter of contributing to the build- 
ing of the churches at Fowler and Earl Park, and Moses Fowler and A. D. 
Raub have been especially liheral. 

The M. E. Church, at Fowler, was organized in the year 1873, by Rev. 
Simeon C. Head, preacher in charge of Aydelot Circuit ; Battle Ground 
District (Northwestern Indiana Conference), Rev. J. \V. McMullen, J). J)., 
being at that time Presiding Elder. Its first membership was James Wood- 
burn, Sr., Mary L. Woodburn, Emma Woodburn, Mary Pierce, Margaret 
Anderson, Mrs. Clarke, Rachel Jacobs, Carrie Jacobs, Frank Anderson, John 
Thorne, Lottie Hixson and Caroline Westman. The church edifice is a 
frame building, 40xG5 feet, with corner tower, and was built in 1874, under 
the direction of Rev. John Blackstock, at a cost of about $1,500. The par- 
sonage is a neat frame structure, 24x28 feet, one and a half stories in height, 
and was erected in 1881-82, under the direction of Revs. Burgner and 
Bruner, pastors for the respective years, at a cost of about $1,000. The 
entire property has been freed from debt during the present pastorate, but 
carries no insurance. The present membership numbers 146, with twent}- 
probationers. The pastors have been Simeon C. Head, 1873 ; W. H. Green, 
from September, 1873, to September, 1874 ; John Blackstock. from 1874 to 
1875 ; Frank Faylor, from 1875 to 1877 ; C. B. Mack, from 1877 to 1879; 
D. G. Le Sourd, from 1879 to 1880 ; C. S. Burgner, from 1880 to 1881, and 
A. R. Bruner, from 1881 to the present time. 

Freshyterianism in Benton County. — [Contributed by Rev. D. E. Love.] 
The first minister known to have preached in the county now called 
Benton was Rev. James Aikman Carnahan. He was then a 3-oung man ; 
was a native Kentuckian ; had been brought up in Southern Indiana ; 
received a classical education in Louisville, Ky., and in 1829 was graduated 
at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Auburn, N. Y. In September 
of that year, he returned to Indiana, and that fall made an itinerating preach- 
ing tour up the Waliash. He preached his first sermon in La Fayette Novem- 
ber 28, 1829. Here he settled, and from this point — as a home missionary 
of his church — made many extended preaching tours into the counties 
adjacent. In the summer of 1833, after organizing a Presbyterian Church 
at Pond Grove, ten miles west of La Fayette, he rode over to White Oak 

18 



302 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Grove, and there preached in a barn of one of the early settlers, near to the 
place where the town of Oxford now stands. In the fall of 1836, he again 
visited the place, and was the guest of Judge David McConnell, in whose 
house for several succeeding years he held occasional preaching services. 
Mrs. McConnell was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and the Judge, 
in his jocular way was wont to say, " He was a Presbyterian brother-in-law," 
and had a pillow and a plate for all the preachers. 

There are now in Benton County three Presbyterian Church organiza- 
tions, with 102 church members, representing sixty-four families, in which 
are 347 souls. The churches have four Ruling Elders, nine Trustees, and 
property valued at $9,000. 

The Oxford Presbyterian Church was organized in the court house on 
Saturday, May 14, 1853, by Rev. Thomas M. Chestnut, then residing in and 
laboring at Rossville, Clinton Co., Ind. The original members were ten in 
number, since which time 120 persons have been received to church fellow- 
ship ; the present membership is twenty-nine. During these thirty years, 
the office of Ruling Elder has been held by Joseph H. Wilson, Newton Mur- 
phy, William Cochran, Dr. John S. French, Ayres Sanders, William Phares, 
D. H. Russell, Isaac H. Phares and David H. Dunham ; it is now filled by 
John H. Phares. The ministers who have acted as pastors were Revs. 
James J. Wilson, Francis Lynn, James F. Patterson, David R. Love and 
James L. Wilson ; six others have served as temporary supplies. The 
church edifice was erected during the ministry of Rev. J. F. Patterson, prin- 
cipally through the instrumentality of Ayres Sanders, J. H. Phares and 
Jacob Albaugh ; it is a neat substantial frame building, with stained glass 
windows and a bell. In it, every Sabbath morning, meets an interesting 
Sabbath school of fifty members. The pulpit is at present vacant. 

The Benton Presbyterian Church, in York Township, near Raub, was 
organized April 3, 1870, by Rev. John B. Smith, who for two years supplied 
the church, giving it one- fourth of his time. In 1874, Rev. Gideon C. Clark 
supplied the pulpit for a few months. Six persons constituted the original 
membership ; fifty-seven have, since that time, been received to church fel- 
lowship ; the present membership is thirty-two. Robert Wilkinson was the 
first person elected to the office of Ruling Elder, which office he still fills. 
Andrew Hargrave also acted as Ruling Elder twelve years. Rev. David R. 
Love is now the installed pastor of this church, and for the past five years 
has given one-half his time to the work there, preaching twice on each al- 
ternate Sabbath. On February 5, 1882, Revs. D. R. Love and J. B. Smith, 
in the presence of a large congregation, dedicated to the service of God a 
beautiful, substantial Gothic church edifice, entirely free of debt. It is 
handsomely and tastefully furnished ; a model country church. The report 
of the Trustees. John Ross, Joseph Ross and John McEwen, showed that 
the entire cost of the improvements made amounted to nearly $2,400. The 
church has an efficient Sabbath school of sixty members. 

The Presbyterian Church in Fowler was organized September 5, 1873, 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 303 

by Revs. Gideon C. Clark and James F. Patterson, with eiglit members 
The total number received to church meml)ership is eighty-seven ; the pres- 
ent actual membership is forty-one. The Ruling Elders are Isaac H. Phares 
and Ayres Sanders. Rev. G. C. Clark preached to the church one-half of 
his time for eighteen months ; Revs. R. M. Neil and P. Carden supplied the 
pulpit a few months each. Rev. David R. Love is the first installed pastor, 
and since July 1, 1877. has given one-half of his time to the work here, 
preaching twice on each alternate Sabbath, and on Sabbath afternoons at 
some adjacent schoolhouse. The church has a well-trained Sabbath school, 
with an average attendance of 100, a Woman's Missionary Society and a 
Thursday evening weekly prayer meeting. The church edifice was built in 
1875, and was the gift of Moses Fowler, Esq. It was dedicated to tne serv- 
ice of God June 18, 1876, Revs. Dr. George Hickman and D. R. Love 
officiating. Both before and soon after its dedication, the church buildino- 
was severely racked by a \\ind storm, and it became unsafe for occupancy. 
It has been thoroughl}- repaired, at an expense of more than half the orig- 
inal cost, and is now one of the strongest and most commodious church edi- 
fices in the county. During the past six years, the pastor has raised and 
expended on the church property over $2,500. The society is entirely' free 
from debt, and in addition to the church edifice owns one of the coziest par- 
sonages in the State. 

The Presb3'terian Church and its ministers believe in doing missionarv 
work ; they rarel}- confine their labors to their own congregations, but are 
ever ready to lend a helping hand to advancing every good cause. Take 
this as a sample. The following is a brief summary of Pastor Love's labors 
in Benton County: During the past six years, he has preached or lectured 
1,028 times ; has conducted public services in every township in the county; 
has assisted in the organization of four Blue Ribbon Clubs , was IVesident 
of the Benton Count}' Joint-Stock Association and Secretary of the County 
Temperance Council during their existence ; has been Secretary of ten Sab- 
bath School County Conventions; received 114 persons to church member- 
ship ; conducted eighty-two funeral services ; performed the marriat^e cer- 
emony sixty times, and traveled with his horse and buggy over 1,000 miles 
in filling his appointments and making pastoral calls. 

SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 

In response to a call issued to the Sunday school workers of Benton 
County, a goodly number of the friends of the cause met in con\"ention in 
the Presbyterian Church at Fowler, Ind., Wednesda}' evenino^, June 19 1878. 
Rev. D. R. Love was appointed to conduct the devotional exercises. After 
singing, and prayer by Rev. J. M. Stallard, the lion. W. H. Leverinn-, of 
La Fayette, addressed the convention on " The Sunday School Work in the 
State, and the Necessity of County Organization." On the day following 
a permanent organization was effected, and the followintr officers elected • 
Rev. C. B. Mock, President; Rev. D. K. Love, Secretary, and (). Barnard, 



304 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Treasurer. The following persons were also chosen Township Vice Presi- 
dents : Bolivar Township, S. E. Baker ; Oak Grove, Dr. Wells ; Grant, 
John Daugherty ; Hickory Grove, George Alexander ; Parish Grove, Andrew 
Hargrave ; Center, Isaac H. Phares ; Pine, C. A. Eastburn ; Gilboa, Perry D. 
Corkins ; Union, A. V. Flint ; Richland, Robert Kelly, and York, Robert 
Wilkinson. 

The convention was a complete success, and, in addition to the parties 
already named, was participated in by Rev. C. McCain, of Kentland ; Rev. 
W. S. Peter, of Remington, and Messrs. John Ross, of Raub ; R. N. Evans, 
of Oxford ; Charles Meader and E. A. Williams, of West Union ; Dr. J. M. 
Rodman, Gilboa ; 0. C. Brockway, J. L. Carnahan, Robert Chenoweth and 
Hiram Butterfield, Fowler ; also b}^ Sisters EUmore, Zinn, Bugby and Mock. 

It was resolved that two conventions be held annually. The second 
convention was held in the M. E. Church, Fowler, October 9, 1878. The 
principal address was made by Rev. H. A. Gobin, of La Fayette. Topic, 
" The Child in the Midst." The speakers at this convention were Revs. T. 
B. McMannis, F. Taylor, D. R. Love, C. B. Mock and Messrs. 0. C. Brockway, 
L H. Phares, Father Hulse, U. Z. Wylie and A. J. Ford. 

During the next two years, two conventions were held annually. That of 
May 27, 1879, was held in the M. E. Church, Oxford, and was opened with 
an address by Rev. T. B. McMannis ; that at Boswell on October 28, and 
was presided over by Rev. J. J. Claypool, who also delivered the opening 
address. At this meeting, 0. C. Brockway was Chosen President ; Rev, D. 
R. Love, Secretary, and Rev. D. G. Le Sourd, Treasurer. The convention 
of June 9, 1880, was held in the Presbyterian Church at Fowler. Rev. 
James Omelvena made the opening address. Topic, " The Elements of 
Success in Sunday School Work." Hon. W. H. Levering, President of the 
State Sunday School Association, being present, addressed the convention 
on " Sunda}' School Workers." The fall convention was held at Otterbien 
October 27, 1880. It was opened with an address by Rev. D. R. Love, on 
" The Sunday School Teacher's Text Book, and How to Use It." The 
President and Secretary were re-elected, and Thomas Daugherty chosen 
Treasurer. The convention of June 1, 1881, was held in the Christian 
Church at Fowler. The annual address was by Rev. A. M. Blackburn, of 
La Fayette, on " The Worth of the Word." The fall convention was held 
September 21, 1881, in the Gilboa Church, Opening address by Dr. J. M, 
Rodman, The attendance was large, and an excellent basket dinner was 
provided by the Gilboa and Shiloh Schools. The President and Secretary 
were re-elected, and S. E. Baker chosen Treasurer. 

At the convention held June 21, 1882, in the M. E. Church, Fowler, it 
was resolved that hereafter one annual county convention be held in the 
spring, and three district conventions in the fall. Also, that hereafter, the 
annual convention be a delegated body, consisting of " all the clergy resident 
in, or laboring within the county ; also, the Superintendent and Secretary of 
every Sabbath school organized in the county, and one delegate for every 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 305 

twent5'-five attendants in each school, these delegates to be elected by their 
several schools." Rev. J. H. Clay pool made the annual adJress. Topic', 
" Children and Their Teachers." Tlie old officers were unanimously re-elected, 
viz., O. C. Brockway, President ; Rev. D. R. Love, Secretary ; S. E. Baker, 
Treasurer ; Vice Presidents, First District, A. Cowgill ; Second District, Dr. 
Wells, and Third District. John Ross. 

In Benton County, we have 29 Sunday schools, with an average attend- 
ance of 1,517 persons. Seventeen of these schools are ever green, that is, 
carried on throughout the whole year. During the past year, 82 persons 
have been received to church membership from our Sabbath schools. . The 
next county convention meets in the Presbyterian Church, Fowler, June 
20. 1883. 

[The above notes in relation to the Sunday Schools of Benton County 
were contributed by Rev. D. R. Love. — El>.] 

THE TELEPHONE. 

In Decembei-, 1882, the Western Telephone Company of Chicago estab- 
lished a telephone line from Fowler to La Fayette, with offices at Fowler, 
Atkinson, Templeton, Oxford and Otterbein, in Benton County. The cap- 
ital with which it was built was raised, principally if not wholly, by the citi- 
zens of the county subscribing stock, for which coupon tickets were issued, 
in payment of which the holders were entitled to the use of the line to the 
amount of the subscription, at ^20 per cent discount from the regular rate. 
This is found to be a great convenience to the public, much cheaper than 
the telegraph, and greatly to be preferred to it for some other reasons than 
that of its being a cheaper mode of transmitting intelligence. For instance, 
if two men in Oxford should have a slight misunderstanding, and if one 
should feel disposed to question the veracity of the other, but dare not do 
so for fear of punishment, condign or otherwise, he just jumps aboard the 
first train for Fowler, and when he gets] there repairs to the telephone office, 
calls up his adversary at Oxford, and calls him a liar witii impunity. 

TOWNS. 

The first town laid out in Benton County was the town of Oxford, situ- 
ated on the south half of the southeast ([uarter of Section 18, and the north 
half of the northeast quarter of Section 19, in Township 24, of Range 7. 
The following is a description of the survey of the town of Oxford, the 
county seat of Benton County, Ind.: Beginning at the southwest corner of 
Block 8, on the Section line, four chains and forty-five and one-half links 
west of the center line of the donation ; thence extending north, at a varia- 
tion of the magnetic needle of five degrees, to the northwest corner of Block 
3 ; thence east at right angles to the northeast corner of Block 1 ; thence 
south to the southeast corner of Block G, on the Section line ; thence, based 
on the Section line, west to the place of beginning, comprising an area of 
14^^^ acres, more or less. The lots all to be 00x120 feet; alleys twelve feet 



306 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

wide, and the streets sixty feet wide ; streets and alleys all cross each other 
at right angles. The public square is 120x252 feet. Ordered that the 
above description of said town be confirmed by the Board of Commissioners 
of Benton Count3\ The foregoing is an extract from the record of the pro- 
ceedings of the Board of Count}^ Commissioners at their September session, 
1848. 

The town was surveyed in the spring of 1843, and at the October term, 
1843, of Commissioners' Court, it was " Ordered that the County Agent 
proceed to advertise and sell the lots in the town of Oxford, the sale to be 
on the first Monday in December, 1843, the terms of sale to be one-third in 
six months, one-third in twelve months, and one-third in eighteen months." 
There were a number of lots sold at this sale, yet the town did not seem to 
increase rapidly in population, as appears from the fact that the Board of 
Commissioners, at their June session in 1846, "Ordered that an}' person 
moving to and settling in Oxford, and putting up a house worth $200, shall 
have two lots, one corner, if vacant, and one back, said houses to be built by 
the 1st of June. 1847, and the selection of lots to be made by the 1st of 
September, 1846." The following sketch of the town of Oxford was kindly 
furnished by Mrs. A. J. Carnahan, an early settler of the town : '' May 17, 
1843, Commissioners were appointed to locate the count}' seat of this 
county, who located the same at the northern part of White Oak Grove, 
where the town of Oxford now stands. The first house built in Oxford was 
the court house, a frame building two stories high. Francis Boynton was 
the architect and builder, Dr. Thompson (late of Rainsville), plasterer, and 
Isaac Lewis, of Oxford, hod-carrier. The court house stood where the 
Buckeye Block now stands. From there it was moved to the public square, 
then to the ground now occupied by Zeis' grocery store, whence it was 
moved to its present resting place, where it is now occupied by James Con- 
nelly as a saloon. The second house was a hotel, built by Henry L. Ells- 
worth, of which James L. Hatton was first proprietor. First dwelling-house 
was built by Aaron Wood, on the lot now occupied by John Carnahan, jew- 
eler. The first store was a small affair, consisting of a few groceries, beer 
and whisky, kept by Aaron Wood. The first dry goods store, Earl & Car- 
nahan ; first drug store, Barnes & Dailey ; first blacksmith, Dailey ; first 
resident lawyer, Jacob Benedict ; first physician. Dr. Mayo ; first preacher. 
Rev. Sell ; first editor, Joseph W. Jackson. The first family was Hartley 
T. Howard's, who lived in the court house. First couple married, Barton 
Wood (brother of Aaron Wood) and Mattie Howard, daughter of Hartley T. 
Howard. A child born to them was the first child born in the town. The 
first schoolhouse was built of logs, on the lot now occupied by Volney Ben- 
edict. First church, Christian, G-eorge Campbell, pastor. First literary 
society, Oxford Lyceum.'" 

The following, additions have been made to Oxford: By Basil Justus, 
December 11, 1852, thirty-two lots, two streets and two alleys each way; Ba- 
sil Justus' Second Addition, December 1, 1855, forty-six lots; James W- 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 307 

Barnes" Addition, September 19, 1870, twenty lots; Basil Justus' Tliird Addi- 
tion, Ma}' 25, 1870, forty-six lots; James Campbell's Addition, November 9, 
1870. four lots; Jasper N. ^IcConnell's Addition, June 10, 1872, eight lots; 
W. J. Templeton's First Addition, April 11, 186G, thirty-one lots; W. J. Tem- 
pleton's Second Addition. April 2, 1873, eighty lots; W.J. Templeton's Third 
Addition, June 7, 1873, twelve lots; David McConnell's First Addition, August 
28, 1855, thirty-six lots; David McConnell's Second Addition, February 18, 
1858, thirty-six lots. B}' order of the Board of Commissioners, March term, 
1864, Justus' Third Addition to the town of Oxford, consisting of thirty-nine 
lots, was vacated. The parties who, upon the removal of the county seat 
from Oxford to Fowler, obligated themselves to pay the appraised value of 
the county property at Oxford, denied the validit}' of the bond which they 
had given, and offered to compromise by paying S2,500, instead of $6,750, 
the appraised value of the property, and after consulting good legal author- 
ity in regard to the matter, the board at their September session, 1875, de- 
cided to accept the terms proposed by the bondsmen, and ordered the 
grounds conve^-ed to the town of Oxford, together with the jail building 
thereon. It seems that provision had been made by the donor of the lands 
on which the county seat was established, that ten per cent of the proceeds 
of the sales of the lands or town lots, should go to purchase a count}- libra- 
ry. The library was organized in June, 1852, with Daniel Mills as Librarian, 
and Joseph W. Jaclcson as Treasurer and Clerk. The election held for the 
purpose of deciding the question whether Oxford should be incorporated 
was held at the court house on Jul}' 7, 1869, and resulted in forty-one votes 
being cast in favor of incorporation, and twenty -eight against it. Judge Da- 
vid McConnell is one of the old landmarks of the town of Oxford, he having 
settled on the very spot on which he now resides in 1834. He says he has 
killed many a deer on the present site of the town. The first bank in Ox- 
ford was established in 1873. Brackenbrough & Perrin, of La Fayette, being 
the principal stockholders, Theophilus Stembel, President, and Luther D. 
Hawley, Cashier. The present bank was established December 15, 1879, by 
Robert S. Dwiggins, of Rensselaer, Robert S. Fisher, of Union City, and 
Zimri Dwiggins, of Oxford, R. S. Dwiggins being President, Z. Dwiggins, 
Cashier, and W. J. McConnell, Assistant Cashier. They first started with 
$30,000 capital, but could not use so much, and reduced it to $20,000. 

The present business of Oxford is as follows: Conrad H. Zeis, James 
Bryant, William H. Kelley and Charles Green, grocers; John J. Ripple, dry 
goods and clothing; Winfield Menefee, boots and shoes; Heth & Co., dry 
goods; C. H. Zeis, bakery; John P. Ross, furniture and undertaker; James 
Conley, saloon (old court house); Jacob S. Albaugh, butcher; William Shel- 
by, barber; Dr. H. C. McConnell, druggist; VVilliam M. Scott, druggist; Mar- 
garet Young, milliner; Michael Kelly, saloon; William C. Parker & Co., car- 
riage shop; Isaac Lewis & Son, grain dealers; Dwiggins & Dwiggins, Com- 
mercial Bank; C. E. Steele, hardware and tin shop; Smith & Ambler, meat 
market; James Bell, proprietor Ohio Mouse; George Pagett, Postmaster; 



308 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

Charles Dailey, attorney; Jacob Miller, Justice of the Peace; Sampson McMil- 
len, furniture; Jacob Benedict, attorne\^ and Notary- Public; Mrs. Marj' Fer- 
guson and Mattie Lewis, milliners; Mrs. Frances M. Johnson, milliner; Jo- 
seph B. Lane, drugs and books; Campbell & Cobb, boots and shoes; Peter 
Jones, blacksmith; John W. Bradley, hardware; Lewis & Scott, livery; A. P. 
Carnahan, saloon; Levi Waldrip, blacksmith; A. Johnson, tailor; John G. 
Carnahan, jeweler; Charles Glreen, restaurant; James Campbell, photog- 
rapher; Joel C. Wilmoth, hardware ; Smith & Messner, dry goods and cloth- 
ing; Charles Ross, dentist; Misses Maggie and Lucy Dodson, milliners and 
dress-mak,ers; Robert Wood, saddles and harness; Mark J. Brier, blacksmith 
and cai-riage shop; Miss Lizzie Sunderland, milliner and dress-maker; Dr. A. 
S.Wells; Dr. Jonathan Kolb; Larason & Bro., tile factory; Allen McGuire and 
Washington L. Bryant, painters; John Richards, barber; Benedict & Wine- 
gardner, Elisha Johnson, Smith & Steele, and Greorge W. Bliss, carpenters. 

TOWN OF FOWLER. 

The town of Fowler was named in honor of Moses Fowler, of La Fay- 
ette, who owned the land upon which the public buildings at Fowler are sit- 
uated, and donated the same to the county, besides making a very liberal 
donation toward the erection of those buildings. The town was first platted 
by Moses Fowler and wife, October 26, 1872, consisting of 583 lots. It was 
re-platted April 8, 1875, by Moses Fowler and Adams Earl and their wives, 
containing, as re-platted, 1,602 lots and twenty blocks, ranging from one to 
ten acres. The following additions have been made from time to time : 
Fowler's Addition of outlots on the east side of the original plat, consisting 
of forty-nine lots, ranging fi'om two to fourteen acres, January 30, 1875 ; 
Leroy Templeton and wife, June 12, 1875, forty-eight lots ; Henry Jacobs 
and wife, September 17, 1875, thirty-six lots ; Moses Fowler and wife (north 
addition), June 19, 1875, fourteen lots, from one to two acres each. Henrj^ 
D. Clark built the first business house in the town of Fowler in June, 1871, 
about where Joseph Warner's furniture store now is. It was a small build- 
ing, composed of rough boards, and his stock was correspondingly small, 
consisting of a little of ever3'thing and not much of anything. He pros- 
pered, however, and increased his stock from time to time, until he came to 
have a pretty fair stock. Scott Shipman built the first house, a dwelling, in 
March, 1871, where Dupie's saloon now stands. The next house was built 
by James S. Anderson, and is the house now owned and occupied by William 
Warner. The third house was built by John E. Mitchell. During the sum- 
mer and fall of 1871, J. C. Simpson built five dwellings on Washington 
street. The second business house was built by Moses Fowler, and is the 
building now occupied by Gr. J. Lobdell, grocer, and Snyder & Crandall, 
hardware. Henr^^ Jacobs & Son, from Oxford, put a stock of groceries into 
this building upon its being completed. The Summit House was completed 
in July, 1871, by Moses Fowler, but was not occupied until fall, and then 
by William M. Jones. The elevators were built in 1871, by L. Templeton. 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 311 

The first Postmaster in Fowler was John E. Mitchell, who kept the office in 
his blacksmith shop for about five months, when Henr\' Jacobs became Post- 
master, and the office was removed to his store. The schoolhouse was built 
in the summer and fall of 1871. The present business of Fowler is as fol- 
lows : G. J. Lobdell, groceries and queensware ; Snyder & Crandall, hard- 
ware ; John H. McClar^-, restaurant ; 0. C. Brockway, general merchandise; 
M. J. Carr, saloon ; Benjamin Schaffer, general merchandise ; G. W. Jones 
& Co., druggists ; Ed Williams, boots and shoes ; Trent & Eakin, groceries; 
Rosenthall Bros., clothing ; J. 31. Jones, merchant tailor ; Baile}^ & Warner, 
dry goods and groceries ; Tiiomas Baldwin, furniture and undertaker ; Leon 
Simonds, drugs ; H. Butterfield, harness-maker ; A. Meyer, dry goods and 
groceries ; Mrs. Woods, milliner}' store ; Mrs. Westman, millinery ; James 
Simpson, grocery and butcher shop ; Mrs. McClure, millinery ; Thomas 
Maddux, Maddux House ; Fowler Era ; J. M. Stow, silversmith ; Mrs. Stow, 
milliner ; James Moore, restaurant and boarding ; Matthews Bros., grocer}'" 
and bakery ; Chaffer & Son, grocery and baker}' ; M. McCaslin, saloon ; Ed 
Hughes, saloon ; C. Johnson, harness-maker ; Joseph Dunner, barber ; 
Hawkins Bros., meat market; McKinney Bros., hardware and agricultural 
implements ; James Long, dry goods ; J. S. Mavity, physician ; James 
Hughes, barber ; Henry Templeton, Summit House ; E. Mombleau, harness; 
Barnes & Payne, druggists ; Frauk Taylor, Postmaster ; J. S. Palissard, 
dry goods ; S. Seney, groceries ; Jacob Smith, boots and shoes ; Fowler 
Bank ; Mrs. Holden, boarding house ; Underbill, news depot ; Nicholas 
Dupies, saloon ; Richard Manke, hardware and tin shop ; Samuel McDaniel, 
agricultural implements ; Peter Bruette, blacksmith ; E. V. & E. Brake, car- 
riage-makers ; Lafountain & McDaniel, livery and sale stable ; T. K. Harmon, 
marble shop ; John E. Mitchell, blacksmith and machinist; J. C. Lobdell, 
planing and grist mill ; H. V. T. Huls, Pioneer Mills ; W. H. Herman, lum- 
ber and coal ; Henry D. Clark, coal yard and junk dealer ; J. P. Smith & 
Co., lumber and coal, also proprietors of tile factory. The tile factory at 
Fowler is probably the most extensive factory in the county, except that at 
Templeton. There is also a flax baling mill at Fowler, which was built 
since January, 1883. 

In September, 1875, the town of Fowler contained ten lawyers, one min- 
ister, three doctors, one dentist, one baker, two barber shops, three billiard 
saloons, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, three boot and shoe stores, 
one grain elevator, two dry goods stores, twenty carpenters, one furniture 
store, two stove and tin stores, one hardware store, one hotel, three res- 
taurants, two drug stores, three millinery establishments, two saloons, two 
livery stables, three retail groceries, one clothing store, one merchant tailor, 
one graded school, two printing offices, two lumber yards, two churches and 
about 1,200 inhabitants. 

At the September term of Commissioners' Court, 1882, a petition was 
presented, praying for the vacation of a portion of Fowler, which petition 
was granted, and the portion of the town within the following boundary was 



312 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

vacated : All that part lying west of Washington avenue and south of 
Seventh street ; said tract being bounded on the north bj' Seventh street, on 
the east by Washington avenue, on the south by the south line of the plat, 
and on the west by the west line of the town plat. 

TOWN OF RAUB. 

The town of Raub consisted originall}- of seventy-one lots, and was laid 
out by A. D. Raub April 8, 1872. On April 7, 1881, Ira Perkins and wife 
made an addition to it of eighteen lots. The first house built in Raub was 
built by Ira Perkins, before the railroad was constructed through there. 
The first house built in the town after it was laid out was a dwelling house 
built by A. Houser, in the fall of 1871, after the railroad was completed. 
In the same fall, Shonkwiler & Perkins went into the grain business. 
The grain elevator was built by Shonkwiler & Perkins about 1874. A 
story in height and also steam were added to the grain elevator in or about 
1878. The first store was built by H. E. Burchell, in the fall of 1871, and 
the stock put in consisted of groceries and notions. The second store was 
built by Henry Wright in 1873, in which a general stock was put by Samuel 
White the next spring. In the fall of 1876, he sold out to James Ross, 
who now occupies it. The next store building was built in the fall of 1874, 
by Smith & Beard, for hardware. After about a year, Smith bought Beard 
out, and continued until the spring of 1883, when he sold to W. W. Wilson 
& Co. The next was the building now occupied by Thomas Keefe. built by 
Dehner & Ferdinand in the summer and fall of 1874, for a drug store. This 
building was subsequently occupied by several different parties for different 
purposes. The next building was put up by W. H. Verrill for a saloon. Next 
was by Joseph Warner, for a saloon, now occupied by James Burry as a 
drug store and doctor's office. Dwellings were built about 1874 by S. J. 
Gillett, Thomas Keefe and Peter Booty. Present business : J. Shonkwiler, 
grain ; James Burry, physician and drugs ; Keefe & Co., general store ; 
James Ross, general store ; Thomas Keefe, groceries ; W. W. Wilson & Co., 
hardware, agricultural implements and lumber ; Thomas O'Neil, notions ; 
B. Brown, blacksmith ; John Plunkett, blacksmith. 

TOWN OF EARL PARK. 

Earl Park was laid out July 31, 1872, by Adams Earl and wife, and A. 
D. Raub, and consisted of 217 lots. The first building erected in Earl Park 
was the grain elevator, by Hixson, Sherry & Mclntyre. The second was 
the hotel now kept by Moxie Burlage, by Charles Prue, commenced in the 
fall of 1871, and completed in the spring of 1872. Next, Silas H. Kent, 
dwelling. Next, Elias Wees, residence and store ; first stock of goods in the 
town, consisting of groceries and provisions, fair country stock. Next, 
Robert Kelly, store room and residence together, general stock. About same 
time, H. M. Beckwith moved his residence from York Township, a distance 
of about nine miles. Beckwith, the first Justice of the Peace in the town. 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 313 

First drug store, John E. M. Stout. In the summer of 1872, Raub & Earl 
put up a building in which the}' started a general store. Calix Buchard was 
the first blacksmith. His shop was moved into the town from some other 
localit}'. August 8, 1872, there was a public sale of lots in Earl Park, at 
which there were about 2,000 people. There was a free train from La 
Fayette, and free lunch at Earl Park. There is a beautiful park at Earl 
Park, containing about eighty acres of ground. There are two churches in 
the town — Catholic and Methodist — the former of which was built in 1880, 
and the latter in 1881. The}' cost about $2,500 each. The schoolhouse was 
built about 1874, one-stor}' frame, cost about $1,000. About 1878, a story, 
was added, at a cost of about $1,000 ; two schools, one above and one below. 
Present business : M. C. Follansbee & Co., general store ; Eli Douglas, 
boots and shoes ; H. M. Beckwith, general store and post office ; Bracken- 
brough & Brothers, dry goods and groceries ; Joseph Laroche, harness shop ; 
Thomas Mclnerney, saloon ; Drs. R. R. Boice & Son, drugs ; Hartley & 
Hoi ton, groceries ; S. R. Meader, hotel ; Laurence Braugh, saloon ; Jerry 
Tinsman, meat shop ; R. Gers, bakery and confectionery ; William Burns, 
saloon ; John Stout, druggs ; Moxie Burlage, hotel ; Borders Brothers, 
livery ; first physician, Dr. Silas H. Kent, now deceased ; first lawyer, 
Llewellyn Gwinn ; next, F. W. Hatch ; next, H. M. Breckwith ; first shoe- 
maker, Benjamin Martin ; first Postmaster, Weis ; next, Robert 

Kelly ; next, F. W. Hatch ; next and last, H. M. Beckwith. Present black- 
smiths, Charles Sord, Moses Liguea and Charles Bradley ; Raub, Earl & 
Henr}-, dealers in grain, lumber, hardwood, furniture, coal and wood, and 
stock dealers ; Charles El. Woodington, agent C, I. St. L. & C. Railroad Co. 
Present teachers, Joseph S. Van Natta and wife ; pastor M. E. Church, Rev. 
Braner ; Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Maujay. 

TOWN OP TEMPLETON. 

Templeton was laid out by William J. Templeton and wife December 23, 
1873, in 225 lots, and subsequently an addition was made of nine lots bv 
same parties. The first building in Templeton was the small shanty now in 
rear of the building occupied by John Cosgrove as a dwelling, built by 
James Knight, same season town was laid out. Next, three dwellings, all 
about the same time, b}' Col. W. J. Templeton, Joseph Blue and G. H. 
Finch, and Joseph Dehart, Finch & Co. The three houses alluded to were 
the Blue House, a store building occupied by Finch & Son, and the other 
the building owned b}' W. J. Templeton. Next, a residence by James E. 
Murdock, now occupied bj- Col. W. J. Templeton. Next, the Junction 
House, b}' J. Yj. Murdock. The elevators were built by Hayes & Brother, 
in 1874, and are now occupied by David Lanham & Co. as a general store. 
Elevators at Easton, built two years ago b}' John Stingle & Olne}-, now 
owned by Stingle. Mrs. Johnson's residence was built in 1876 ; tile factory, 
built b}' John Fernald, in 18S1, twelve hundred feet of shed, two large kilns, 
one at each end, run by steam power. Present business : David Lanham 



314 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY, 

& Co., dry goods and groceries, a large stock ; Joseph Dehart, notions, and 
butcher shop ; Finch & Son, dry goods and groceries ; John Rosa, groceries ; 
Dr. C. W. Fall, drugs and physician ; Blue House ; Railroad House ; Jasper 
Bristow, physician. Col. Templeton is feeding 400 head of cattle, and 300 
head of hogs. He also farms extensively. 

TOWN OF BOSWELL. 

Boswell was laid out by Elizabeth H. Scott and husband July 18, 1872, 
112 lots ; addition by Samuel P. Smith and wife December 22, 1872, twenty- 
three lots ; another b}" same, October 6, 1872, sixteen lots ; one by McKnight 
& Spies June 9, 1873, four lots ; one by Joshua M. Foster and wife Decem- 
ber 5, 1872, fortj'-three lots. The town was first laid out by Charles Moore, 
who sold it to Elizabeth Scott October 27, 1871, who replatted it. The first 
house in Boswell was a dwelling, just north of where A. Potter's livery stable 
now stands, which was built by S. P. Smith, about three years before the 
town was laid out. First building after the town was laid out, and in which 
first business was done, was a rough board shanty, about twelve feet square, 
on the north side of the railroad, built by A. Murphy, who had a small 
general stock. Next building, by J. W. Hash & Son, about the time the 
railroad was completed to this place ; hauled material from Oxford ; general 
stock put in by Hash & Buckles. Next, a building with two rooms, put up 
by Taylor & Smith, and McKnight & Spies ; general stock in each room. 
Next building, in the southwest part of town, a residence by Lewis Halston. 
Next, a hotel (the Boswell House). Pioneers in the diflferent lines of busi- 
ness : McKnight & Brother, general stock ; H. N. Carson, hardware ; Charles 
Hoffman, drugs ; I. B. Ebberly, blacksmith and wagon-maker ; Jacob Vole, 
shoe-maker and shoe store ; Hash & Son, dry goods ; John Spies, groceries. 
Present business : 0. H. & J. Smith, clothing ; Canes & Leach, hardware ; 
Harris & Stembel, dry goods ; John Spies, groceries and furniture ; C. H. 
Miller, editor Boswell Courier, and Postmaster ; Davis & Deer, boots and 
shoes ; Menefee & Brother, drugs ; Thomas Davis, groceries ; Grillespie & Son, 
groceries ; James T. Moore, saloon ; W. T. Keys, hardware ; Thomas Knott, 
harness ; C. L. Foster & Co., boots and shoes ; William Baile}', barber ; 
Grillespie & Brother, furniture and groceries ; Grilger & McDonald, dry goods ; 
W. D. Simpkins, drugs; Mrs. Jennie James, milliner and dress-maker: 
Joseph Moore, photographer ; P. H. Collins, saloon ; Joseph Earhart, butch- 
er ; David Weaver, groceries ; McKnight & Brother, general stock ; 
Charles Menefee, lumber ; |^P. M. Clancey, bakery and confectioner}' ; M. 
Melvin, groceries ; Asa Vanover, Vanover House ; W. D. Simpkins, Boswell 
House ; Abe Potter, livery ; W. A. Dunshee, livery ; Dr. J. W. Green, Dr. J. 
H. Whitcomb, Dr. J. B. Christley and Dr. J. Simpkins, physicians ; Smith 
«& Ebberly, blacksmiths and wagon-makers ; Stokes & Myers, carpenters and 
builders ; S. P. Smith and S. H. Arms, grain dealei's ; Wesley Alexander, 
coal dealer ; Mrs. J. Richards, milliner and dress-maker ; Albert Brant, 
marble shop ; 0. V. Cones, jeweler ; N. G. Fauth, shoe-maker ; George 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 315 

Scheussler, shoe-maker ; John Rackold and D. H. Smith, plasterers and brick- 
Ia3'er8 ; Miller & Ray, painters. 

TOWN OF AMBIA. 

Ambia was laid out by Ezekiel M. Talbot and wife, February 22, 1875, 
and consisted of 122 lots; addition, November 26, 1881, by Charles L. White, 
28 lots. The first building in Ambia was erected by James C. Pugh, and is 
now owned by Washington Pu<ih; built about 1873; next, the elevators, same 
season, by James C. and William Pugh, the first grain dealers; the first bus- 
iness house, by Thomas Moore and Arnold Moore, small general stock, built 
at Weaver, about half a mile west of Ambla, and moved to Ambia in spring 
of 1873; first stock of goods in the town; first blacksmith, James C. Pugh; 
next store by Henry and Samuel Parker; first drug store by Dallas M. Kel- 
ley; first hardware, William Parker; first phj'sician. James Beard; first hotel, 
Robert Whitten. Present business: Dallas B. Kelley, Ambia House ; I. 
Reed Allen, general store; William A. Kline, furniture and undertaking; J. 
H. Myers, hardware; W. T. James, confectioner}-; John W. Scott, drugs; A. 
S. Fix, barber; Alfred Goodrick, groceries, boots and shoes and queensware; 
C. J. Clawson, jeweler; Dr. J. M. Beard and Dr. Evans, physicians; 0. L. 
Ross, meat market; Simeon H. Bowyer, agricultural implements; James Fix, 
saloon; Acres & Golden, baker}', grocery and confectionery; B. C. Parker, 
groceries, confectionery and lunch; A. R. Brown, harness; Golden & Manny, 
general store; S. A. Parker, groceries and provisions; and J. T. McCormick, 
general store. 

TALBOT AND OTTERBEIN. 

Talbot was laid out by Ezekiel M. Talbot and wife, February 18, 1873, 
seventy -two lots. Otterbein was laid out by John Levering and wife, Octo- 
ber 25, 1872, sixty lots; addition, April 24, 1883, by Mary A Clancey. 
Dr. John K. Thompson built the first dwelling house in the town of Otter- 
bein, and Henry H. Moore the first business house, a general store. William 
Otterbein Brown was the first Postmaster, and held the oflflce until his death. 

MURDER. 

No Sheriff of Benton County has ever yet had the very unpleasant duty 
thrust upon him of inflicting the death penalty upon a human l)eing, yet, if 
capital punishment is ever right, undoubtedly Sheriff Henry C. Harris ought, 
in justice, to have been called upon to perform the otlicc of executioner to 
James Leonard McCuUough, for the murder, in cold blood, of Mor- 
gan, in York Township, about the year 1862. The facts in this case. l)rietly 
stated, are as follows: About the year 1860, Morgan went from Warren 
County, Ind., to the pineries in Wisconsin, and remained there, working in 
the pineries, until about 1862, when, after having acquired a good team of 
horses and about $800 in gold, he started to return home. On his way home, 
he fell in with McCullough, who said his folks lived near Muncie; and, partly 
for the purpose of having company to relieve the tedium of tlie trip, and 



316 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTV. 

partly through a desire to accommodate, he took McCullough in to ride in 
his wagon as far as they would go together. They reached Benton Count}^ 
traveling together, and encamped for the night in York Township, not far 
from the line. Morgan never left that camping place alive. Either during 
the night, whilst Morgan was asleep, or the next morning while they were 
getting their breakfast and preparing to resume their journey, McCullough 
shot Morgan in the head with his (Morgan's) own gun, and afterward chop- 
ped him in the head with an ax ; after which he concealed the bod}^ in a 
pond of water, and resumed his journey, stopping in Oxford the next morn- 
ing and getting Morgan's horses shod, as though nothing had happened. 
December 23, 1867, Morgan's bones were found in the pond, which was then 
dry, by John Fleming, Sr.; whereupon an inquest was held upon the re- 
mains by the Coroner, Dr. Jonathan Kolb, who, from the appearance of the 
bones, and from certain other facts, made the following deductions : That 
the murdered person had been a man; that he was about six feet high; that 
he was about thirtj'-five years old; that he smoked and chewed tobacco; that 
he had had a rib broken about six months before he was killed; that he had 
a tooth extracted, and that he was a mechanic. It was afterward ascertained 
that he was six feet and one inch in height, that he was thirty-five years of 
age, smoked and chewed; had had a rib broken and a tooth extracted, and, 
in fact, that the doctor's deductions were all pra(!tically correct. Further, 
the evidence produced at the trial showed that Morgan had had his left foot 
nearly cut off, and the boot found where the murder had been committed, 
showed that it had been worn on a crippled foot. Dr. Kolb went to Wiscon- 
sin to procure evidence in the case, and so well was the matter worked up 
that the State was enabled to make out, and did make out, as clear a case 
against McCullough as ever could be made out against a man on circum- 
stantial evidence. Pending his trial, he broke jail at Oxford and was at 
large for the period of about three weeks, when he was recaptured near 
Muncie, and confined from that time on until his trial came off in the jail at 
La Fayette. He came very near getting out of the La Fayette Jail, and 
would have done so if he had a little more time. McCullough's trial was a 
very tedious one, costing, the county about $1,800, and resulting in his con- 
viction, with a life sentence in the penitentiary, at which place he died about 
two years ago. 

In the trial of this case, the State was very ably represented by Simon 
Thompson, of Rensselaer, Prosecuting Attorney, assisted by John L. Miller, 
of La Fayette, whilst the prisoner was ably defended by Col. D. Hart and 
R. C. Gregory. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

J. W. Barnes was the first newsdealer in the county. Bolivar Township 
was named for Bolivar Finch, now a merchant and Postmaster in Templeton. 

Parish Grove Township was named for an Indian chief by the name of 
Parish. He is buried in the grove, which was a favorite resort for the In- 
dians during the summer. 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 317 

In 1S30, Thomas Atkiasoa was engaged in herding cattle on the prairie 
in what is now the southern part of Benton County, and near the old Indian 
trail from Scott's L indin.; to Iroquois and Fox Rivers. The early hunters 
and trappers would sometimes unintentionally stampede his cattle, and took 
no great pains to avoid such a result. The Indians, however, having learned 
that Mr. Atkinson was a descendant of William Peun, when going back and 
forth along their trail, took ever\' precaution to avoid frightening his cattle, 
and invariabl}' treated him with the utmost respect. This fact Mr. Atkinson 
cherishes as one of the brightest recollections of a long and well-spent life. 

In 1840, Basil Justus, for some cause, failed to make return of the Con- 
gressional election in Beuton Count}' as he was required by statute to do, 
and for this dereliction of duty he was indicted, and, at the November term 
of the Benton Circuit Court, he was fined the sum of $20. The fine was 
afterward remitted b}- the Governor, Samuel Bigger. 

Following is a list of the attorneys of Fowler, with the date of their ad- 
mission : M. H. "Walker, 1874; U. Z. Wiley. 1875; Merrick and Travis, 
1875 ; Dawson Smith, 1874 ; D. E. Straight, 1874 ; Mahlon D. Smith, 1875 ; 
John T. Brown, 1875 ; Daniel Fraser, 1877 ; Isaac H. Phares, 1882 ; George 
Wadsworth, 1876; George Stewart, 1879 ; George Gray, 1881. 

Alice and Phcebe Carey resided for a time (Alice about one year, and 
Phoebe about four years) in Oxford with their sister, Mrs. Alexander Swift, 
antl, while there, wrote some of their best poems. 

Benjamin Timmons built the first house in Pine Township. 

MISCELLANEOUS ACTS OP THE BOARD. 

At a special session of the Board of Commissioners in March, 1873. a 
reward of $500 was offered for the arrest and detention of James L. Mc- 
Cullough, an escaped prisoner, and at the June session following, the Com- 
missioners assumed the payment of a reward of $200, which had been offered 
b}' Henry C. Harris, Sheriff, for the arrest of McCuUough, they being satis- 
fied of McCullough's arrest, and that the escape had not occurred through 
Harris' negligence. The Board of Commissioners, at their September ses- 
sion, 1874, offered a reward of $100 " for the killing of each dangerous animal 
in the county, provided it be lion, lioness, tiger, panther, leopard, jaguar or 
puma." The order recites that there is some animal at large in the count}' 
that is doing great damage to stock in various parts of the county. The 
reward has never yet been claimed by any one. 

Prisoners Must Work. — At the December session of the board, 1881, it 
was " Ordered by the board that persons incarcerated in the county jail, 
while held for punishment, or for non-payment of fines, or costs, whether the 
judgment also embraces imprisonment, or is for fines and costs only, shall 
be put to hard labor on the public streets, alleys and sidewalks in the town 
of Fowler, or upon other pul)lic works." It is further provided in the order 
that necessary guards shall be employed to guard the prisoners whilst they 
are at work, who shall receive $1.50 per day, which shall be paid out of the 



318 HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 

county treasury, when the prisoners are at work on highwa3's out of 
town, and to be paid out of the town treasury when at work in the town of 
Fowler. It is also provided that when necessary in the opinion of the 
Sheriff, a ball and chain may be attached to any prisoner while thus at work 
on the streets or highwaj's. 

Cattle Disease in 1^68. — At a special session of the Board of Commis- 
sioners August 7, 18G8, the board being composed of Benjamin Hawkins, 
William Marvin and Robert M. Atkinson, it was ordered that, " Whereas, it 
is made to appear to this board that there is now, at this time, a disease 
prevailing among the native cattle of the county of Benton, State of Indiana, 
whereby the owners of said cattle are suffering great loss ; and, whereas, it 
is believed, and generally known to be communicated by cattle brought from 
the State of Texas, known and commonly called Texas cattle ; therefore, it 
is hereby ordered that said cattle, commonly known and recognized as Texas 
cattle, are hereby prohibited from running at large on the uninclosed lands 
in any of the townships of said count}' of Benton and State of Indiana, and 
this order is declared to be supplemental to an order heretofore made by 
this board, prescribing what animals shall run at large in the several town- 
ships of the county and State aforesaid." 

BENTON COUNTY BAR. 

Following are the names of the Benton County bar : Merrick & Travis, 
Walker & Phares, Smith & Gray, A. Cowgill, William Jones, Bi'own & 
Stewart, Straight & Wile}', Lee Dinwiddle, Charles Dailey, Jacob Benedict 
L. D. Hawley, Daniel Fraser, George Wads worth, John L. Richards, J . 
L. Pearson, George Hartley, William H. C. Isham, J. W. Cole and H. L 
Beckwith. 

PIONEERS AND THEIR ACTS. 

It is claimed that about the first sermon ever preached in Benton County 
was by Rev. James A. Carnahan, of Da3^ton, Ind. ; about the next were 
Revs. Homer and Casad, who preached in White Oak Grove, and old John 
Sargent, on Mud Pine, all being earnest workers in the cau' e of the Master, 
and, as a rule, preaching their sermons in the open air, in the shade of some 
beautiful grove, or by the fireside of the early settlers, there being no churches 
at that early date. None of these resided in Benton County. Among the 
first resident ministers were Revs. George Campbell, Evan Stevenson and 
William H. Calkins. 

Among the early physicians were Drs. Boone, Theophilus Stembel (who 
at that time practiced in all the territory west of the Wabash), I. H. Wright, 
Franklin Blades, Anson Hurd, Jesse Dailey, J. W. Barnes and W. M. 
Sleeper. 

The first resident lawyers were James F. Parker, Jacob Benedict and 
Daniel Mills, none of whom now reside in the county except Jacob Benedict. 

Among the early mechanics were Jonathan Vanhorn, on Mud Pine ; 
John W. Bradley, in McConnell's Grove ; Sanford Wilson and Mark Brier, 



HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY. 321 

in Oxford, and James P. Miller, on Big Pine, as blacksmiths ; George Brier, 
Joseph Carswell, John Ferguson, John P. Ross, George W. and John E. 
Bless, of Oxford, as carpenters ; E. Ferguson and Jacob Miller, of Oxford, 
as shoe-makers ; George Blanchfil, Ed White and Robert Wood were first 
in the line of harness and saddles ; T. E. Brake and Jacob S. Albaugh, 
wagon-makers, and ^lartin Benedict, stonemason. 

The first store in Benton Count}- was kept by Aaron Wood, in a little frame 
building in Oxford. The second, and on a much larger scale, was by Carn- 
ahan & Earl, of La Fayette, who built the first regular storeroom in Oxford, 
and stocked the same with general merchandise, Mr. James Vawter being 
for some time general clerk, who was succeeded b}- A. J. Carnahan. The 
first drug store was kept by Burns & Daile}-, afterward b}' Burns & Hurd, 
in Oxford. Theophilus Stembel, if not the first physician in the county, 
was, at least, among the first. He is still living, a short distance from Ox- 
ford. 

Surveyor Burtcell had a novel method of measuring land in those prim- 
itive times, which, in a prairie country, where there was no fallen timber or 
other obstructions, was equally as accurate as chain measurement, as well 
as being easier and more expeditious. It was done in this manner : He 
would take a wagon wheel, tic a string around one of the spokes, place the 
wheel upon the ground and revolve it once, and then measure the distance 
passed over in making the revolution, and the diameter of the wheel being 
known, it was a very easy and simple matter to determine the length of a 
line by rolling the wheel the full length of it, and keeping an account of the 
number of revolutions. 

pjlijah Litler, one of the landmarks of the count}', was a great stock 
drover, and was at one time Sheriff of the count}'. " Goshens " was his 
favorite word. He hated a negro like poison, and on being told that Christ 
said " Let little black children come unto me," he replied : " Is that so ? 
Well, goshens ! a smart man could explain it away." 

It is said that Judge McConnell put up the first pump. Prior to that 
time, a spring back of John Carnahan's shop supplied the town (Oxford) 
with water. One time John Wood was sent for a bucket of water, and after 
being absent for a half hour, he was heard to call for some one to " come 
and stop the blame thing." 

Thomas E. Brake, who settled at Oxford in 1855, made the first wagon, 
also the first buggy ever made in the county. Joseph Ilixson, of Boswell, 
has what is left of the first wagon. The buggy was made for W. R. 
Johnston, of Pine Township, and it is now owned by John Brooks. They 
were made about the year 1855. Benjamin Timmons built the first house 
(log) in Pine Township. 

There was a wolf hunt on the 17th of February, 1877, which was about 
the last, if not the last, ever held in the county. The starting point was 
the residence of William Wiley, on the Seabury farm. 

/imri Lewis was born in August, IS'.Vi, and Thomas J. McConnell was 

19 



322 HISTORY OP BENTON COUNTY. 

born in October 11, 1837. These were probably the first two children boru 
in the county. 

The favorite game of the Oxfordites, in former times, was "ball alley." 
The game consisted in knocking the ball against the wall of the court house , 
and repeating the operation in the rebound. Every failure to do so was 
marked against the player. The game was indulged in by old and young, 
doctors, lawj^ers and merchants indulging in the sport. 

The Justus House, in Oxford, which was destro3-ed by fire, was erected 
in 1860, by Basil Justus. It was a very large building for the place, being 
fifty feet wide by near a 100 feet long, and two stories high. The dining 
hall was flft}' feet long, and was often the scene of merry feet. Jacob Kiger 
traded a farm of 160 acres of land for the hotel, a short time before its 
destruction. When he returned from the fire to the farm he had left, his 
wife, who had opposed the trade, consoled him with the remark : " You have 
eighty acres left ; 3'ou might trade it for the other hotel." 

The most exciting event in Oxford's career occurred in 1863. Dr. Rowe 
disappeared suddenl}^ and a part of his clothes was found on Pine Creek. 
The Horse Company suspected Greorge King of his murder. He was taken 
out of his bed and threatened with instant death, unless he confessed. He 
confessed, and said that June Rogers, George Haggert and himself had 
murdered the man, and buried him on Pine Creek. June Rogers was sud- 
denly called on one night, a rope was placed round his neck, and he was in- 
vited to make his peace with his Maker, but he would not. He dared them 
to do their worst. Not feeling sutiSciently assured in their own minds of his 
guilt, they released him, and in a few da3's Dr. Rowe, the supposed mur- 
dered man, was found in Illinois. Suits for damages were instituted b}' 
some of the injured parties, and some of the regulators were made to pay 
dearly for their mistake. 

The writer hereof is indebted for many of the facts contained in this 
history to an address delivered by Luther D. Hawly, before the Old Set- 
tlers' Association, at a meeting held at Fowler July 4, 1874, which was pub- 
lished in pamphlet form ; and also to a supplement to the Oxford Tribune, 
July 4, 1882, containing a sketch of the early settlement of the countj^ 
written by the editor, Mr. J. P. Carr, Jr. 

" My task is done. The showman and his show. 
Themselves but shadows, into shadows go." — Whittier. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

BEJN^l^OI^ COUE'TY. 

TOWN OF FOWLER AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP. 

MRS. NANCY E. ATKINSON was born September 8, 1830. in Madi.son Coun- 
ty. Ohio, and is one of twelve cliildren born to William and Nancy (Pearson) Mc- 
Climans, the former of Irish and the latter of (4erman descent. At the age of ten 
years, her father died, and from that time until her marriage she lived at various 
nlaces, principally with relatives. Septembers, 18r)4. she was married to William 
N. Crosson, a resident of Ohio, and the year succeeding this event came to Benton 
County, Ind., and settled in Oak Grove Township, where her husband followed 
farming until his death, September 10, 1800. Three children— George L., Jolin C. 
and William A. were the result of this union, all of whom are living. Jimc 4, 1863, 
she was married to Robert M. Atkinson, who was born May 8, 1820. Mr. Atkinson 
followed farming, and in connection with this purchased and sold cattle. He also 
operated the elevator at Atkinson Station, and was Commissioner of Benton Count}'- 
for over twenty years, and was one of the most j)rominent men in the county. He 
died in February, 1881. To this union six children have been born, all of whom 
are living. Mrs. Atkinson slill resitles ujion, and in connection with her son. con- 
ducts the farm near Atkinson Station. The farm consists of between si.x and seven 
hundred acres of well-improved land, and has upon it one of the best houses in the 
county. 

J. F. BARNARD is a native Hoosier and was born in Tippecanoe Countj', Decem- 
ber 27, 1849. After attending the district schools of his neighborhood, he went to 
school at Battle Ground, and later removed to Prairie Township, White County, 
where he engaged in farming and going to school at Brookston. In 1874, he removed 
to Fowler, where he has since resided, and where he has been employed as book- 
keeper for O. Barnard & Co., and looking after his interest in the business of J. P. 
Smith & Co. He is one of the stirring men of Fowler, is a Republican, a member 
of the Blue Lodge in Masonry, and was married May 5, 1880, to Miss Jlary II. Mer- 
rick, by whom he is the fatiicrof two children— Mary and George. Mrs. Barnard 
is a member of the Methodist Ejiiscopal Church. 

BAILEY ct WARNER. The present partnership was formed in January, 1883, 
b}' Frank Bailey and I. W. Warner. Thej' carry silks, carpets, hats, caps, grocer- 
ies, etc., amounting in value to about $1.^.000, while their sales will probably aver- 
age animally about $45,000. Frank Bailej' is a native of Ashland County, Ohio, 
and was born May 27, 1841. being one of ten children, all living, born to Amaziali 
and Nancy (Van Tilburg) Bailey, natives of Ohio, and of English descent. He re- 
ceived a liberal education and served three months in the hite war in Company B, 
One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He had eidisted in 
August, 1862, for three years, but owing to protracted ill health was dis- 
charged in November of the same year. For a few years he was employed in 
teaching and going to school. In 1868, he emigrated to Indiana and first settled 
in Carroll County, afterward removing to White County. In the last -mentioned 
place he was engaged in farming and merchandising, eiglit months of the time;, as 
a partner of J. P. Warner, at Wolcott. Together they removed their stock of goods 
to Fowler in February, 1^^T4. Mr. Bailey retired from the firm in 1H7.T and em- 
barked in the grocery tr.ide alone, at the end of four years adding dry goods, and a • 
little later purchasing his former jiarlner's stock and con.solidating the two stores. 
In 1H82. he sold this store, but in 1S,S3, with his present partner, repurchased it. and 
has since been emi)loyedin its management. Mr. Baile}- isa Republie.in, lias served 
three years as Town Treasurer, and was married June 25, 1872, to Miss Elizabeth 
Warner, by whom he is the father of one daughter, Oma. I. W. Warner is a brolji- 
er of J. F. Warner, and was born in Fayette County, Ohio, August 5, 1853. Mov- 



324 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ing with his parents to Champaigu County, 111., whea two years old, he was there 
reared and educated. At sixteen years of age, he bei^an for himself, and on attain- 
ing his majority, left home and went to Wolcott, Ind., where he was engaged in 
merchandising in partnership with his brother, afterward with his present partner. 
In November, 1S74, he removed to Fowler, where he has since resided, engaged in 
mercantile pursuits, part of the time on his own responsibility, and part of the time 
in the capacity of clerk. He began life a poor boy, and what he now possesses was 
obtained l)y his own labor. December 25, 1873, he was married at Wolcott, to Miss 
Alice J. Lisk, and to their union three children have been born— Charlie, Oda and 
Freddie. Mr. Warner is a Republican, and one of the progressive citizens of Benton 
County. 

T.*A. BALDWIN, was born in Oak G-rovc Township, Benton County, Ind., 
j\Iarch 2M, iy59, and is a son of Ira and Phebe W. (Atkinson) Baldwin, who were 
pioneers of Beaton County. Mr. Baldwin received a good common school and aca- 
demical education, and when twenty years old began on his own account. For two 
and a half years he was a teacher in the Oxford Academy — his alma viater — and in 
1874 was elected Surveyor of the county, and re-elected in 1876, serving in all four 
years. During the winter months he taught public school three terms, but the fall 
of 1878 was elected County Recorder, and came to Fowler and entered upon the du- 
ties of his office. At the close of four years he retired, I'cfusing a renomination, 
and in March, 1882, formed a partnership withC. E. Head in a general store, but in 
Novemi)er of the same year Mr. Baldwin disposed of his interest, and immediately 
engaged in his present occupation. He has the only furniture store in the place, 
which is yielding him a good revenue, and his stock is valued at about $3,500. In 
addition, he has a hearse, and is doing the principal undertaking business of the 
town. Mr. Baldwin is one of the progressive business men of Fowler, and isamem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. and a Democrat. He was married October 25, 1882, to Miss 
Eva Mock, daughter of C. B. Mock, the present editor of the Fowler Era. 

OBED BARNARD was born December 5, 1833, in Washington County, Ind.. 
and is a son of John and Sophrona (Sottle) Barnard. His family moved to Tippe- 
canoe County, Ind., when he was seven years old; he attended school until he was 
twenty. He went to La Fayette and entered the grain business, continuing until 
1865, when he went to Brookston, in the same trade. In 1874, he moved to Fowler, 
still engaging in the grain business, which is now of great magnitude. He was one 
of the first Trustees of the town of Fowler, after the incorporation in 1875-76. 
Formerly he was a Whig, but is now a Republican. Mr. Barnard has been twice 
married, first January 30, 1849, to Elizabetli Jennings, of Tippecanoe County, Ind., 
who died, leavmg two sons. He next married. May 23, 1876, Elizabeth M. Barnes, 
of Battle Ground, by whom he is the father of one daughter. He is a member of 
the il. E. congregation. Mr. Barnard is at present extensively engaged in stock- 
raising, having on his farm near Fowler lOD head of fine Hereford cattle. 

BARNES & PAYNE. This partnership was established in May, 1881, and 
their stock consists of drugs, brushes, paints, oils, books, stationery, etc., to the 
value of about $5,000. Then- annual sales are between $10,000 and $15,000. For a 
country town, their stock is above the average. They are doing a large and remun- 
erative trade. S. T. Barnes, senior partner, was born at Battle Ground, in Tippe- 
canoe County, Ind., July 24, 1852. He is the youngest of nine children, two of 
whom are deceased, born to Samuel and Nancy (Rice) Barnes, natives of Ohio, and 
of Scotclf and Irish descent respectively. The father died March 14, 1863. but the 
mother yet resides at Battle Ground. S. T. Barnes received a good, practical edu- 
cation, and at the age of twenty-one became a drug clerk in his native town. At 
the end of two years, he went to Delphi, and for another year clerked in the drug 
store of W. F. Lytic, who became his partner at Rockfield, Ind., in 1876. In 1879, 
this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Barnes removing to Brookston, White County, 
where for about a year he^conducted a drug store; but in June, 1880, he came to 
Fowler, and, until his present partnership was formed, was associated in trade with 
J. M. Dickson. Mr. Barnes is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic order. 
He was married, May 14, 1878, to Miss OUa Head, a daughter of Truxton Head, of 
Brookston. Ind. To them have been born three children — Samuel T., born March 
2, 1879; Ethel, born May 31. 1880, and Raymond, born June 28, 1882. Only the eld- 
est is now living. The mother is a member of tUe Christian Church. James W. 
P.iyne, junior member of Barnes & Payne, is a Hoosier by birth, and was born in 
Tippecanoe County May 10, 1858. and is the youngest living of three children in a 
family of five, born to William and Elizabeth (Thomas) Payne, wlio were both born 
and reared in England. William Payne emigrated to the United States in 1839. and 
his wife in 1845. They were married in 1846. and in 1848 removed West to Tippe- 
canoe County, Ind., where they have since resided in Montmorenci, where Mr. 
Payne is engaged in wagon and carriage manufacturing. James W. Payne, after 



TOWN OF FOWLER AND CKNTllE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTV. 325 

attendino; the public schools of Montinorenci, until the age of nineteen, studied at 
Purdue University for one year. lie hegan teaching school, and followed this for 
three winter terms. In May, 1881, he cauie to Fowler. November 7, 1880, lie was 
married to Mi;<s Nellie Wortliin<rton. of La Fayette, Ind., and to their union has 
been born one daughter, Lela. Mr. Payne is a Republican, and his wife is a mem- 
ber of the !M. E. Church. 

JAMES S. BRADLEY. County Auditor, a native of Frederick County, Va., 
was born March \2, 1S49. He is a son of John W. Bradley, also a native of the Old 
Dominion, a blacksmith by trade, and who was twice married. In \S'y2, he (Jolin 
W.) and wife (who was formerly' Mary W. Ilaynie), emigrated to Indiana and lirst 
located at Attica, Fountain County, afterward in Warren County. In 186"), they re- 
moved to Benton County. Thcv were the parents of si.x children, five yet living; one 
son served in the late war. Tiie mother died November iH, 1875, l)ut the father is 
yet living and resides in O.xford with his second wife, Nancy J. Branson, wlio has 
borne him one son. James S. Bradley was reared chielly in Warren and Benton 
Comities, receiving only a common school education. From 18f)'.), he clerked in 
Oxford until February, 1874, when he accepted the position of Deputy County Au- 
ditor, serving about three years, when he was elected County Auditor liy the Repub- 
lican parly. After serving four years in this capacity, Mr. Bradley was re-elected, 
and is now serving his .second term. He was married in January, 1876, to Miss Su- 
sanna Balantyne. a daughter of Samuel Balantyue, and tlieir marriage has been 
blessed by the birth of three children— A. Beatrice, J. Ralph and Frank B. Mr. 
Bradley and wife are members of the Christian Church. 

O. C. BROCKWAY was born in Elk County, Penn., May IT), 1831. He received 
only limited schooling and worked on a farm until 1854, then migrated to Kankakee 
Count}-, 111., and purchased a farm. The same year, he visited Iowa, and again in 
1855, his last visit resulting in his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Brandenburg, daugh- 
ter of Nathaniel Brandenburg, who became a resident of Iowa in 18:38. Mr. Brock- 
way farmed, taught school, and for two years kept store in Kankakee County, until 
1876, when he removed to Fowler, Ind., which has since been his home, although 
for about two j^ears he was engaged in merchandising at Atkinson. His present 
stock is worth about $8,000, and he is doing a prosperous business. Mr. Brockway 
is a Republican and is the present Trustee of Center Township, having been elected 
in 1882. For five terms he was an officer of the Illinois State Grand Lodge, 
I. O. O. F., serving two terms as G. W. Treasurer. He and wife are members of the 
Baptist Church. They have had seven children — Ella, Mrs. (icorge Mellisli ; Lima, 
Mrs. C. J. Hempstead; ^lyrtle, Mrs. C. S. Crau; Laura. Clara, Clarence and Oscar. 
Mr. Brockway is one of eight living children in a family of eleven born toChauncey 
and Rhoda (>5'ichols) Brockway, natives of New York, and of English and Irish de- 
scent respectively. Chauncey Brockwaj' was born in 1798. served m the war of 
1812, has lived under the administration of every President of the United States, has 
been a member of the Baptist Church since 1815, and is yet living in Kankakee 
County, 111. His wife was born in 1797, joined the Baptist Church when eleven 
years old, and is still living in Kankakee County with her liusband. They have en- 
joyed a felicitous married life together of sixty-seven years. 

ISAAC BROWN is of New Hampshire birth, anil was born December 15, 1821. 
He was reared in his native State and received a common school education. He 
worked at painting for a number of years in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but 
when nineteen years old began teaching, and continued for fourteen years, also paint- 
ing and farming. From 1850 to 1860, he was farming and luml)ering in New Hamp- 
shire and a part of the time was manager of two saw mills. Ill health compelled 
him to give thi^upin I860, and the siime year he cam' to Illinois. Leasing a place in 
Champaign County, heen-i^aged in the stock busin<;ss. T!ie cold weather of 18i»2-63 
killed four hundred sheep and large quantities of other stock, value about $2,500. 
In 1863, he sold this propertj* and returned to New Hampshire. In 1866. he again came 
West and located on Section 21, Center Township, Benton Coimty. Ind , and in part- 
nership with Mr. Seabury purchased the whole of Section 21. and again engaged in 
stock dcalinir and farming. Mr. Brown owned land in Benton County until June, 
1882, when he sold out. and is now residing in Fowler. In 1S7(), he went to Texas and 
Mexico and dealt in stock several montlis. He has succeeded in making a good 
home. Mr. Brown is a Democrat, and for two years was a member of the New 
Hampshire Legislature, and has held other local positions. He was married. May 
23, 18.50, to Frances L. Bunday, and they have had four children — George B.. Char- 
lie II., decea.sed, Mary L. and Fr<'d A. Mr. Brown is a son of Aaron and Eda 
(Watts) Brown, both of whom were of English ancestry, and on the paternal sidt, 
of Puritan progenitors. 

SIMON F. CARTER, ex-Recorder and Clerk of Benton County, was born in 
Fountain County, Ind.. April 30. 1837, and is a son of Absalom and Barbara A. 



326 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

(Conrad) Carter, natives of Ohio. Soon after tlie birth of Simon F., his father died, 
after which his mother removed to Warren County, where she married Hiram Wil- 
kenson. To this marriage were born six children, and in 1848 tiie family removed 
to Oak Grove, now a part of Grant Township, Benton County, where Mr. Wilken- 
son died in 1852. Mrs. Wilkenson is living, and resides in Oxford. Simon F. Car- 
ter, in 1854, began learning the brickmason's trade, but was afflicted with white 
swelling, which unfitted him for heavy work. In 1855, he entered the printer's 
trade, on the Oxford Evening Mail, the first newspaper published in Benton County. 
Mr. Carter became proprietor and editor in 1858. He changed the name of his paper 
to Benton County Expositor, continuing this as a local county periodical, independ- 
ent in politics, for a few months; then sold out to Calvin Snyder, and the same year 
was appointed Postmaster at Oxford, in connection with which he handled ready- 
made clothing. In 1860, he was elected County Recorder, serving two terms. Soon 
after the expiration of these terms, he became connected with the Oxford Tribune, 
but in 1873 severed his connection witli this paper to enter the County Clerk's office 
as Deputy. In 1874, he was elected principal in this office, to .succeed Capt. Scott, 
SIS a compromise candidate. At the end of four years, he was re-elected on the Re- 
publican ticket, and served another term of four years. In November, 1883, he 
was admitted to the bar of Benton County, since when he has been engaged in legal 
pursuits. Mr. Carter has been twice married; first in 1862, to Ann Harper, who bore 
him tliree children — Laura B. (deceased), Frank and one that died in infancy. The 
mother departed this life March 17, 1867. In January, 1869, he married his present 
wife, Allie Miller, and to this union one daughter, Eva Anna, has been born. Mrs. 
Carter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Carter has become 
known all over the Union as a breeder of choice poultry. 

LEE DINWIDDIE, attorney at law and notary public, was born in Pine Town- 
ship, Warren County, Ind., November 4, 1854. His parents, John Dinwiddle and 
Matilda (Buckles) Dinwiddle, were natives of Ohio, where they were married Octo- 
ber 3, 1833, emigrating to Indiana in the fall of 1834, locating in the northern part 
of Warren County, south of Fowler, where they endured all the hardships and pri- 
vations of frontier life. They now reside in Newtown, Ind., and the 3d of October, 
1883, will be the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. They were accompanied to 
this country by the parents of Mrs. Dinwiddle, in a two-horse wagon, and the "old 
Buckles homestead " is yet familiar to the minds of all who live in that locality. 
Lee Dinwiddle, the youngest but one in a family of nine children, received the ad- 
vantages of a country school until nineteen years of age, when he entered the busi- 
ness world for himself. He gained a fair education, closing his schooling by a 
course in the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso. He began the study 
of law, in 1877, with Straight & Wiley, of Fowler, and in 1880 purchased the 
abstract books of Redding & Phares. He is now doing well in the legal and abstract 
business, and is one of the successful men of Fowler. January 12, 1881, he married 
Miss Annie Hinkley, who was born March 12, 1855, in Monmouth County, N. J., 
and is a member of the Christian Church. 

D. J. EASTBURN, editor and proprietor of the Benton County Review, is a na- 
tive of Iroquois County, 111., and was born May 10, 1845. He was reared on a farm 
until 1869, and attended the district schools. He afterward attended school at Bat- 
tle Ground, in Tippecanoe County, Ind., until 1864, when he entered Asbury Uni- 
versity, at Greencastle, Ind., from the classical department of which institution he 
graduated July 1, 1869. The season following, he served as Principal of the Kent- 
land High School, after wliich he embarked in the drug trade at Sheldon, 111., con- 
tinuing until the spring of 1874, when he sold out and removed to Hutchinson, Kan. 
He remained there only one season, then returned to Slieldou. and in 1875 purchased 
an interest in the Sheldon Enterprise, of which he became sole owner and editor 
three months later. In November, 18S0, he moved the press and material to Kent- 
land, Ind., and established the Newton County News, continuing the publication of 
that periodical until March 1883, when he leased the office, which was burned the 
month following in the Kentland disaster. March 5, 1883, Mr. Eastburn became a 
resident of Fowler, where he has since conducted the Benton Review. Under his 
management, the Revieic has become one of the leading local papers of Northwestern 
Ind., and an influential factor in Benton County. Mr. Eastburn is a Democrat. He 
is a fearless writer, an able editor and an excellent localist, which renders him well 
fitted for the work in which he is engaged. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, in the former order 
having advanced to the Knights Templar degree. He was married at Watseka, 
111., February 12, 1873, to Miss Carrie H. Lyon," and to them one daughter has been 
born— Ethel C, born December 1, 1873. Mr. Eastburn is a son of Jesse and Jane 
(Smedly) Eastburn, who settled in Iroquois County, 111., in 1835, and were the par- 
ents of nine children, four of whom are yet living. Jesse Eastburn died September 
3, 1873, but his widow yet survives him. 



TOWN OF FOWLER AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 327 

"WILLIAM R. IIARKRIDER, a native of Indiana, was born near Indianapolis. 
August 29. 1844. and when eigiit 5'ears old moved with his parents, Jacob and Min- 
erva (McCorniick) Ilarlvrider. to Warren County, Ind. His mother was twice mar- 
ried, lirst to Mr. Cooper who died, leaving one daughter. Mrs. Cooper afterward 
married Mr. Ilarkridcr, and to this marriage were born eleven children, all of whom 
are living, and all married e.xeepting one. The parents are still living. William R. 
Ilarkrider is the second born of this family, and while in youth received a limited 
education. August 14, IHOa, he enlisted in Company H. One Hundred and Sixteenth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served six months, receiving his discharge in 
March, 1864. He was in battle at Walker's Ford, and in several skirmishes. He 
worked as a carpenter about four years in Warren County. and November 10, 1867, was 
married to Elizabeth Mount. He became a resident of Btnton County in 1869, fol- 
lowed farming until 1880, and then embarked in the livery l)usiness at Fowler. 
Mr. Ilarkrider has one of the best stables in tlie county, comprising fifteen driving 
horses, and eleven first-class rigs. He has succeeded in building up a profitable 
business. Mr. Harkrider is a Democrat, and a member of the G. A. R.. and he 
and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. 

T. K. HARMAN, ex-Sheriff of Benton County, is a native of Centre County, 
Penn., and was born October 13, 1838. At the age of seven years, he, with his 
parents, came to Tippecanoe County. Ind. The parents resided there until 1854, 
when they moved to Benton County, and ten years later to near Remington, Jasper 
County, where both still reside. T. K. llarman is tlie eldest of eight children, five 
of whom are living, born to John and Harriet (Floe) Harman. He received a lim- 
ited education, and in May, 1861, enlisted in Company H, Tenth Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. "When the three months, for which time he had enlisted, had expired> 
Mr. Harman re-enlisted in the same company. He was discharged in December, 
1863, by reason of disability, but during his service participated in the battles of 
Mill Springs, Corinth. Perryville, Triune, Chickamauga, and numerous minor 
engagements. For about four years afterward, he was unable to do any hard work, 
but from that time until 1876, was engaged in farming and stock-dealing. The fall 
of that year, he was elected County Sheriff by the Republican party, and served in 
this capacity four years. In 1880, he embarked in the marble business, in which he 
has succeeded in establishing a good trade. He was married. February 4, 1877. to 
Miss May Grant, and they have had three children— Kate, Pearl (deceased) and 
Grace. Mr. Harman is a member of the Masonic order, I. O. O. F. and G. A. R., 
and is one of the enterprising men of the countv. 

J. K. HARTLEY was born October 16. 1844, in Hawkins County, Tenn. "When 
four years old, he removed with his parents. William L. and Matilda (Anderson) 
Hartley, to Ripley County, Ind. After completing a two years' course at Moore's 
Hill College, he engaged in farming two years, and, in 1867. began clerking in a dry 

foods store at Catlin, 111., where he was married December 16. 1868. to Miss Deborah 
. Hodges. Shortly after this event, he engaged in merchandising, and, in March, 
1871, together with his brotlier. George S.. removed to Indianola. and established a 
mercantile business. In 1877, they began similar business at Earl Park, Benton 
County. Ind., continuing three years, and for the ensuing four months traveled 
througli all the States and Territories of the "West. In August, 1^80, the Hartley 
brothers purchased their brick block, now occupied by A. Meyer, where thev con- 
ducted a successful mercantile business of about .^40,000 per annum, until March. 
1883, when they sold out, and in June, 18S3, J. K. Hartley and L. A. Warden iisso- 
ciated to^^ether in a general grocery business. Mr. Hartley is a Democrat, and was 
defeated by thirteen votes in the election of a joint Representative to the State 
Legislature from Benton and White Counties. He is a member of the Masonic and 
Odd Fellows fraternities, and he and wife have tw© daughters— Valley Pearl and 
Maud Golden. 

BENJAMIN HA"WKINS is a native of Butler County. Ohio, and was born 
October 2H. 1813. He is one of six living children, in a family of nine l)nrn to Levi 
and Mary Hawkins, natives, respectively, of South Carolina and (Jcorgia, and of 
English and Welsli descent. The grandfatlier of Levi Hawkins emigrated to Amer- 
ica Ix'fore the Revolutionary war, and settled on the James River, in Virginia, 
where he embraced the Quaker religion. He afterward settled in Soutli Carolina, 
where he passed the remainder of his life. His son. the grandfather of the subject, 
being opposed to slavery, emigrated into Oiiio in 1S0,5, where lie afterward died. 
Levi Hawkins and family removed to Tippecanoe County. Ind., wlieic he and wife 
died in is:{:{ nnd 1H"J6 re.-<pectively. Benjamin Hawkins' education was only such as 
was afforded at that early day. In October, 1834. he married Eli/.abetli Lett, who 
died September 'JH. 1H4.S, leaving five children, four of whom ;ire yet living. His 
second wife. Mrs. Sarah (Baugh) Jones, to whom lie was married in 1849. died in 
1875, leaving him three children, all living in Fowler. He and his present wife. 



328 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Sarah A. (Brown) Hollingswortb, were married in April, 1878. Mr. Hawkins, after 
aiding his children to a considerable extent, still owns 160 acres of land in Benton 
County, besides good town property in Fowler. He was first a Whig, but became 
a Republican in 1856. For twelve consecutive years, beginning in 1856, he has 
served as one of the Commissioners of Benton County. Although reared a Quaker, 
he has for the past forty years been a member of the M. E. Church. Three sons 
served their country faithfully in the late war, two throughout the entire rebellion, 
and one, a year, the latter being discharged for disability. 

W. B. HIXSON (firm of J. P. Smith & Co.), was born in Attica, 
Ind., March 6, 1843, and is a son of Andrew and Esther (Brady) Hixson, who re- 
moved to Warren County, Ind., about 1848, and began farming in Prairie Township, 
where our subject's mother yet resides, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. 
His father died in 1854. W. B. Hixson is one of tlu-ee surviving children in a 
family of eight, and was reared on a farm, receiving limited educational advantages. 
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infan- 
try, serving in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, New Hope 
Church, Kenesaw Mountain, and the siege of Atlanta. He was made prisoner at 
Stone River, but was kindly allowed, by the confederates, to take care of his broth- 
er, Lieut. Jackson Hixson, who was severely wounded at that engagement. In 1864, 
he was appointed Commissary Sergeant of the regiment, and was finally discharged 
at Nashville, in June, 1865. Until 1869, he was engaged in farming in Warren 
County, and then became a resident of I3enton County. He is a supporter of the 
Democratic party, by whom he was elected County Treasurer in 1876, and re-elected 
in 1878. Besides his interests in the firm of J. P. Smith & Co., he owns 340 acres 
of land near Earl Park, and 260 acres near Fowler. Mr. Hixson and wife are the 
parents of this family— Lettie I., Lottie M., Susan E., LeRoj'^ T., Ella G. and 
Bertha R. 

HENRY V. T. HULS, a native of Yates County, N. Y., was born October 30, 
1825, and is one of seven living children in a family of nine born to James and Sally 
(Pruden) Huls, both natives of New York, and of German and English descent 
respectively. Henry V. T. Huls moved with his parents to Illinois in 1843, where 
both parents afterward died. In 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Moore, a native 
of Washington County, N. Y. With the exception of three years, while in Iowa, 
farming and merchandising, he resided in Kane County, 111., engaged in agricultural 
pursuits until the breaking-out of the rebellion, and September 6, that year, 
enlisted in Company A, Eighth Illinois Cavalry. On the 11th of the following 
February, he was made Quartermaster of the Third Battalion of the Eighth Illinois 
Cavalry, serving as such until he was honorably mustered out of service on the 5th 
of August. 1862. Mr. Huls participated in the engagements of Winchester, Cold 
Harbor, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, and was discharged at 
Harrison's Landing by special order from the War Department. He was engaged 
in various pursuits in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, until 1873, when he 
came to Fowler. He is at present engaged in milling. Mrs. Huls died in 1869 in 
Clifton, Iowa, and was buried at Columbus City. To her union with Mr. Huls 
seven children were born, only three — Herbert, Jessie and Pearl — yet living. Mr. 
Huls is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., of Fowler, of which organ- 
ization he is second in command. 

HENRY JACOBS, a native of Greene County, Ohio, was born June 7, 1814, 
and is the second of eight children, five of whom are living, born to James and 
Mary (Welsh) Jacobs, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, and of Dutch 
and Welsh descent. Until eighteen years old, Henry Jacobs lived in his native 
county assisting his father at shoe-making. He had no school advantages, but by 
industry educated himself. In 1832, the family emigrated to Indiana, then a new 
country, and while on the way to Greencastle, where they afterward settled, his 
mother's death was caused by a fall, and she lies buried three miles east of Indian- 
apolis. The family lived in Putnam, Fountain and Warren Counties. His father 
died in Warren County in 1853. In 1836, Henry moved to Independence, Warren 
County, and opened a shoe shop. He was married. May 18, 1836, to Miss Rachel 
Runyon. They have had ei^ht children — Rufus; Addeline, now Mrs. George Grim- 
mette of Frankfort, Ind. ; Andrew J., a soldier who was killed in the engagement 
at Stone River; Tabitha, deceased; Anna.deceaseJ; Harriet, deceased; Caroline, now 
Mrs. G. J. Lobdell. of Fowler, and Henrietta, deceased. From Independence, Mr. 
Jacobs moved to West Point, Tippecanoe County, and followed shoe-making there 
about ten years. In company with Adams Earl, of La Fayette, he engaged in mer- 
chandising at Rainsville in 1853, but in 1871 he discontinued this and embarked in 
agricultural pursuits near Rainsville. In 1873, he brought the first stock of goods to 
Fowler, then a village of about thirty inhabitants. In 1879, he discontinued mer- 
chandising, since when he has been engaged in general brokerage business. His 



TOWN OF FOWLER AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. '> 329 

wife died January 30. 1881, and lies by the side of her children at Rainsville. Mr. 
Jacobs is a Rt'publican. For forty years lu; has Ijeen a member of the Odd Fellows., 

B. F. JOHNSON, Superinteiidcnt of tlie schools of Benton County, is a native 
of Muskingum County, Ohio, and was born at Zanesville October 4, 1847, and is a 
son of Abel and Sarah (Smith) .Johnson, wlio were of English and Franco-German 
descent respectively. The family emigrated to Huntington County, Ind., in 1850, 
and three j-ears later removed to Wells County, where they still reside. B. F. John- 
son attended the common .schools, and for one year was a student at RidgevilleCol 
lege. In 1868, he became a public teacher, and his first si.x terms were ecjually di- 
vided between Indiana and Illinois. For eight years he was Principal of the schools 
of Montpelier, Ossian and Oxford, but in iwi was elected Superintendent of the 
schools of Benton County. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and 
is a Republican. November 8, 1878, he was united in marriage to Mary C. Fox. 
This union has been blessed by three children— Louise M., Lee F. and Edward M. 
The parents are member of the Baptist Cluirch. 

G. W. JONES & BROTHER. This lirm was first established in September, 
1877, as Jones & Johnson, and for four years the partnership continued, carrying a 
stock of drugs in value about $.'5,000. The firm became G. vV. Jones & Brotiier in 
September. 1881. They carry drugs, paints, oils, patent medicines and stationery, 
amounting in value to §3, .500, and thej' transact an average annual business of 
about .$10,000. George W. Jones is a native of Indiana, and was born Jul}- G, 18.50, 
in Bartholomew County. He is one of five surviving children in a family of seven 
born to Worden P. and Elizabeth N. (Richardson) Jones, the former deceased, the 
latter yet living. He received an academical education, and with his brother, Edgar 
A., succeeded his father, who died in 1871, in the drug trade, at Hope, Ind. A year 
later he began clerking in a drag store at Indianapolis; remained there four years, 
and then came to Fowler. In September, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Emma A. Nelson, and by her he is the father of one son — Roscoe N., born June 1, 
1880. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Christian Church. 

Ei.DuN F. JoNKs was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., September 28, 
1861; was there reared, and attended the graded schools of Hope, afterward taking a 
collegiate course at Franklin College. He clerked in a grocery store at Hope for 
one year, then came to Fowler, and has since been associated in the drug trade with 
his brother. 

.MARTIN McCASLIN,'a native Hoosier, was born in Marion County October 
29. 1'843, and is the second in a family of six children born to George and Hannah 
(Martindale) McCaslin, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana. George McCaslin 
was one of the pioneers of Marion CountJ^ locating there as early as 1830, and, 
being a millwright by trade, erected some of the first mills on White River. He 
and wife are living in Marion County on a farm, a few miles from the State capital. 
For thirt}' years, Martin McCaslin lived on the farm where he was born. Receiving 
but a limited education in youth, he began for himself at twenty years of ago, and 
until 1873 had charge of the home farm. June 11, 1873. he was married to Lydia A. 
Nelson, and in November of the same year moved to lloopeston. 111., and engaged 
in merchandisiuf^. continuing until 1879, when he moved to Fowler, which has since 
been his home. Mr. McCaslin is a Democrat, and to him and wife two children have 
been born — Carl and Paul. 

JOHN F. McCONNELL was born October 26, 1831, in Warren County, Ind., 
and is one of ten children born to David and Mary (Moore) ]^IcConnell. For a 
sketch of the father, see biography of Judge David McConnell, Oak Grove. John 
F. McConnell received his education in the log schoolhouses of the frontier, and at- 
tended the first day of tlie first term of school ever taught in the county, the teacher 
being ins uncle, Samuel McConnell. He has follower! the business of farming all 
his life, and has never left Benton County since his first .settlement in it. He lived 
with his father until ai)out twenty-nine years of age, when he was married, and 
lived in Oxford until 1873, wh(m he came to Center Township and purchased a farm 
of 140 acres, upon which he still resides, and has erected upon it one of the best 
houses in the county. He gives some attention to stock-raising, and is a member 
of Summit Grange, No. 247. Mr. McConnell was married. May 29. 1862. to Elenore 
Menefee, a native of the Old Dominion, and ten children have blessed this union, 
nine of whom are yet living. In politics, Mr. McConnell is a Democrat, and is one 
of the oldest settlers in the countv. 

J. B. McKINNEY came to" Fowler, Benton County. Ind.. in March, 1881, 
erected the building on the corner of Fifth and A'lams .streets, and in connection 
with his brotiier, wlio conducts a similar business at Red Key, Ind., opened a hardware 
and implement store. He has oiieof tlie largest and best selected stocksof hardware 
and implements in the county, and is agent for the Moline plows. Deer's corn planters, 
and McCormick's harvesters, and also carries a very large stock of shelf hardware 



330 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and stoves. In 1882, he transacted a business of $41,000, and during 1883 will exceed 
that amount by more than $4,000. Mr. McKinney was born in Jay County, Ind., 
December 11, 1850, and is one of nine children in the family of Joseph J. and Eliza- 
beth (Maitlan) McKinney. The former traces his ancestry to four brothers who 
came to Penn.sylvania from Ireland about two hundred years ago; the latter is of 
Scotch descent, and both are natives of Ohio, but removed to Jay County, Ind., 
where the former practices law, and oversees several farms of which he is the owner. 
He was for four years a member of the Indiana State Legislature. J. B. McKinney 
was married, November 10, 1873, to Sarah J. Dunn, a native of Franklin County, 
Ohio, and they have three children — Arthur D., Nellie A. and Harley J. Both 
parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. McKin- 
ney is a Democrat. 

W. T. McNEIL, attorney at law, is a native of Montgomery County, Ind., and 
was born January 26, 1853. He removed with his parents, Jesse G. and Lavina 
(Holloway) McNeil, to Benton County in April, 1860, where he was principally 
reared. His father, who served Benton County as Surveyor for ten years, is yet liv- 
ing, and resides in Grant Township, but his mother died April 1, 1882. After at- 
tending the common schools of Benton County, he completed his schooling with a 
course at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. At eighteen years 
of age, he began his career as a pedagogue, and this vocation he has plied for fifty- 
six months in Benton County. In May, 1878, he became editor and proprietor of the 
Oxford Tribune, and conducted that periodical until September, 1880, when he sold 
out, and in February, 1881, established the Fowler Eye. For over a year he con- 
tinued the publication of the Eye, making a success of it in every respect; he then 
sold it, and it was then merged into the RepuUicnn, and afterward converted into 
the Era. Since his retirement from journalistic work, Mr. McNiel has devoted his 
attention to the study of law and working insurance. In politics, he is an uncom- 
promising Republican, and although a member of no church, is of the Methodist 
Episcopal faith. 

DR. J. S. MAVITY, a Hoosier by birth, was born in Ripley County February 
19, 1845, and is one of six children, five of whom are living, born to David J. and 
Lurania B. (Davis) Mavity, natives of Virginia, and who were there married. They 
emigrated to Ripley County, Ind., in 1836, and there Mr. Mavity died August 7, 
1872, but his widow survives him and resides with her son. Dr. J. S. Mavity at- 
tended Moore's Hill College in Dearborn County, Ind., for a number of years, after- 
ward teaching school in Indiana and Illinois six years. He began the study of 
medicine under Drs. Smith & Wagner, of Newman, 111., and in 1870-71 attended the 
State Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis. The latter year he opened an office 
in Tipton, Ind., and remained there just five years, then came to Fowler, where he 
has since resided. As a practitioner. Dr. Mavity has met with success, as his exten- 
sive practice indicates. He is a Republican, and is the present Health Officer of 
Benton County He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and Mrs. Mavity is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. September 6, 1868, he was married to Miss 
Mary A. Hart, a native of Franklin County, Ind., and to their union have been 
born six children— Roliert Ernest (deceased), David Everett, Joseph Halles, Agnes 
(deceased), William Asher and Helen. 

MERRICK & TRAVIS, attorneys and counselors at law, and adjustors of land 
titles, formed their partnership at Fowler in March, 1875, and have since been rec- 
ognized as one of the prominent legal firms of the Benton Coimty bar. They have a 
complete set of abstracts of land titles for the county, and in this branch are doing 
an extensive business. Thomas L. Merrick, the senior partner, was born in Wabash 
County, Ind., June 7, 1842, and is one of four surviving children in a family of six 
born to Isaac and Margaret (Latchem) Merrick, natives of Dover, Del. The parents 
moved to Fayette County, Ind., in 1885, and afterward to Wabash County. Isaac 
Merrick was a carriage-maker and trimmer by trade, but after coming to the Hoosier 
State, farmed until his death in December, 1870. His widow and three children are 
yet living in Wabash County. Thomas L. Merrick was reared and educated in his 
native county. He enlisted as a private in Company F, One Hundred and First 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1862. He participated in the Milton en- 
gagement, Mission Ridge, and some severe skirmishes. By reason of ill-health he 
was relieved from active field work after the last named battle, and until his dis- 
charge in July, 1865, was on detached duty. He began the study of law with Pettit 
& Cowgill, of Wabash, and in 1'867 located in Oxford for the practice of his profession. 
At the time of his location, he was the third attorney then practicing in the county. 
In 1875, he removed to Fowler, which has since been his home. He is a Republican, 
and in 1870 was elected State's Attorney for the counties of Benton, White and Car- 
roll. He is the present Noble Grand of Fowler Lodge No. 460, I. O. O. F. He was 
married June 29, 1875, to Miss Jennie Hawkins. They have one daughter— Laura. 



TOWN OF FOWLER AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 331 

Mrs. Merrick bolonj^s to the Methodist Episcopal CImrch, and is the daui^hter of 
Robert Iliiwkiiis, one of the old pioneers of Benton County. Henry S. Travis is a 
native of Peunsylvania, and was bora in Annstroni? County. September 4, 18t8. 
His father. Stephen Travis, was l)orn in ISOO, and died June 14. 18">1. His mother, 
Frances Travis (her maiden name was the same as her husband's), was born in 
1807, and died at Rensselaer June 13, 1873. Henrv S. Travis received only one 
year's sehoolinj; in youth, but perseverance under ditfl';ulties enabled him to secure a 
teacher's twelve months' certiticate wlien twenty years old. With the proceeds 
derived from one term's teaching, he became a student at Illinois State Normal 
School, where he remained two .school years; then came to Rensselaer, Ind., and 
taught tlie intermediate department in tlie graded schools one term. In 1870, he 
began the stud}' of law with Dwiggins ct Thonipson, and a year later became a 
partner of the senior member of that firm, under the name of Dwiggins & Co. At 
the end of about one year, this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Travis moving to Ox- 
ford, Benton County, where he continued practicing law until his removal to Fowler 
in 1875. He is a Republican, and in 1878 was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the 
Thirtieth Judicial Circuit, serving two years. May 7, 1871, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Josie Halstead, daugliter of David T. Ilalstead, one of the old set- 
tlers of Jasper County, and they are the parents of four sons— Guy, David, Ray and 
Leigh. 

A. MEYER began business first in Fowler as a butcher in November, 1875, and 
continueil six years with success. For the succeeding two years he was engaged in 
the hotel business, first as proprietor of the Fowler House, and, after it was burned, 
of the Summit House. March 10, 1883, he embarked in liis pn^sent business, which 
has averaged $2,00') per month. He carries a full and complete line of dry goods, 
hats, caps, boots, shoes, groceries, queensware and glassware, amounting in value to 
about $10.00 •. Mr. ^lej'cr is a native of Strasbourg. France, and was born October 
13, 1837. He had excellent schooling advantages, and, besides his native language, 
speaks German, Hebrew and English equally well. In 18(55, he crossed the Atlan- 
tic, and until his location in Benton County traveled all over the United States, 
from New York to California, working at the butcher's trade. On his location in 
Fowler, ten years after his arrival in this country, Mr. Meyer had'ouly $11, but by 
persistent pluck and good business management, he has ac(iuired valuable property. 
Owing to a too generous disposition, he has at different ^times lost thousands of 
dollars by having to pa}' security debts for friends, but he has never failed to gain 
the ground thus lost. He is a Republican. Mr. Meyer has been twice married, first 
in Strasbourg, France, to Rosali Block, who died in the old country in 1866, leaving 
three children, all of whom are living. He married his present wife, Olive Lent, in 
1874. at New Y'ork. 

JOHN E. MITCHELL, a native of Wyoming County, N. Y., was born April 4, 
1837, and is one of three children, two yet living, born to Gilbert and Abbey (Dodge) 
Mitchell, natives of Colchester, Conn., and of Irish descent. John E. Mitchell was 
educated at the district schools, and began working at the painter's trade when 
fourteen years old, but two years later began blacksmithing. He served a three 
years' apprenticeship in Albion, Mich., and in 1857, opened a shop in Chalmers, 
White County, Ind.. where, on the 9th of November, 1857, he married Jane E. An- 
derson, and the year following removed to (Jolburn, Ind., where he remained until 
1861. In October of that year, he enlisted in Company C, Forty-sixth Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry; served at the battle of New Madrid, after which he was detailed as 
blacksmith. He received his discharge in September, 1864. and located at Pyrmont, 
Ind. In March, 1869, he opened a shop at Hickory Grove. In March. 187'2, he raised 
the first building in Fowler, it being a blacksmith shop, on the corner of Washing- 
ton avenue and Fourth street. He was the first Postmaster of the phue. and has 
remained here ever since, steadily engaged at his trade. February 13, 1S33, he pat- 
ented a new cultivator plow. He has disposed of half of his interest to Mr. Adams 
D. Raul). They expect to introduce their patent over the whole country. Mr. Mit- 
chell is a Republican, a member of the liluc; Lodge in Masonry, and he and wife are 
parents of three living children — Sarah E., Wilbur L. and Gili)ert D. 

WILLIAM MOORE, Treasurer of Benton County, is a native of Adams County, 
Ohio, ancl was born October 30, 1S17. In March, 1H31, his parents, \Villiam and 
Keziah f Baldwin) Moore, emigrated to Warren County. Ind., and entered Govern- 
nicnt land, wiiich they imitroved and lived on the rcniaindcr of their lives. Will- 
iam Moore, subject of this l)iograi)hy. is one of twelve children, seven of whom arc 
living. He was reared on a farm, and had a common school education. At the age 
of eighteen, he began working for himself. In 1S40, he was married to Elizabeth 
Moore (no relation), and the fall of that year came to Benton County, and settled 
in what is now Bolivar Township (then a part of Oak Grove), and erecting a cabin, 
began farming. He rern.iined there until \xi'>\). then moved to Tippecanoe County, 



332 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

for the purpose of educatiiii^ his children at the Battle Ground School. He was en- 
gaged in various pursuits here until his return to Bolivar Township, Benton County, 
in 1873. He was elected County Treasurer in 1880. Mr. Moore is a Republican, but 
previous to 1856 was a Democrat. He began life a poor boy, but by economy and 
industry has accumulated comfortable surroundings. He and wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have had born to them the following children: 
Sarah C, now Mrs. M. C. Barnes, of Crawfordsville; John S. (deceased), Rebecca 
(deceased), James 0., a merchant of Fowler; Luella H., Deputy County Treasurer. 
and Grace. 

A. J. PURDY, M. D., is of Hoosier birth, and was born in Clifton County, 
April 2, 1849. He is the third of eight children born to George F. and Mahala 
(Luddington) Purd3% natives of Onondaga County, IST. Y., and of Scotch and Ger- 
man descent respectively. The family removed to Ohio in 1843, and later to Kirk- 
lin, Clinton County, Ind., where the father of Dr. Purdy first engaged in farming, 
afterward in mercantile pursuits. He died in 1878, but his widow yet survives him, 
and resides in Kirklin. A. J. Purdy was reared in his native county, and was edu- 
cated in the public schools, afterward attending three years at school in Frankfort. 
In 1869, he became a student of Dr. C. H. Smith, of Kirklin, and the winter of 
1872-73 attended lectures at the University of Butler, at Indianapolis. March 5, 
1873, Dr. Purdy came to Fowler, then a village of about thirty inhabitants — and be- 
gan the practice of medicine. Being the first physician to locate at this place, his 
practice increased with the growth or the town, and he has been remarkably suc- 
cessful. The winter of 1879-80 he attended half a term of lectures at his old alma 
mater, which had since taken the name of the Medical College of Indiana, but, 
owing to sickness in his family, was unable to complete his course; but the term of 
1880-81 he graduated from that institution, receiving his degree of M. D. Dr. Purdy 
is one of the enterprising citizens of the place. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
and is a Republican. October 28, 1878, he was married to Miss Leah Ellen Kutz, 
and three children have blessed their union — Cecil F., Leonora and Zerah M. The 
mother is a member of the Christian Church. 

WILLIAM ROMEL was born February 4, 1848, in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and 
is one of eight children born to Henry and Margaret (Sturch) Romel, both natives 
of Germany. Henry Romel was born July 30. 1814, and received a common school 
education in his own language. He has followed the business of farming all his 
life, having owned a farm in Germany. In about 1835, he was married and in 1854 
moved with his family to Oxford, Benton County, Ind., where he rented and worked 
farms until 1868, when he came to Center Township and bought the farm of 80 
acres upon which he still resides. William Romel received a good practical educa- 
tion in the common schools of Benton and Warren Counties, has always followed 
the business of farming and has always lived with his father's family. In 1876, he 
bought a farm of eighty acres and has since added 40 acres. Mr. Romel still re- 
mains unmaiTied, and in politics both he and father are Democrats, and old settlers 
and prominent men of the county. 

AYERS SANDERS was born May 17, 1830, in Washington County, Penu., and 
is one of fourteen children born to Absalom and Phebe (Ayers) Sanders. Absalom 
Sanders was a native of New Jersey and when about eight years of age moved with 
his parents to Washington County, Penn., where he obtained his education, which 
was limited on account of the meager school facilities of that time. He followed 
farming all his life and died in Pennsylvania in about 1852. He and wife were mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. Ayers Sanders received his education in his na- 
tive State, lived with his father's family until he was about twenty j^ears of age, and 
then farmed out until 1864, and in that year came to Center Township, and lived on 
the place now owned b}^ Benjamin Speers, staying there two years, when he came to 
the farm of eighty acres, previously bought, upon which he still resides. He and wife 
are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is an Elder in tliat society. Mr. 
Sanders was married, October 8, 1842, to Eliza1)eth Baine. a native of Pennsylvania, 
and one son, Simon S., was born to this union. Mrs. Sanders died January 13, 
1844, and Mr. Sanders was next married, in December, 1846, to Maria Dodd, and 
two children were the result of this union. Mrs. Maria Sanders died April 16, 1855, 
and June 5, 1856, Mr. Sanders married Mrs. Catharine Mahafy. In politics, he is a 
Republican, and one of the early settlers of the county. 

MICHAEL SCANLON, County Sheriff, is a native of Virginia, and was born 
November 27, 184S. He is one of nine children, six yet livihg, born to Morris and 
Naacy (Connor) Scanlon, natives of Ireland, and who came to the United States 
abou!>i§28. Morris Scanlon followed farming after coming to Tippecanoe County, 
Ind., in 1850. He died in the latter place in 1857, bat his widow is living and re- 
sides near Boswell. Michael Scanlon was reared in Tippecanoe and Benton Coun- 
ties, and since 1864 has made his home in Benton County. He received a common 



TOWN OF FOWLER AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 333 

school education, and when twenty years of age began doing for himself. In Feb- 
ruary. 18(55, he enlisted for the war in Company K, One Hundred and Fiftieth Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry, and until the close of the war was situated in the Shenan- 
doah Valley. After the war. he came hack to Grant Township and remained there 
until November, 1.S82, when he was elected to his present po.sition. Mr. Scanlon is 
a member of the G. A. R. at Boswell and is a Democrat. 

NEWTON SHEETZ, Recorder of Benton Count., is a native of this county, 
and was b(un in Pine Township, July 8, 18.56. His home was with his parents until 
he attained his majority, and in 1878 he began his public career as Deputy Count_> 
Sherilf, but in 188"2 was elected to his present position, in which capacity he has 
since served. John R. Sheetz. his father, and one of the pioneers of Benton Coun- 
ty, was a native of the Old Dominion, born in 1827. He came with his parents, 
John and Isabelle (Parker) Sheetz, to Indiana in the year of his birth, and was rear- 
ed chiefly in Benton County. His education was but limited, having been confined 
to the schools of that earl}' day, and his occupation through life was farming. He 
was an honest and industrious man, and by hard work and economy acquired a 
good home. In 1852, he was united in marriage with Lucy Tcmpleton, and to their 
union were born the following children: Frances, Mrs. D. J. Eastburn; Newton, 

g resent County Recorder; James L., a farmer of White County; Agnes L., Deputy 
ounty Recorder; William, Isabell, Minnie, Johnnie, deceased, and Albert. 

DAWSON SMITH, attorney at law, is a native of England and was born in 
Yorkshire, March 25, 1840. At the age of eight years he was employed in a woolen 
factory. His education was obtained by self culture. In 1860, he was married to 
Emily Thomas, and January 7, 1864, set sail for the United States, leaving his wife 
and family behind. On his arrival, lie joined Company C, Eleventh Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry, and served through the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, 
at the siege of Petersburg, and on the Appomattox when Lee surrendered. He was 
discharged June 16, l865, and for two years he worked at his trade in different fac- 
tories in the New England States. His family arrived in July. 1865, but the fall of 
the same year the)' were attacked bj' typhoid fever and none survived. In 1868, Mr. 
Smith came to Mouticello, White Co., Ind., and took charge of the woolen mills at 
that place. December 24, 1868, he married Miss Tillie Hackenburg. In 1869, he 
went to Fairbury, 111., and embarked again in the manufacture of woolen goods, 
but by the treachery of his partner, he was left penniless, and $400 debt to pay. 
This he paid off in time, but in 1871, went to Leavenworth, Kan., and started a 
woolen factory for Eastern capitalists. The same year, he returned to Fairbury, and 
for three j'ears was Superintendent of the coal mine at that place, during which 
time he also studied law. Mr. Smith located in Fowler, the fall of 1874, for the 
practice of his profession, and has met with success. He is a Democrat, and for two 
years has held the office of County Attorney; is a member of the G. A. R. and is an 
Agnostic. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JACOB SMITH, in March, 1875, established the first boot, shoe, hat, cap, and 
glove store in Fowler, with a stock valued at about §5,000. The year preceding 
this, he erected his present store building, a two storj' brick 20x60 feet. Plis business 
has so increased as to necessitate an |8, 000 selected stock of goods. He transacts 
an average annual business of between $18,000 and |2 '.OOO. Mr. Smith is a native 
of Stark Count)'. Ohio, and was born December 22, 1835. With his parents, Michael 
and Mary (Smith) Smith, he removed West in 1844, and located in Miami County, 
Ind. He received a common school education and at nineteen years of age, learnt 
the boot and shoe maker's trade. He served a three years' apprenticeship, and for a 
year following worked as a journeynum. In 1S57, he opened a shoe shop in Gilead, 
Ind., and for eighteen years remained in business at that place. From there he 
came to Fowler, which has since been his home. Mr. Smith is of German descent, 
his parents bein^ natives of Alsace, Germany. He is a Republican, a member of 
the Blue Lodge m Masonry, and is the President of the Board of Trustees of Fowler. 
September 6, 18.56, he was united in marriiige with Miss Susan Iloaglin, and they 
have had five children — Alice, deceased; William D., deceased; Minnie, Cornelius 
T. and Ida. The parents are members of the Mctiiodist Episcopal Church of Fowler. 

J. P. SMITH & CO. This firm was first established by J. P. Smith. J. F. Bar- 
nard and J. M. Dixon, in August, 1877, with a cash capital of $4,' OO. Until the 
summer of 1N78, they dealt almost exclusively in lumber, coal and farm wagons. 
They then added an agricultural implement store. In August. 1^79, Mr. Dixon's 
interest was purchased by W. B. Hix.son. the firm name remaining as before, after 
which their implement trade was discontinued, and an extensive ice trade was es- 
tablished. The fall of 1879. they began to ship tile into Fowler. In onler to obtain 
tiling cheaper, they employed experts to examine the soil near Fowler, which 
proved to be of a superior. quality for either brick or tile. They erected a factory, 
the fall of 1882, the shed of which was 20x150 feet. They built one kiln, added 



334 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

some of the best and latest machinery, and before the season was over the demand 
necessitated increased capacity. In April, 1883, they lengthened their shed to 550 
feet, and built two more kilns, while the drying capacity was increased by three 
tiers of portable shelves throughout the entire shed. Each kiln has a capacity of 
three car loads, while the present drying power is eighteen car loads. The machin- 
ery has a capacity of about three car loads per day, and the firm transacts an aver- 
age weekly business, in this branch alone, during the season, of $9 0. The annual 
business done aside from this, will average $12,000, and their ice trade, for which 
they have a storage capacity of 350 tons, forms an important factor in their business. 
Their firm is one of the most prosperous in Western Indiana. J. P. Smith is a na- 
tive of South Carolina, and when eight years of age removed with his parents, A. 
M. and Minerva C. (Wagcrman) Smith, to Hamilton County, lud. The spring of 
1873, he became a clerk in the store of H. Jacobs, at Fowler, and a year later asso- 
ciated himself in partnership with Mr. Gaddis in the lumber trade, under the title of 
Smith & Gaddis. At the expiration of six months. Mr. Smith purchased his part- 
ner's interest, and conducted the business alone until 1875, when he sold out, and 
in 1877, became interested in the above firm. 

MAHLON D. SMITH, Clerk of Courts of Benton County, a native of Montgom- 
ery County, Ind., was born June 17, 1843. He is the youngest son of six children, 
five of whom are yet living, born to Isaac and Hannah (Gaskill) Smith, natives of 
Virginia and New Jerse3% and of German and English descent respectively. Mr. 
Smith is yet living in Montgomery County, but his wife died in December, 1881. 
M. D. Smith was reared in Montgomery County, and after attending the public 
schools, studied at Stockwell Collegiate Institute in Tippecanoe County for three 
years. In 1870, he began the study of law at Crawfordsville, in the office of M. D. 
White, an attorney, but in 1873 located at Oxford, then the county seat of Benton 
County, and began the practice of his profession. In 1876, he removed to Fowler, 
where he continued legal pursuits, until he entered the office of County Clerk, hav- 
ing been elected to this position November 7, 1882. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and a 
member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry. He was married at Oxford, January 11, 
1876, to Miss Anna Burdett. Two children — Hattie B. and Oma, have blessed their 
marriage, and both are living. 

SNYDER & CRANDALL first started in February, 1883, with a general assort- 
ment of hardware, stoves, tinware and agricultural implements, amounting in value 
to about $8,000; while judging from their sales since the firm's organization, they 
transact an average annual business of between $18,000 and $20,000. Their store 
is on Fifth street, near the corner of Washington avenue, where Mr. Zinn handled 
hardware for a number of j'ears. Each member of the firm being an ex-farmer, 
they know precisely what farmers most desire, which they furnish at reasonable 
figures. William Snyder was born in Tippeecanoe Covmty, Ind., March 14, 1833, 
and is one of seven children born to John and Rachel (Ridgeway) Snyder, natives of 
Ross County, Ohio. About 1827, the parents emigrated to Tippecanoe County, Ind., 
entered land, engaged in farming, and died in 1842 and 1853 respectively. William 
Snyder was educated in the common schools, and after his mother's marriage with 
Solomon Young, and when sixteen years old, he began working for himself. In 1855, 
he was employed teaming between Keokuk and Chariton, Iowa, and in 1856 was 
with General Lane on his expedition in Kansas. In 1857, he returned to Indiana, 
and January 15, of that year married Amanda Kenton, a grand-daughter of Simon 
Kenton, the celebrated scout and Indian fighter, and in 1858 again returned to Iowa. 
In 1859, he started for Pike's Peak, but gave this up, and the winter of 1859-60 was 
employed as railroad bridge carpenter between Corinth and Mobile, Ala. He 
then returned to Benton County, Ind., and enlisted April 21, 1861, in Company D, 
Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Rich Mount- 
ain, Greenbrier, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville and Stone River, being wounded by a 
shell in the last-named battle. In 1863, he served through Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, 
and while on a charge at Mission Ridge, he was sliot so severely in the left arm by 
a minie ball as to necessitate the removal of one bone, the mZ««, effectually putting 
an end to his military career. He was discharged May 8, 1864, returned to Benton 
County, and has since made it his home. He was engaged in farming until 1868, 
when he was elected County Auditor and re- elected in 1872. Since 1876, he has 
followed farming and merchandising. His first wife dying in 1858, he married her 
sister, Mary J., on the 12th of May, 1864. Mr. Snyder is a Republican, 'a member 
of the I. O! O. F. and the G. A. R. To his present marriage eight children have 
been born— Grant, Charley N., Jennie, deceased, Tom B., two that died in infancy, 
without names, Herbert, deceased, and Laura. Myron Crandall, a native of Cook 
County, 111., was born August 9, 1848, and is one of eight surviving children in a 
family of nine born to Mark and Eliza Crandall, natives of the States of New York 
and Pennsylvania, respectively, and of Irish and German descent. Mark Crandall 



TOWN OF FOWLER AND CENTRE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 335 

emigrated westward when eighteen years old, and stopped for a time in Chicago, 
then an unpromising village. He refused to trade his yoke of spotted cattle for 160 
acres of land, on a part of wliioli the court house now stands. He pre-empted a farm 
in the northern part of the county, improved it, tlien traded it for a larger tract, and 
continued until he became a large land owner. He is living in Cook County. 
Myron Crandall grew to manhood in his native county, and had a common school 
education. At twenty-two years of age he began on his own account. January 26, 
1871, he married Miss Elmira Gilson, a daughter of De.xter Gilson, a pioneer of Cook 
County, III. Shortly afterward he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ford County, 
111.; but in 187") he removed to Center Township, Benton County, Ind. He still 
owns his farm of 160 acres in Center Township. Mr. Crandall is .a Republican, and 
served one year as Road Superintendent. He is a prominent citizen, and he and 
wife are the parents of three children — Clara, Elmer and Elva. 

BENJAMIN F. SPEERS was born September 22, 1833, in Pike County, Ohio, 
and is the oldest of three children born to George and Jane (Summers) Speers. 
George Speers was a native of Pennsj-lvania. received his education in tliat State ; 
learned the stone cutter's trade while young, and followed that in connection with 
farming all his life. Before his mTirriage he removed to Pike Count)'. Ohio, where 
he remained until his death, about 1840. He was a member of the F. & A. M., and 
Mrs. Speers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and resides with her 
son. Benjamin F. Speers received a common school education, principally in his 
native State, and when about eight years of age his father died, since when he has 
lived with his mother and sister. In 1853, he removed with his mother to Oak Grove 
Township, and for a niunber of years rented a farm owned by W. II. Ellsworth, 
and then a farm owned by B. S. Williams. He next went to Tippecanoe County, 
where he remained live years, after which he returned to Oak Grove Township. In 
1880, he came to Center Township, and bought the farm of 160 acres upon which he 
still resides. Mr. Speers was married, October 31, 1870, to Mary Scott, a native of 
Jasper County, Ind., and two children — Rosw^ell C. and Nathaniel E.— have been 
born to them. In politics, Mr. Speers is a Republican, and takes an active interest in 
all political movements of the day. 

CARVER STANFIELD, farmer and ex-Sheriff of Benton County, was born in 
Tippecanoe County, Ind., March 27, 1835, and is one of eight living children in a 
family of ten born to John and Catharine (Cox) Stanlield, natives of North Carolina 
and Tennessee respectively, and of English descent. .lohn Stanfield and wife, im- 
mediately after their marriage in Tennessee, emigrated into the Hoosier State in 
1817, and eleven \'ears later removed to Tippecanoe County, where they passed the 
remainder.of their lives. Mr. Stanfield was an honored farmer, and died the summer 
of 1878, followed by his widow some eighteen months later. Carver Stanfield was 
reared on a farm and secured a good practical education, and for four years pursued 
the vocation of a Hoosier schoolmaster. He was married to Miss S. E. Wilson in 1852, 
and for four years afterward engaged in farming in his native count}- ; then removed 
to Pine Township, Benton County, where he continued farming until his election to 
the office of County Sheriff in 1880. For two years he administered the duties of 
this office, since when he has been engaged in farming. Mr. Stanfield is a Repub- 
lican, a member of the Masonic order, and to him and wife four children have been 
born— Mary. Sarah, John and Elfie. 

STRAIGHT & WILEY, attorneys bf Benton County, formed their partnership 
in December, 1875, and have since continued prosperously. Both members of this 
firm have been residents of Benton County for about ten years, and their acknowl- 
edged ability and unquestioned integrity have r.inked them among the most success- 
ful lawyers of Western Indiana. David E. Straight, senior partner in the firm, is a 
native of Chautauqua County, N. Y. He is one of .seven surviving children in a 
family of ten i)orn to Arby 1'. and Philcna (Simmons) Straight, and was born Au- 
gust 18, 1832. He was reared in his native State, and received there an academical 
education, finished by a two years' course in the Michigan State University. In 1855, 
in company with two older brothers, he went to I^IcLean County, 111., pmvhased a 
half-section of land, and for some time was engaged in farming and working at the 
carpenter's trade. In 1H.5H. he was married to Miss Annie M. Cassady. and from that 
time until tiie breaking-out of the war. was engaged in farming and teaching. Au- 
gust 6. 1M()2, he was mustered into the United St.iles service as private in Company 
E, One Hiindred and Twenty ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was a partici- 
pant in the battles of Perry ville and Crab Orchard, and in 1H63 was doing guard duty 
between Bowling Green and Nashville. While at Chattanooga in 1864, Mr. Straight 
was compelled to relincpiish active field work by reason of ill health. In August, 
1864, he was promoted to the Captaincy of Company I, One Hundredth United States 
Colored Infantry. He participated in tiie battles of John.sonville and Nashville, at 
the last-named place being wounded in the right leg by a nnnie ball, which he yet car- 



336 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ries as a memento of the Rebellion. He was on detailed duty until he was mustered 
out of the service December 26, 1865. Capt. Straight's oldest and youngest 
brothers were both in the service, and both lost their lives. He returned to Illinois 
and followed merchandising until 1869, when he removed to Bloomington to read 
and practice law. In 1874, he came to Fowler, Ind., where he has since resided. 
He is a Republican, and a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry. His marriage 
has been blessed with four children — Lettie E., Hattie, Ben D. and Dell (deceased). 
U. Z. Wiley, the other member of the firm, is a native of Jefferson County, Ind., and 
was born November 14. 1847, and is the yoimgest of five children born to Preston 
P. and Lucinda W. (Maxwell) Wiley. June 20, 1867, he graduated from the classi- 
cal course of Hanover College. He read law with William Wallace (a son of ex- 
Gov. Wallace and a nephew of Gen. Lew Wallace) at Indianapolis two years, and 
in May, 1873, graduated from the Law Department of Butler University, having paid 
his way through this institution with the proceeds derived from teaching school. 
In October, 1874, he located at Fowler, where he has since resided, engaged actively 
in legal pursuits. Mr. Wiley has always taken a deep interest in the county's wel- 
fare, and a prominent part in its political history. In March, 1875, he was appointed 
County Attorney, and served two years, and in 1882 was elected to the Lower House 
of the State Legislature. He is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
K. of P. He was married. May 6, 1874, to Miss Mary A. Cole, and three children 
have blessed their union — Carl, Nellie E. and Maxwell H. 

, WILLIAM F. and JAMES SWAN are two brothers in the family of ten chil- 
dren born to Robert and Elizabeth (Combs) Swan. [For a sketch of their father, see 
biography of John W. Swan, Union Township.] William F. Swan was born in Mont- 
gomery County, Ind., April 3, 1837 ; received a good practical education, lived with 
his mother until nineteen years of age, after which he spent four years traveling in 
Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas. During this time, he learned the car- 
penter's trade, which he followed until about 1873. After his return from the West, 
he settled in Union Township, being the first carpenter who ever located there, and 
in 1864, came to Center Township, and in connection with his brother bought a farm 
of 160 acres, to which they added eighty acres. In 1872, this was divided, giving 
each 120 acres of well-improved land, with good buildings, upon which they respect- 
ively reside. James Swan was born January 31, 1833, in the same county as his 
brother ; received his education in the log schoolhouses of that day, and continued 
to live with his mother until her death in September, 1875, she having moved with 
him to Center Township in 1869. To his 120 acres he has added 100 acres, and now has a 
farm of 220 acres. In August, 1861, he and brother enlisted in Company H, Tenth In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry, and William F., having enlisted five days previous to his 
brother, was the first enlistment in Union Township. They served with the regi- 
ment until it was mustered out September 18, 1864, at Indianapolis. They partici- 
pated in all the campaigns and marches of their regiment, and were present at the 
battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Mill Springs, Tullahoma, Res- 
aca, Kenesaw Mountain, and the siege of Atlanta and Corinth. James Swan claims 
to be, and undoubtedly is, the man who shot Gen. Zollicoffer at Mill Springs. He 
was requested to attempt it by Col., afterward Gen. M. D. Man. He stepped to a 
tree, rested his gun, took deliberate aim, and fired, and the General fell, mortally 
wounded. Both brothers are members of Benton Post, G. A. R., and James is also 
a member of Benton Lodge, No. 561, F. & A. M., and Fowler Lodge, I. O. O. F. 
William F. Swan was married September 18, 1870, to Elizabeth Sanders, a native of 
Greene County, Penn., and six children have been born to them, three of whom, Ella 
M., Edna B. and Robert A., are living. James Swan was never married. Polit- 
ically, both are Republicans, and prominent men of the county. 

FRANKLIN TAYLOR, Postmaster at Fowler, is a Kentuckian by birth, and 
was born in Campbell County December 9, 1815. When he was four years old, his 
parents, William W. and Maiy (Colvin) Taylor, moved to Warren County, Ohio, 
remaining there until 1830, then emigrated to Clinton County, Ind. Both parents 
died at Frankfort, the county seat of that county, at an advanced age. Franklin 
Taylor made his home with his parents until the age of seventeen years, during 
which time he received only an ordinary education. In about 1834, he became a 
bar-keeper in a hotel at La Fayette. He fell into dissipated habits, which steadily 
increased until he was twenty two years of age, when, through the efforts of his 
mother, he was induced to reform. July 4, 1840, he was licensed to preach the 
M. E. faith, and for thirty five years has been actively engaged in ministerial labors 
in Indiana. Through ill-health he became superannuated, and retired from the 
ministry in 1878, and July 1, 1879, received the appointment of Postmaster at 
Fowler, in which capacity he has since been engaged. Mr. Taylor has been three 
times married; first to Susanna Fisher, who died in 1859, after "bearing a family of 
six children — Margaret A., deceased; Martha J., now a teacher in Cleveland, Ohio; 



TOWN OF FOVVLEK AND CENTRE TOWNSrflP— BENTON COUNTY. 337 

John F., deceased; Sanford F., deceased; Joseph F., now a resident of Delphi, 
Ind., and Charles E., deceased. Mr. Taylor married Liicinda Spotts, in 1859, who 
died in 18()9. and his present wife, Mar^^arct (Petro) Rlackhurn, in 187;i Since 1878, 
Mr. Taylor has resided in FoAvler, in the history of \yhi(h he has been closely 
identified, iiaving been pastor of the M. E. Church of this place in 1875-76. He is 
a Republican. 

LE HOY TEMPLETON, a native of Shell)y County, Ind., was born November 
20, 1880, hut when four months old came with his parents, Isaac and Khoda 
(Gregory) Tcmpleton, to near liainsvillc, Warren County, where he grew to man- 
hood. Isaac Templeton was a native of Virginia, and wliou twenty years old emi- 
grated'westward to Shelb}' County, Ind., where he married his wife the fall of 1823. 
Mrs. Templeton was a sister of Hon. B. F. (Gregory, deceased, a once prominent 
man of Warren County. These old pioneers endured all the hardships of pioneer 
life, and 'Mrs. Templeton, after bearing a family of eleven children (two of whom 
were killed in the late war), died in 184!). Mr. Templeton, Sr., afterward married 
Melissa Jennings, who bore him three children, and died in 1871. His third wife 
died in 1874. Le Roy Templeton, in 1855, moved to Fayette County, Iowa, attend- 
ing school twu) j'ears at Upper Iowa University. He resided in Iowa eight years. 
He enlisted in Company F, Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. On the organization 
of the company, he was elected First Lieutenant. Mr. Templeton participated in 
the battles of Ft. Donelsou, Sliiloh, Corinth, and various minor engagements, but 
owing to ill health was compelled to resign. He was discharged in 1863. Mr. 
Templeton engaged in the live-stock business in California, and later in the live-stock 
commission trade in New York (Mty for tive years. In 1868, he returned to Indiana, 
located in Benton County, where he has since resided, engaged in various occupa- 
tions. Mr. Templeton is a Republican, a Master Mason, and his wife is a member 
of the U. B. Church. He was married, in 1851, to Mary J. Patterson, who bore 
him six children — Orne, George R., Henry V., Wallace U., Frank and Laura. Mr. 
Templeton married his present wife, Jenny McKenney, in May, 1881. 

WILLIAM S. VAN NATTA, stock-raiser, and superintendent of the Fowler 
farm, was born in Tippecanoe County September 27, 1830, and is a son of John S. 
and Sarah A. Van Natta, who were pioneers of the Wabash Valley. He was reared 
a farmer, and that and merchandising were his occupations, until he began dealing 
in stock in 1865, since when he has been exclusively engaged in farming, buying, 
selling and rearing blooded stock. He is a Republican, a Master Mason, and is tlie 
owner of 1,100 acres of land south of Fowler, on which his son resides. He is a 

fartner of ^Ir. Fowler in the stock business, and the)' have become noted all over 
ndiana, Illinois and Kentucky, as among the tinest stock-owners in the West. 
The)' have a fine herd of 300 imported Hereford cattle on their farm, some of which 
have taken first premiums and sweepstakes at various State fairs, besides at many 
countj' fairs. They also own one of the finest pure-blood English draft stallions in the 
United States. Mr. Van Natta and Miss Harriet Sheetz were married November 10, 
1858, and to them a famil}' of five children have been born. 

JOSEPH F. WARNER was born in Ross County. Ohio, May 29, 1846, and of 
the ten children born to his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Farmer) Warner, only 
five are now living. When but seven years old, he removed with his parents to 
Champaign County, 111., where his father died in 1873, his mother dying at Fowler 
in 1882. J. F. Warner was reared on a farm, received a limited education, and in 
February, 1864, enlisted in Company F, Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. 
He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and participated in the battles of 
Resaca, Dallas, New llopa (Ihurch. Kene.saw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, 
Lovejoy's Station, ^lacon, Fajetteville, Kingston and Raleigh. Owing to ill health 
he had so decreased in weight that at the time of his discharge, July 20, 1865, at 
Louisvilk', he only weighed eighty-tiu-ee pounds. He was engaged in various pur- 
suits until February, 1874, when Ik; moved to Fowler, and estaljlished the second 
general store, erected food buildings, encouraged immigration, was the first Town 
Clerk, and has always been identified witli the town's best interests. He is a Re- 
publican, and a member of Benton Post, No. 25, G. A. R. He is at present a 
member of the firm of Warner 6c Gray, general collection agents, and is doing a 
first-class business. 

JAMES WHARRY, Surveyor of Benton Countj-, was born at Greenville, Ohio, 
July 23. 1841. He worked at the carpenter's trade and surveying until 1861, when, 
on the first call for 75,000 troops, he enlisted in Company C. Eleventh Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry. On the reorganization of the thrcemonths troops he became a pri- 
vate in Company D, Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; particiiMited in Stone 
River, Chickainauga, Atlanta campaign. Sherman's nu-morable march to the sea, 
Bentonvilh;, through the Carolinas, and was discharged at Louisville, K}., on the 
25th of August, 1865. In October, 1863, he was promoted from Orderly Sergeant to 

' 20 



338 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Second Lieutenant of his company, and in September of the following }'ear was 
advanced to the First Lieutenancy of Company H, and subsequently was made 
Quartermaster of the regiment. In May, 1865, he was commissioned Captain of his 
old company, and from the 1st of July until his discharge served in this position. 
After the war, he recommenced carpentering in his native State, and continued 
that and surveying until 1869, when he emigrated to Missouri. In February, 1874, 
he came to Fowler. Mr. Wharry is a Republican in politics, and is the present 
Survey.or of the county, having been first elected in 1878, re-elected in 1880, and 
again re-elected in 1882. He was married in April, 1867, to Miss Mary Robertson, 
of La Fayette, and they are the parents of eight children, all of whom are yet 
living. Mr. Wharry is a member of the G. A. R. of Fowler, and Mrs. Wharry of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. John and Eliza (Duncan) Wharry, parents of the 
subject of this sketch, were natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Ohio, of 
Scotch descent, and the parents of ten children, only eight of whom are now alive. 
They were among the pioneers of Ohio, and especially of Darke County, where Mr. 
Wharry located in 1821. Both he and wife are now dead. 

P. M. WILES, a native of Fayette County, Ind., was born November 11, 1842, 
and is one of eleven children born to John H. and Sarah (Puntenney) Wiles, natives of 
Ohio, and of Welsh and Scotch descent respectivel3^ They now reside in Tippe- 
canoe County, engaged in mercantile pursuits. P. M. Wiles came to Tippecanoe 
County, with his parents, when he was fourteen years old. He received a good 
academical education. September 6, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle of Mill Spring (in which 
Gen. Zollicoffer was killed) and Shiloh. He was at the siege of Corinth, and the 
battle of luka, and on the marches to Tuscumbia and Florence. His regiment then 
made a forced march back to Louisville, to intercept Bragg's army. He was at the 
battle of Perryville. The regiment went from Nashville to intercept Morgan. They 
rejoined the army at Murfree.sboro, and were at the battles of Chattanooga, Chicka- 
mauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. They were also in the Atlanta 
campaign. Mr. Wiles was discharged September 18, 1864. He returned home, and 
for a number of years attended and taught school. He was married, September 1, 
1870, to Eliza M. Brown, after which he resided in Kansas six years, then returned 
to Indiana, and engaged in the grain trade at La Fayette. The winter of 1880, he 
removed to Fowler, which has since been his home. He is a Republican, an Odd 
Fellow and a member of the G. A. R. He and wife have three children — Law- 
rence A., Frank A. and Effie. 

ED P. WILLIAMS was born at Waco, Texas. August 7, 1857, and is the eldest 
of three children born to D. McA. and Elizabeth (Boswell) Williams. His father, 
when a young man, moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he remained only 
one year, then came to what is now Parish Grove Township, where he was married. 
He carried on farming, owning at one time over 1,700 acres of land. In 1873, he 
began the publication of the Central Clarion, now Fowler Era, which he edited 
about six years, but at present is in the employ of a school-furnishing company, 
and resides at Fowler. Ed P. Williams, when about two weeks old, came from 
Texas with his parents, his mother having been in that State for her health. He 
worked on his father's farm until attaining his majority, after which he rented and 
•worked farms for two years. He then traveled for a school chart company for one 
year, subsequently acting as Deputy Sheriff of Benton County for two years. In 
March, 1883, he opened a boot andshoe store at Fowler, Ind., and is building up a 
first-class trade. He keeps one of the largest and best selected stock of goods in the 
town. He is a Republican, and was chairman of the County Central Committee for 
1882. Mr. Williams was married, January 12, 1878, to Nannie Hawkins, a native of 
Benton County, and two children have been born to them, only one, Mabel L., now 
living. 

WILLIAM WISHER came to this county in September, 1848, and settled on 
the farm then owned by his brother-in-law, Elisha Littler, where he remained for 
three years, after which he came to Center Township and entered the 160 acres 
upon which he still resides. He was Justice of the Peace of Oak Grove Township 
nine years, and Trustee of Prairie Township two years. When a boy, he learned the 
blacksmith's and wagon-maker's trades in his father's .shop, which business he fol- 
lowed until about twenty-one years of age. When small, he moved with his parents 
to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he remained about nine years: then went to Pick- 
away County, Ohio, and remained until his removal to Indiana. Mr. Wisher was 
married December 31. 1838, to Sarah Littler, a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, 
and eight children have been horn to them, two of whom, Elizabeth and Jane, are 
living. Both Mr. Wisher and wife were at one time members of the United Breth- 
ren Church, and it was at their request that the first religious services were con- 
ducted by a minister in Center Township. Mr. Wisher was born September 27, 



BOLIVAR TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY'. 339 

1815, in Mifflin County. Penn., and is one of thirteen children in the family 
of David and Eleanor (Vallentine) Wisher, of German and Irish descent respect- 
ively. David Wisiier was a native of Lancaster County. Penn. When a young 
man, he went to MitHiii County, Penn.. where he remain"d until 1827. He then 
removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, v*rhere he opened a shop anfl remained in the 
county until his death, March 27, 1854. His wife died on the 4lh da^^ of the same 
montii. 



BOLIVAR TOWNSHIP. 



SUMNER W. BAKER was born in Ko.seiusko County. Ind., February 28. 1843. 
His father was born at Wheeling, W. Va., during the pilgrimage of his parents from 
Maine to Ohio, in 1810; his mother in Massachusetts in ISIS. When our subject was 
tw^elve years of age. his father moved to Warsaw, Ind. Sumner attended school 
and worked on a farm until the war, when, August 2, 1S62, he enlisted in Company 
C. Fourth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. He participated at the battles of Vicksburg, 
Champion Hills, Haines' BluflF, West Point and others; and was honorabl}' dis- 
charged July 7, 186;). He then entered the University at Warsaw and finished his 
education, after which he learned the trade of a brickmason. working thereat dur- 
ing the summer, and teaching in the winter, having taught fifteen terms, two being 
in graded schools. January 28, 1873, he married Susan A. lieekcr, daughter of Dan- 
iel Seeker, from which union resulted five children — Pearl, Linnaeus E., Ernest W., 
Barnard (deceased) and Bertha (twins). In 18S0, Mr. Baker came to this township 
and invested in 200 acres, which are well improved. He is an Odd Fellow, a Repub- 
lican, and, as is his wife.- a member of the M. E. Church. 

DR. JASPER BRISTOW, ayoung and rising physician of Templeton. is the son 
of John and Lucinda (Harding) Bristow. both natives of Kentucky, who moved to 
Clinton County. Ind., in the early time and entered land, and where our subject 
was born July 24, 18.")4. While at school, Jasper began reading anatomy and phi'S- 
iology, and in 1872 commenced reading medicine with Drs. Cooper and Farrar, of 
Scircieville, Ind., and attended the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he grad- 
uated. He then returned to Scircieville add practiced his profession. In 1877, at 
the written request of many persons, he was induced to move to Templeton, where 
he has seciu-ed a large and satisfactory patronage. Dr. Bristow has an improved 
eighty-acre farm ; he is a Master Mason. John Bristow, his father, was stricken 
suddenly with hearldisease, and died April 14, 1877. He came from Kentucky with 
little means and in feeble health, but by energy and prudence became one of the 
foremost citizens of this county. He was greatly esteemed, and his death was la- 
mented. 

DAVID BROWN was born in Indiana August 5, 1824, and is a son of John and 
Catherine A. (Mater) Brown. With very little schooling, our subject labored at 
clearing and breaking ground untjl February 10, 1847, when he was married to 
Anna, daughter of John arul Christina (Young) Becker, of Washington County, 
Ind. Their union was blessed with nine children— John W., born August 2!), 1S49 ; 
Harriet F., born Felu'uar}' s, is.jl (deceased); Leonard, born August 1, 18."")2 ; Millie 
A., born October 7, 18o6 ; Flora A., born August 11, 18r)9 ; Aaron, born March 4, 
1861 (deceased) ; Peter, born October G, 1863'; Andrew J., born July 31, 1867. and 
Cora, born Decemi)er 29, 1869. After owning land and living in Fulton and Tippe- 
canoe Counties. Mr. Brown came to Benton County in is,")."), and purchased 120 
acres in Section 28, which he improved and on which he built a home. He now has 
309 acres. The parents of Mrs. Hrown came to this Slate at an early day, as did 
those of Mr Brown. He is a liberal Democrat. 

WILLIA.AI OTTERBEIN BROWN, .son of William and Sarah (Koch) Brown, 
was born in .Maryland January 31, 1827. When he was si.\ years of age, his father 
moved to Warren County, where h(! had entered land ; he was a farmer and a Bishop 
of the United Brethren Chin-ch. Our subject attended school until he was eighteen, 
when he was sent to Baltimore, wlxre he graduated. He was married, October 6, 
18r)(), to Eliza A. Moore, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Wayman) Moore, of Tip- 

Eeeanoe ("ounty. Ind. ; this union wasblessed with si.\ children — Mary E. (deceased). 
Ilia J., Alice P., Sarah W., .Mysie S. and Iduna C. Mr. Brown was a farmer and 
stock-dealer, and the first Postmaster of Pond Gtove (now ()tleri)ein), which posi- 
tion he held at death. He donated twenty acres of land to the railroad, the com- 
pany building a depot and naming the town Otterbein, in honor of our subject. Mr. 
Brown was an earnest Republican, but refused every solicitation to accept otlicc. 
Up to 1858, he continued in the United Brethren Church, but afterward becanu* a 



340 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

strong Spiritualist, and so died February 10, 1879. He left a large estate to his fam- 
ily. His widow and two single daughters are living at their former home— all 
greatly respected. 

TIMOTHY BURNS was a native of Ireland, born in the year 1838, and came 
to America in the year 1849. He located at La Fayette, Ind., where he worked by 
the day. In 1852, he was married to Barbara Toole, also a native of Ireland ; their 
union was graced with twelve children — Michael (deceased), Mary, Frank, Timothy, 
jNIalcom (deceased), Mark. Honora, Barbara E., John (deceased), Patrick (deceased), 
John (deceased) and Bridget. Mr. Burns was a practical economist in money mat- 
ters, and purchased 120 acres in this township, thereby making a home and becom- 
ing a general farmer; he died April 5, 1879; he was a Democrat and a member of 
the Catholic Church. His wife and children ai-e residing on the home farm, made 
for them and bequeathed to them by their late protector. 

JOSEPH CARMANY is a son of Joseph and Mary (Woodring) Carmany, the 
former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio. Our subject was born Septem- 
ber 3, 1838, and when twelve years old his parents moved to Indiana, thence to Xiinn 
County, Iowa, where Joseph attended his first school. In 1860, he moved to Clinton 
County, Ind., and August 29, 1862, enlisted in Company I, One Hundredth Indiana 
Volunteers, and participated in the battles of Jackson, Mission Ridge and Atlanta. 
Subsequently, he took part in the battles with Hood, and was in the grand review at 
Washington; he was discharged June 20, 1865, and thereupon worked for his father, 
who died January 29, 1866. The family then moved to this township, and pur- 
chased ninety acres. October 5, 1875, he married Catherine V. Machir, daughter 
of Isaac andJane (Long) Machir; to this union were born five children — Arthur A., 
May Bell. Mary J., Daisy Dcane and William I. Mr. Carmany added to his land 
until he had 210 acres; this he sold and purchased eighty acres in Section 9. He 
and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Carmany has im- 
proved his land, and has some stock. He is a Democrat. 

PATRICK CARROLL was born in Ireland in the year 1825, and is a son of Thom- 
as and Ellen Carroll. He went to school until he was twelve years of age, after which 
he worked on the home farm until 1847, when his father died, and our subject came 
to America. After working one year on a farm in New York, he moved to La Fay- 
ette, Ind., and worked for William Hawkins. In 1850, he bought a section of land 
in White County, and the same year came to this township and exchanged said land 
for 200 acres, well improved, in Section 82, of this township, on which he is now liv- 
ing and farming. February 19, 186i», he was married to Joanna Collins, a native of 
Ireland. Theyhave had several children — two infants, died October 15, 1860; Ella, 
born October 10, 1861; Mary Ann, born May 25, 1863; Thomas P., born Augusts, 
1865; Joanna, born June 4, 1867, died February 6, 1872; one infant, died April 10, 
1869; Elizabeth, born December 29, 1870; Joanna, born November 27, 1873. Mr. 
Carroll is a general farmer, and has some imported stock. He is a Democrat, and 
he and family are members of the Catholic Church. 

WILLIAM COCHRAN. Justice of the Peace, son of Hugh and Jane (Myers) 
Cochran, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Virginia, who emigrated 
to Ross County, Ohio, in 1797, and were married January 11, 1811; Mrs. Cochran 
died April 18, 1849. William was born in Ross County October 31, 1811. He 
worked on the farm and in stores, and was in business until 1846, when he purchased 
land and farmed until 1862; he then sold the same, and came to this township and 
purchased 160 acres. He was married, Angust 27, 1840, to Mary DeHart, born No- 
vember 1, 1817, daughter of Thomas De Hart, of Ohio; this union produced eight 
children — Thomas D., Hugh (deceased), William, John C, Elizabeth H,, Jane (de- 
ceased), Mary M. and Nancy A. (deceased). Mr. Cochran was a Republican, but is now 
a Greenbacker, and, excepting four years, has been Justice of the Peace from 1863, 
being re-elected in 1882. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. 
Cochran died April 3, 1881, and was also a member of the M. E. Church. The 
family Bible has the following: " Hugh Cochran, born in Lexington, Ky., April 10, 
1778; moved to Ross County.^Ohio, in 1797, where he died July 20, 1863. His fa- 
ther was the first Justice inRoss County; his aunt, Elizabetli Cochran, -was the first 
white woman married, and Hannah Kilgore, her daughter, the first white child born 
there. 

JOHN A. COOK, son of James W. and Susanna (Lank) Cook, was born in 
Boone County, Ind., March 27, 1855. When John was two years old, his father moved 
to Pine Township, Benton County, where he worked on the farm and attended 
school until he was twenty years of age. He then attended the graded school al 
Green Hill three terms; was given a teacher's certificate, and began teaching. Aprit 
16, 1878, he was married to Sarah A. Isle3^ born December 12, 1854, daughter of 
Benjamin and Margaret (Southard) Isley, of Warren County, to which union two 
children succeeded — Alpha T., born June 6, 1879, and Arthur, born March 25, 1881. 



BOLIVAR TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 341 

Some time after marriage, he purchased a fine farm of 160 acres of good land, now 
well improved and undcrdniined, witii irood buildings and barn. lie has consider- 
able stock, but lost some sixty-eight head of iiogs l)y cholera. Mr. Cook is a stirring 
Republican, and he and wife are members of tiie Methodist Episcopal Churcii. 

HON. JAMES EMERSOX, son of James and Catherine (Fryback) Emerson, 
was born December 9, 18:20, in Pickaway Count}', Ohio. In 1828, his father came to 
Tippecanoe County, Ind., and entered land. There James worked for hi'^ father, 
and when fifteen years old went to a graded school at La Faj^ette for three years, 
and divided his time between study and labor until his marriage, January .">, 1842, 
to Elizabeth Legget, daughter of Alexander and ^huy (Mount) Legget, from which 
union succeeded five children— John W., Mary E. (deceased), James A., George T. 
and Harriet C. After marriage, Mr. Emerson came to this county and setlled on 
GW acres given to him by his father. In the same year, he was elected Justice of 
the Peace, and afterward served several terms as Township Trustee and County 
Treasurer. In 1874, he was elected to the State Legislature (in which he served im- 
til l8Tfi) from Benton and Xewton Counties, overcoming a Republican majority of 
700 votes. Mr. Emerson is a Democrat and a universally respected citizen. 

GEORGE H. FINCH was born in Pickaway County, Oliio, September I, 1825, 
and is a son of Solomon and Rachel (Justus) Finch, the former a native of Massa- 
chusetts, the latter of Ohio. George was left an orphan when ten years old, and 
went to live with an uncle who had settled in this county in 1883," for whom he 
worked until he saved money enough to purchase two yokes of o.xen, and l>egan to 
deal in cattlei In 1845, he made his first purchase of land, 240 acres, in liiis town- 
ship, to which he has added until he owns 1,100 acres, and is one of (be largest 
stock dealers in the township. On November 5, 1850, he married Pha-be C. Keys, 
born September 6, 1831, which union was bles.sed witli eight children— Bolivar P. 
(from whom the township derives its name), Norton J., Laura B., Elmer B., Cliarles 
W., Halleck E.. Addie M. and Harriet D. Mr. Finch has built a commodious frame 
house, where his family are enjoying life; he also has 200 head of cattle. He 
has done much for the prosperitj' of the township, of which he has been three terms 
Trustee. He has been Postmaster of Templeton since 1876, where he built the first 
store, and has a general merchandise business imder the firm name of George II. 
Finch ife Son, managed I)j' his son Bolivar P.. wlio is Assistant Postmaster. 

DANIEL M. FISHER, son of John and Mary (Alexander) Fisher, was born in 
Frederick Count j% Md., July 26, 1836. His grandfather Fisher was a soldier of the 
war of 1812, in which he was badly wounded in the foot; his grandfather Al^'xander 
was likewise in the same war as Captain. When Daniel was fifteen, his parents 
moved to Clarke Count}', Ohio, and there he learned the trade of a carpenter. April 
11, 1861, he enlisted in Company I), Third Ohio Volunteers. He was in the battles 
of Rich Mountain, Va., Perrysvillc, Ky.. Stone River, Pittsl)urg Lan<linix, Rome, 
Ga., where tlie regiment was captured by Gen. Forrest, but .soon exchanged. After 
the battle of Chattanooga, he was mustered out. In 1864, he enlisted on the gim- 
boat Sibyl, where he continued until the close of the war, when he resumed car- 
pentering and went to Dakota, where he helped to build Forts Scully and Rice. He 
afterward moved to this township, where, December 17. 1872, he married Mary Hall, 
/of Kentland, Ind., and .soon moved to Otterbein, in this township, where he built 
the third dwelling house in the town. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have two children — 
Anna L. and Lawrence M. Mr. Fisher is a leading builder and contractor, a Re- 
^jluX)lic..n. and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Chureh. 

PATRICK H. FITZ SIMONS, son of James and Catherine (Carlan) Fitz Simons, 
was born in Ireland about 1810. After attending .school, he worked on his father's 
farm until 1830, when he married Ann Clark, wlio died in 1838, leaving one child — 
James. He afterward married Mary A. Tyrell, of Ireland, which union w.is blessed 
with eight ciiildren. of wliom but one, Barnard, survives. Mr. Fitz Simons came to 
America in 1847. In 184!», he came to La Fayette, Ind., where he managed a saw 
mill until 18(il, when he purchased eight v acres in this township, where he now has 
160 acres in good state of cultivation. He raises some sto(;k, but givi's most atten- 
tion to hogs, his son Barnard having full charge of the farm. Mr. Fitz Simons has 
the finest hedge fence in the county — so close as to exclude a rabbit. He is a Demo- 
crat, and, with his family, a memlier of the Catiiolic Church. 

ALLEN FORD was l)orn in Ross County, Ohio, December 5. 1816, and is a son 
of Richard and Reliecca (Yoakem) Ford; the former a native of Kentucky, the lat- 
ter of Virginia. Allen worked ff)r his f.ather until his fifteenth yciir, and thereafter 
by the month. His father died when he Wiis twenty-two, and he then supported his 
mother until her death. Hi- herded ,ind drove cattle for many years, and in 18B0 
settled in this township, wliere he followed his old occupation — that of cjittle herder, 
he is an expert in matters relating to cattle. During the war, he enlisted in C'oin' 
pany A, One Hundred and Twenty- Eighth Indiami Volunteers, and was in the bat- 



342 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ties of Resaca, Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville and others. He was discharged on ac- 
count of sicknoss. Mr. Ford is now liviii!? with liis nephew, Strauder C. Ford; their 
interests in farming and in cattle are identical. Mr. Ford was a Republican until 
1868, since which he lias been a Greenbacker. 

JOHN" HAISTN was born in Madison County, Ohio, in 1845; he is a son of Levi 
and Rebacca (Walker) Hann, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Ohio. 
His father died when John was twelve years of age, and he thenworked forhis mother. 
On the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantrj^ he was takun prisoner, paroled and exchanged. After the battle of Vieks- 
burg, he was taken ill. and discharged November 14, 1863. In 1865, he came to this 
county and engaged in farming, and March 28. 1869, he was married to Sarah E. 
Marlow, born December 24, 1850, daughter of Wesley and Jane (Carswell) Marlow; 
three children graced their union — Joseph, born May 14, 1873; Fearlanna, born April 
15, 1879, and Charles W., born August 4, 1881. Mr. Hann is a self-made man, and 
worked hard to support his mother, who died in 1872. He has a fine, well-cultivated 
farm of 160 acres, and is a Republican. 

JOSHUA H. ICE is a native of Virginia, born December 33, 1827, and is a sou 
of Jess'j and Sarah (Hickman) Ice, also natives of Virginia. Grandfather Ice estab- 
lished the ferr}' across Cheat River, near Cheat Mountain, Va., afterward conducted 
l)y his son Jesse. Joshua had a grandfather who was a soldier under Gen. Wash- 
ington, and his father commanded a regiment in the war of 1812. In 1832, Jesse Ice 
sold the ferry, moved to Henry County, Ind., and purchased considerable land, 
where our subject attended the pioneer school and worked on the farm; he after- 
ward attended two terms of graded school. September 14, 1852, he married 
Rebecca Hickman, daughter of Ezekiel T. and Jemima (Harvey) Hickman (her 
father was State Senator in 1843, and the first and only Democrat sent from Henry 
County); this union was blessed witli ten children — Ezekiel T., Sarah, Howard, 
Jesse A., William M., Warren M., Joseph and Josie (twins), Mary A. and Ella M. 
In 1865, Mr. Ice sold his land and purchased 170 acres in this township; his farm is 
in good cultivation, and is productive. He has been Township Assessor many years, 
and is a Democrat. Mrs. Ice is a member of the Baptist Church. 

THOMAS B. ISLEY is a son of Beajamin and Margaret (Southard) Isley, the 
former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Virginia. Benjamin Isley was a 
carpenter, and erected some of the first houses in Medina and Adams Townships. 
He was married in Warren County, Ind., where our subject was born November 20, 
1840. Thomas saved some money during his youth, with which he bought some 
stock and 120 acres in this township, where he can now count 700 acres as his own, 
and also some of the finest cattle and hogs in the State ; in this respect, he is the 
banner farmer. Mr. Isley is unmarried, and lives with his aged mother — the great- 
est virtue of man!— of whom he takes the greatest care. He has a very excellent 
farm, having thereon about fifteen miles of underdraining. He is a Master Mason 
of Oxford Lodge, No. 190, a Democrat and a justlv respected citizen. 

GEORGE H. JENNINGS, son of Milton and'Maria (Finch) Jennings, was born 
in this township March 29, 1842. His father was an early settler, who improved 
his land and died in 1874, having been the first Treasurer of Benton County ; his 
wife died in 1856. George H. obtained a fair education, and attended graded 
schools at Oxford and La Fayette, after which he worked until his share of his 
father's estate was given to him, when he commenced stock-raising. He has been 
more successful with hogs than any other in the township. He was married, Octo- 
ber 30, 1872, to Lida, daughter of Wylie and Letitia (Sewell) Martin, born in Pike 
County, Oliio, September 29, 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings have had four children — 
Charles M., 1)orn June 22, 1874 (deceased) ; Ralph E.. i)orn August 15, 1876 ; Infant 
boy (deceased), and Lorin M., born March 4, 1881. Mr. Jennings has a well-culti- 
vated farm of 680 acres ; his crop is mostly corn, with which he feeds his stock. 
He has been Township Assessor ; is a Republican and an Odd Fellow. 

THOMAS LANK was born in Fayette County, Ohio. December 8, 1836, and is 
the son of John and Sarah (Wilkins) Lank, the former a native of Delaware, the 
latter of Marybmd ; they were early settlers of Fayette County. John Lank moved 
to Randolph County, Ind., in 1837; thence to Tippecanoe, Boone, and finally to 
what is now Bolivar Township, Benton County, and at his house, in 1851, wash'dd 
the first Methodist meeting, comprising some fifteen persons, all named Lank but 
three, one a Rev. William Wiieeler. Thomas Lank worked on his father's farm until 
1863, when lie married Mary H. Cook, daughter of James W. and Lucinda (Millner) 
Cook. Their union has been blessed witli seven children— Melissa A.. Thomas A., 
Jessie E. (deceased), Olive J., John William, Flora D. and Mary L. Mr. Lank soon 
afterjmarriagj purchased fort}^ acres in Section 14, and now has 113 acres, well im- 
proved, with an lerdraining. He is a general farmer, and keeps some stock. He is 
a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



BOLIVAR TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 343 

DA.VID LA-XUiH was bom in Bonne County, Ind., September :J0, 1856, and is 
a son of Tliomas S. and Xiina C. (.M-iront!}') L main. ILi attended tlie common 
ejliools of tbe timj, meanwhile workin;^ on the farm and s iviii:^ his money to <jo to 
a higiier school; he attended the Lebanon A'^;ad"mv. and in 1871 was granted a 
teacher's cjrtiticate, when he taught in B^onc ami Alontgomery Counties. He af- 
ter^vard engage 1 in mercantile busin-ss al Colfax, and was married. October 19, 
1881. to .Mary J. Bradburn, daughter of Nai^oleon IJr.i Iburn, of Zionsville, Ind. In 
February. 18S3, he moved his stock to Teinpleton and associated with him D.iviil M. 
D.ivis and Ge )rge 11. St. Cliir, under the firm nam ; of David Lanum v.% Co. Th;y 
carry the largest stock of merchandise in the township ; they are agents for Robin- 
son & Co. 's ra;i;;hine works ; they also handle various forms of farm machinery, 
manufacture a superior article of tile, and have the only tile factory in the town- 
ship. Mr. Liuum is an Odd Fellow, an I was twice elected Town Clerk of Colfax. 
The firm is rapidly increasing tlieir business and gaining confiileuce. 

BENT.IAMIX T. LEE, son of Henry and Elmira (Cowherd) Lee, was born in 
Missouri July '2, 184o, whither his parents emigrated, having been born in Shelby 
County. Ky. After the death of his father, Benjamin was compelled to labor for 
himself, and so worked in a tobaoc > factory until his marriage, June 8, 186-), to Vir- 
ginia E., daughter of Anthony and Theodosia (Carver) Harman. After marriage. 
Mr. Lee farmed'in Missouri, and in 18r() came to this township, where his wife's 
father and her uncle (Jacob Harman) gave her eight}' acres, and money with which 
to build a house and improve ; tliey now have 3 )0 acres of well-improved land. ^Ir. 
Lee is a general farmer, and raises some stock. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have three chil- 
dren — Robert E., Emma and Ollie. Mr. Lee is a Democrat, and his wife is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. 

THOMAS J. McCOXXELL. farmer, was born in Benton County, Ind., Octo- 
ber 11, 1887. He is said to be the first male wliite cliild brought to light in that 
locality, and was the ninth of the eleven children of David and Polly (Moore) Mc- 
Connell (a sketch of whom mav be found elsewhere in this volume). Thomas 
obtained a preliminary education from the pioneer schools, and remained on the 
home farm, near O.xford, until he was thirty-five years old, when he purchased 
eighty acres of partially improved land in this township, where he still resides, said 
farm being now well improved. Mr. McConnell was married. April 4, 186fi, to Artie 
Wilmoth, a native of Wyandot County, Ohio, to which union were born two 
children — Joseph W. and Nettie A. In politics, Mr. McConnell is a Democrat, and 
one of tlie enterprising farmers of Benton County. 

FREDERICK F. MADDOX was born in Greenbrier County August 8, 1797. 
He obtained but little education, inasmuch as schools were scarce in those days, and 
emigrated early to Ohio, where he married Maria Hague, a native of England. In 
1828, lie movec\ to Indiana, and entered and improved forty acres in Warren County, 
to which he added until he owned 200 acres. In 1870, Mrs. Maddox died, having 
had eight children— Elizabeth II., Mary F.. Sarah (deceased). Jot) II., Eliza J. (de- 
ceased), Hannah W., Francis M., and John A. (deceased). In 1874, he came to live 
with his son, Francis M., in this townshi)), who was born April 3. 1834. In the late 
war, he was a soldier of Company D, Tentli Indiana Volunteers, with which he 
served until 1864, when he was discharged. He then resumed farming, and January 
11, 1870. married Cynthia A. Garner, a daughter of Peter Garner, of Warren 
County, with an issue of several children — Ella, May, John W. (deceased), an infant 
girl and three infant boys (deceased). Mrs. Maddox died February 9, 1883, a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of whicli Mr. Maddo.x is a Trustee and 
Steward. 

MONSON MARTIN was born in Sweden July 17. 1844, and is a son of Martin 
Ericson. His father died in l!^")3, and he came witli his mother to America; they 
were without means, and were unable to speak the language. When they reached 
Tippecanoe County, Monson was bound to one John Austin; this man sent him to 
school. After four years, he left Mr. Austin and came to this county, where lie 
rented a pic^e of land until the war, when he enlisted in Company C, Sevent\'-second 
Indiana Vr)lunteers. He was at tin- battles of Hoover's Gap, Murfreesboro (after 
which his regiment was mounted). Rock Spring, Chattanooga, Cliickamauga, and 
others. While in the service, he never lost one day's service, and was honorably 
dis<harge(l in Jul}'. 1S65. January 1, 1867, he married Pollen Taylor, a native of 
England. This uinon was blessed with six childn-n — Mary A. (deceased). Emma 
E., Lizzie E.. Surah E.. William H. and James E. In 1878, he purchased 160 acres 
in Bolivar Township, where he has now a very fine farm. Mr. Miirtiii takes more 
interest in stock than in f.arming; he is a Trustee; and class-leader of Willow Grove 
Methodist Episcopal C'hunh. and was a loadinix subscriiier to the .same. 

PATiUCK M. MEADE is a .son of Owen W. and Mary (Kennedy) Meade, and 
is a native of licland. His father emigrateil to America when he was al)out ten 



344 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

years old, and settled in Tippecanoe County, Ind., where Patrick alternated between 
farm work and school nntil the war, when, on September 6, 1861, he enlisted in 
Company D, Tenth Indiana Volunteers, in wliich he took part at Mill Spring, 
Perrysville, Hoover's Gap and Chickamauga. where a splinter from a tree, caused 
by a cannon ball, struck him in the body. After recovery, he joined his company, 
and accompanied it through many engagements. He was honorably discharged 
September 9, 1864, and resumed farming. In 1868, he purchased forty acres in this 
township, to Which he soon added forty more. Mr. Meade is an active Republican, 
and a very generally respected citizen. 

HENRY H. MOORE was born in Tippecanoe County. Ind., December 20, 1841, 
and is a son of Walter G. and Ann B. (Wilson) Moore, the former a native of Indi- 
ana, the latter of Ohio. Our subject was left an orphan at an early age. With some 
little schooling, he worked out until he was eighteen years old, when he attended 
an academy at Battle Ground. In 1860, he was granted a certificate to teach, which 
he did until 18(31, when he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Indiana Volunteers. 
" After the fight at Mill Spring, he was taken ill, but recovered so as to engage in the 
battle of Perryville. On account of impaired health, he was discharged in Decem- 
ber, 186'3, after which he resumed farming in summer and teaching in winter. In 
1866, he opened a store in Pine Township, and in 1873 removed his stock to Otterbein, 
where he had built the finest store room in town, and keeps a large stock (»f general 
merchandise. He was married. May 12, 1878, to Elizabeth M.. daughter of Dr. 
William Sleeper, to which union succeeded one child — William H. H. Mr. Moore 
is a Master Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Republican, and he and wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JAMES W. MOORE, one of the few remaining pioneers of Warren County, 
was born in Brown County, Ohio, in 1826, and when ten years old emigrated with 
his parents, William and Keziah (Baldon) Moore, to near Pond Grove, Warren 
County, Ind.. where he was reared to manhood. His education was considerably 
neglected in youth, and the greater portion of his life has been passed in farming. 
In 1849, he was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of John and Catharine 
Blind, and to them two children have been born. Mr. Moore is among the self- 
made men of his county, as the facts in his life clearly indicate. He began life with 
but little means at his command, but, by economy and hard work, has secured a 
finely-improved farm of 212 acres. He and wife are industrious and respected citi- 
zens, and are among the Christian workers of their community. 

JOHN MOORE is a native of Warren County, Ind., and was born January 15, 
1850. Until the age of nineteen, his time was divided between attending school and 
working on the farm, and thereafter working regularly at farm work until his mar- 
riage, September 5, 1872, to Mary H. Hornrighouse, born December 31, 1851, daugh- 
ter of Lewis and Sarah (Glick) Hornrighouse, which union was blessed with four 
children— Hillis W., born November 27, 1873 (deceased); Charles W., born May 4, 
1876; Clara B., born April 20, 1879; and Bennie C, born September 12, 1881 
(deceased). In 1872, Mr. Moore purchased 120 acres in this township, and lived in a 
log house until 1873, when he erected a fine and commodious frame house, with the 
necessary outbuildings. Mr. Moore is a general farmer and stock-raiser, and a 
Republican in politics. 

GEORGE M. PINE, son of William and Henrietta (Turman) Pine, of Bedford 
County, Penn., where our subject was born June 17, 1838. After getting a com- 
mon school education, George moved to Warren County, Ind., with his father in 
1852, who located on a farm, and was killed by a runaway team in 1854. George 
learned the blacksmithing trade, at which he worked some years. January 20. 1861, 
he was married to Hester C. Cannon, daughter of James Cannon, of Warren 
County; this union was blessed with nme children — Jennie, Minnie F., Elenora, 
Emmaretta, Ollie, Georgiana, Ary Lee, George (deceased), and Emery (deceased). 
In 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Seventy-second Indiana Volunteers, and, on ac- 
count of sickness, was transferred to the Sixty-third Invalid Corps, and afterward 
to Company D, Eighth Regiment Reserve Corps, from which he was discharged 
November 20, 1865.' In 1867, he moved to Oxford, Benton County, where he worked 
at his trade. In 1876, he came to Templeton, where he carries on blacksmithing. 
He is a Republican. 

JOHN P. ROSA is a native of Portugal, born August 24, 1844, and is the son of 
Emanuel and Anna Rosa. After attending school until he was eighteen years of 
age, he emigrated to America, and located in Benton Ccmnty, Ind., where he worked 
at farm work, saved his money, and in 1877 started a general merchandise store— the 
second in the beautiful and fast-growing town of Templeton— where he is doing 
very well, owing to his honesty, uidustry and courtesy, and rapidly increasing his 
trade. He occasionally deals in stock. Mr. Rosa is a Republican, a church-goer, 
and universally respected in the community. 



BOLIVAR TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 345 

JOHN M. ROWE was born July 17, 1834. Ilis parents were Frederick C. and 
Rosina B. Rowe, botli natives of Germany, the former born in IHOl, the latter in 
1804. When nineteen years old, our subject came to America, and located at La Fay- 
ette, lud., where he labored as a farm liand. Oclober 3, 18(!1, he was married to 
Catherine F. Cox, daughter of Joel and Catherine (Keenaen)Cox, which union gave 
being to nine children — Martlia E.. born July '.34, 18152; Mary A., born July 10. 1864; 
Rosetta, born October 18. 18H(); William H", born Februafv 19, 18mi: Charles F., 
born January 6, 1872; Margaret A., born Aprils."), 1874; Lillie Brll, born May 21, 
1877 (deceased October 6, 1S80): John, born I)ecen>l)er f), 1870, and Albert F., born 
March 9, 1883. After living in Tippecanoe County nine years, Mr. Rowe came to 
this countj' and purchased 160 acres, where he built a log house, and afterward, in 
1881, as fine a frame house as the township affords, together with outbuildings 
and various improvements. Mr. Rowe has some stock, and some very fine hor.ses. 
He is a liberal Democrat, and was earnest in building Willow GroVe Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

HL GH M. SCOTT, one of the pioneers of Indiana, and one of Benton County's 
self-made men, was born in Gallia County, Ohio, February 1, 1826, and is the son 
of John and Nancj' (Porterflehl) Scott. His father was a farmer, and died when he 
was very young. When ten years of age, he moved with liis guardian — one Robin- 
son — to this State, wiiere he assisted in clearing land. Robinson's family were sick, 
his wife died, and he returned to Ohio, leaving our subject to do or die. lie worked 
in a brickyard for §5 per niontli and board, and undertook to learn blacksmithing, 
but was not strong enough. lie then worked in a woolen mill for .$1 per daj' and 
board, for eight years, where he .saved $300, and then began dealinir in stock. In 
1847, he enlisted in the Foiuth Indiana Regiment, for the war with Mexico, and was 
in the battle of Puebla and at the shelling of the City of Mexico. In 1848, he was 
discharged at Xew^ Orleans, came to Indiana, and resumed cattle-dealing. March 
21, l8o(), he married Elmira Catej', of Wayne Count}', daughter of Stacy B. Catey; 
the}' have had six children — Alfred B., Stacy C, John F., Mary L.,Emma E. (de- 
ceased). and Arthur (deceased). In 1858, Mr. Scott purchased 160 acresin this township, 
■where he now has 4,500 acres. He is a Republican, an Odd Fellow, and a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

ALFRED B. SCOTT, son of Hugh M. Scott, was born in Wayne County, Ind., 
April 25. 1851. He worked on the La Fayette, Munice it Bloomington Railroad, 
taught writing school at Huntsville, Randolph County, and ran an engine in the 
mill of George W. Nichols, at Oxford. He was married, September 10, 1872, to 
Martha J. Comer, daughter of John Comer, of Jasper County; their union was 
blessed with five children. Mr. Alfred B- Scott resides near his father, on eighty 
acres of improv(?ti land. He is a Republican, and an esteemed citizen. 

STACY C. SCOTT, also a son of Hugh M. Scott, was born in Randolph County, 
September 19, 1855. He commenced to work at farming when ten years old, and 
attended the Normal School at Valparaiso two terms, including a book-keeping 
course, and received his diploma. After this he worked for his father until his mar- 
riage. January 18, 1883. to MaryL. Blue, l)orn April 9. 18.55, daughter of Jasper and 
Elizabeth E. (Sparks) Blue, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of North Caro- 
lina, and both early settlers of Indiana. Mr. Stacy C. Scott is a general farmer. 
He is a Repulilican, and a member of the ^lethodisf Episcopal Church. 

DAVID F. SEWELL, son of Joseph and Mary ((roodwine) Scwell. the father 
a native of Virginia,, the mother of Pennsylvania, and both early settlers of Pike 
County, Ohio, where our subject was born October !), 181S, and attended school in 
a log schoolhouse of that day, and afterward worked for his father on the farm and 
at his mill until he was nineteen years old. wiun he learned the blacksmithing 
trade. Deceml)er 28. 1848, lie was married to Henrietta N. Ladd, daugiiter of 
Thomas and Nancy A. (Godridge) Ladd, both early .settlers in Pike County. Mr. 
Sewell continued at his trade until 1851, when he moved to this county and pur- 
chased 160 acres of prairie land, which he impr )V('d and cultivated. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sewell became the parents of twelve (;iiildren — .Mary E (deceased). Thomas J. .Samuel 
I., CHiarles A.. Nancy J. (deceased). Angelitta, Eliza M., Elizabeth M., Oliver P., 
Delilah, Priscillii S. and Alice F. Mr. Sewell is a Republican, and he and wife are 
members of the M. E. Church. 

J. D. STINGLE was l)orn in Rush County, Ind., October 1, 1846, and is a son 
of Thomas and Margaret (Stewart) Stingle, the former a native of Pennsylvania, 
the latter of Ghio. The father of our subject moved to La Fayette, Ind., where he 
purcha.sed a farm, and where his son attended the common and the graded school. 
When he was fifteen years old, he commeiifed to handle stock, in which business he 
has continue<l. He was married, Di-ccmliiT 2(i. 1H()5. to Priscilla A. Royal, of Tip- 
pecanoe County, by wiiom he has had four children — Harvey C. (deceased), Alva- 
retta, Clara B. and (Jrianna. In 1879, by nuitual consent. Air. and Mrs. Stingle 



346 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

were divorced, and on May 6. 1880, he married Eva Freeman, daughter of William 
S. and Minerva (Couklln) Freeman, of Rush County, tlie issue of which union was 
one child, Charles F. In 1879, he moved to Templeton, and in 1882 built the only 
grain elevator in the township. He is one of the largest stock dealers and shippers 
in the county, having sent away thirty car loads in a week. Mr. Stingle is a Master 
Mason and a Republican. 

MILTON SUNDERLAND is a son of Andrew R. and Eliza A. (Crasher) 
Sunderland, early settlers of this county, where he was born October 30, 1852. At 
an early age his father died, and he worked on a farm and went to school during 
boyhood, continuing his labor on the home place until he was twenty years old. 
On the 29th of January, 1879, he was united in marriage with Hannah L. Cochran, 
daughter of James and Nancy (Myers) Cochran, formerly of Ohio. One child suc- 
ceeded to their union, Thomas W. The mother of our subject, now sixty-four years 
of age, resides with him. Mr. Sunderland is a Democrat, and he and wife are 
attendants at church. 

COL. WILLIAM J. TEMPLETON was born in Shelby County, Ind., June 8, 
1827, and is a son of Isaac and Rhoda (Gregory) Templeton. Col. Templeton was 
reared on a pioneer farm. After his twenty-first year, he engaged in buying and 
shipping cattle, and soon purchased a tract of land in Bolivar Township, which he 
farmed. He was married, September 14, 1851, to Melissa A. Jennings, daughter of 
Milton and Maria (Finch) Jennings, of Benton County, by whom he had four chil- 
dren—Horace G., Eva M. (deceased), Iva V. and William U. When the late war 
occurred, he raised a company, not mustered in, and went out as Captain of Com- 
pany D, Fifteenth Indiana Volunteers, their first battle being Greenbrier, W. Va., 
November 16, 1861. he was appointed by Gov. Morton, Major of the Sixtieth In- 
fantry. At the battle of Munfordsville, he was captured, but soon exchanged. 
May 27, 1862, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel. In consequence of a wound 
received at Arkansas Post, he left the service August, 1863, and resumed cattle 
dealing ; this business he continued to enlarge, and lost at one time $150,000. He 
assisted in building the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomiugton, and also the C, I. & 
St. L. & G. Railroads ; he also founded the town of Templeton. Col. Templeton 
was a Republican, but is now a Greenbacker, and also a member of the I. O. 0. F. ♦ 

JOHN K. THOMPSON, M. D., tlie oldest medical practitioner north of the 
Wabash, is a son of Anthony C. and Martha (Kersey) Thompson, and was l)orn in 
Maryland April 16, 1817. He attended scliool until he was nineteen, when he en- 
tered the Medical University at Baltimore, and graduated therefrom. He engaged 
in practice at Muscatine, Iowa, but returned to Maryland, and January 23, 1844, 
married Henrietta W. Lecompt, a union graced by six children— Anthony C, 
Charles C, Daniel M.. Mattie, Kate and Lida. Dr. Thompson continued in prac- 
tice until 1856, when he moved to La Fayette, Ind., and practiced with success until 
1873, when he came tu Otterbein. and built the first dwelling in the town. Mrs. 
Thompson died March 4. 1866, and on October 8, 1873, he wedded Mary Silvester, 
daughter of William and Irene (Carr) Sylvester, of Warren County ; one child fol- 
lowed this union — William. Dr. Thompson has been President of the State Medical 
Society for four j'ears ; he is an active Republican and esteemed citizen. 

BENJAMIN A. TIMMONS was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, April 10, 
1816, and is a son of Thomas and Hester ( Winright) Timmons. His education was 
limited, owing to the poor opportunities therefor. In 1829, he moved with his father 
to Tippecanoe County. Ind., and in 1831 to Benton County, where his father built 
the first house, a log one, 16x32, in said county, which is yet standing. Benjamin 
attended school and farmed at home until 1833, at which time his father gave him 
money to buy forty acres in.this township, to which he added forty more, and now 
has 700 acres. He was married, August 5, 1840, to Sarah J. Anderson, born Feb- 
ruary 13. 1824, daughter of John and Sarah Anderson. This union was graced with 
five children— infant girl (deceased), Nancv J. (deceased), John W., Thomas J. and 
Esther A. Mr. Timmons is a stock dealer, and has handled 30!) head of cattle in one 
year. He has given a farm to each of his children. In 1842, he was elected County 
Coroner, and afterward Sheriif for two terms, and also County Commis- 
sioner. He is a Master Mason, a Democrat, and an honored citizen. 

IRA TIMMONS was born December 20, 1818. in Pickaway County, Ohio, 
whither his parents emigrated in the early days, his father being a native of Dela- 
ware, his mother of ^Maryland. Ira attended the pioneer school about three months 
of each year, working on the farm, hunting, etc., the remainder. In 1830, his father 
moved lo Tippecanoe Countj-. Ind., where Ira learned brickmaking, and afterward 
went to Iowa City, Iowa, whOre he helped to make the hi'n-k in the State Capitol ; he 
then went to the lead mines at Dnbuque, wliere he remained eight years. In 1850, 
he went by overland to California. In 1853, he moved to Jacksonvdle, III, and on 
the 3d of May was wedded to Ellen Williams, daughter of Ahner and Emily Will- 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 347 

ianis, by whom he had tliree chihlron— E(li;ar«\V., born Februarys, 1854; infant 
boy (deceased), and Cliarles W., l)orn December 11, IH")*}. Mrs. Timmons died Slay 
7, 1857. In 1H59, Mr. Timmons went to Pike's Peai<, and in 1879 eume toOtterbein, 
and bepin a general store. He, with liis son Edgar, is a Republican, a member of 
the M. E. Church, and a valued citizen. 

GEORGE WOODHAMS, one of the prosperous farmers of Bolivar Township, 
is a native of England, where lie was born in 1811, and is a son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth (Christmas) Woodhums. Receiving a good practical education in youth, 
he embarked in merchandising in his native country, and in 1881 was united in mar- 
riage witli Anna Hrooker, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Brooker. Meeting 
witli pecuniary reverses, he emigrated to the United States in 1850, and engaged in 
farming near the boundary line between Warren and Benton Counties, in Indiana. 
At the time of his location here. Mr. Woodhams possessed oidy ai)out §".3<), but since 
that time he has pro.spered by hard work and economy, and to-day owns 3(55 acres of 
good land. He and wife arc among the Christian people and esteemed citizens of 
their neighborhood, and the parents of six sons and two daughters. 

ISAIAH C. YOUNG was born in Rockbridge County," Va., October 21, 1805; 
he is a son of Andrew and Jane (McBride) Young, the former a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, the latter of Virginia. The father of Isaac emigrated to Ross County, 
Ohio, when the son was seven years old, and there he attended .school about three 
months out of twelve. At the age of eighteen, he served three years to learn the 
trade of tanner and currier, after which he moved to Pickaway County 
and worked at his trade. In 1882, he moved to Warren County, Ind., and 
opened a tanyard. January 12, .1887, he was married to Nancy Oungs, by whom he 
had one child— William H. Thereafter, in 1848. he came to this township and pur- 
chased forty acres, to which he has added imtil he has 160 acres. In 18(32, his son, 
AVilliam H., enlisted in Company C, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteers, and served 
actively at Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge, and with Gen. Sherman in his march 
from Atlanta to the coast. He was honorai)ly dis(;liargcd in June, 1SG5. July 18, 
1867. he was married to Rebecca Ford, daughter of Solomon Ford. Three children 
followed their vmion — Clark, Luther and Allen. William H. Young has full charge 
of the farm, his father residing with him, in his seventy-eighth year. Mr. Y'oung 
is a Republican. 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP. 



JACOB S. ALBAUGH was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, April 15. 1836, and 
is the eldest of ten children born to Reuben and Sarah (Ryder) Alhaugh, natives of 
Harrison and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and of German descent. Reuben Albaugh 
has followed the plow and wagon making trade all iiis life, and at present has a shop 
at Bowling Green, Ohio. His first wife, Mrs. Sarah Albaugh, who was a member of 
the Lutheran Church, is deceased. He has been Trustee of liis townsliip. He and 
wife are members of the Lutheran Cliurch. Jacob S. Albaugh followed the wagon- 
making trade in his native county until 1862, when he came to O.xford, this county, 
and opened a shop, in company with his brother. His brother subsequently retiring, 
Jacob conducted the business about fifteen years. In February, 18(55, he enlisted in 
Company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and 
served with that regiment until tiie close of the war. In 187N, he ojiened a meat 
market at Oxford, and has since continued the business. He was a Trustee of 0.\- 
ford for man)- years, and is now Marshal of the town. Mr. Albaugh was married, 
June 2, 1859, to Elsie Travis, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio. They liave six 
children. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Chiu-ch. He is a member 
of Oxford I>odge, and of Oak (irove Township Encampment, I. O. O. F. He has 
passed the chairs in the sul)ordinate lodire and camp, and is at present I). D. G. M. 
He is a Democrat, and in 18H0 was candidate for the oflice of County Sheriff, and 
was defeated bj' oiilv a few votes. 

THO.MAS ATI\INSOX was Imrn in Y'orK Countv, Penn., Augu.st 17, 1806. and 
is the tenth of eleven children liorn to Joseph ami Susanna (Mills) Atkin.son, both 
natives of Penn.sylvania and of Englisli descent. The ancestors of the Atkin.sons 
and Mills families were among the eiuly (Quaker colonists, who settlei] in Pennsyl- 
vania aliout 1682. Joseph .Vikinson was married in his native State, and followed 
weaving some time, but afti'rwanl engagid in farming. In IHil.hc Itought 200 
acres of military lands in ( linton (Jouiity, Ohio, which he farmed. Fifteen years 
later, he lost the ])urcha.se money and all his improvements through a defect in the 
title. After that, he f.irmed the same i)lace on shares until his death in 1830. He 



348 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and wife were members of the Friends' Church. Thomas Atkinson was educated 
in a log schoolhouse, but by his own exertions has since acquired considerable busi- 
ness knowledge. He is an extensive reader and possesses a fine library. He re- 
mained on tlie home farm until twenty years old, when he married, and soon after 
moved to Greene County, Ohio, where he bought 200 acres of military lands and im- 
proved a farm. In 183(), and for some years afterward, he herded large droves of 
cattle on the prairies now included in the southern part of Benton County, driving 
them to market at Philadelphia. In 1830, he traded a horse worth $50 for the claim 
of Luke Conner to 2,000 acres, known as lost lands, now in the southeast part of this 
township. Soon after, he sold the claim for $100, butin 1848 re-purchased a portion at 
$13 per acre and moved his family on to the land, where thej- have since resided. He 
and sons subsequently bought nearly all of the 2,000 acres, in addition to about 
1,200 acres of other land in Warren and Benton Counties. Mr. Atkinson was mar- 
ried, August 5, 1824, to Frances Head, a native of Clinton County, Ohio. The twelve 
children, six boj's and six girls, born to them, all lived to maturity, and nine of them 
are still living. They are farmers and farmers' wives, and their lands adjoin. Mr. 
Atkinson was one of the first Commissioners of Benton County, and held the office 
three years. In 1865, he represented Benton and White Counties in the Lower House 
of the State Legislature. lie is not a church member, being liberal in his religious 
views. Mr. Atkinson was formerly an Abolitionist, and is now a Republican. He 
is one of the most prominent citizens, and an early pioneer of the county. 

JOSEPH ATKINSON was born in Madison County, Ohio, February 13, 1832, 
and is the fourth of twelve children born to Thomas and Frances (Head) Atkinson. 
Our subject received a limited common school education in his j'outh, but has since 
acquired considerable knowledge by his own exertions. He was employed on the 
home farm until he was tweniy-four years old. In 1857, he moved to a partially 
improved farm of 148 acres in this township, which he had bought the year before, 
and which he still owns. In 1876, he moved to the farm where he now lives, just 
south of Oxford. Mr. Atkinson owns well-improved farms in Warren and Benton 
Counties amounting to 2,200 acres. He is extensively engaged in cattle-breeding, 
raising annually about 400 head of cattle, 100 mules and 500 hogs. He w\as married, 
March 1, 1857, to Rachel Waymire, a native of Warren County, Ind. Four chil- 
dren have blessed their imion. two now living — Sarah J. (Mrs. B. F. Gephart), and 
Frank. Mr. Atkinson is a member of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; he is a Republican, 
and one of the leading stock-raisers and dealers in the countv^ 

JAMES H. BELL was born in Floyd County, Ind., September 19, 1859, and is 
the second of five children born to William and Mahala (Hancock) Bell, natives of 
Harrison and Floyd Counties, Ind., respectively, and of English descent. William 
Bell was left an orphan when nine years old, after which he lived with his sister 
near New Albany, Ind., until nineteen years old; he then went to New Albany, 
where he afterward married. For several years, he engaged .in the produce trade, 
and amassed a handsome fortune, but through the failure and absconding of some 
Southern consignees during the late civil war, he lost all his property. He was 
engaged in various pursuits in White, Tippecanoe and Benton Counties, and in 
1878 took charge of the "Ohio House," at Oxford, remaining until his death July 
21, 1880, in his sixty-first year. He served in the Second Indiana Volunteer Infan- 
try during the Mexican war. James H. Bell had a good common school education. 
After his father's death, the support of his mother and two sisters devolved upon 
him. He assumed the proprietorship of the "Ohio House," and has proved him- 
self a first-class landlord. His hotel is deservedly one of the most popular on the 
L. E. & W. Railway. Mr. Bell is one of Benton C/Ounty's enterprising citizens. 

MARTIN L. BENEDICT (deceased) was born in Lancaster County, Penn., 
and was of German descent. When eleven years old, he removed with his parents 
to Harrison County, Ohio, where he received most of his education. He learned the 
stone-mason's trade, and followed it in Ohio manj^ years. Soon after his majority, 
he married Miss Eve A. Hendricks, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, and of 
German descent. Eleven children blessed thisunion, of whom four sons, Levi, Frank- 
lin H., Martin. Andrew J., and several daughters, are yet living, and reside in Benton 
County. In 1853, Mr. Benedict came to this township, where he had entered 160 acres 
of land two years before. He improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death, 
in November, 1876. After he came to Indiana, Mr. Benedict continued his trade, in 
connection with farming, and built the first stone work in Benton County; he was 
widely known throughout Benton and adjoiningcounties as an excellent workman. 
He was a member of the I. O. O. F., also of the Grange; he and wife were members of 
the Christian Church. Mrs. Eve A. Benedict is still living, and has a pleasant home 
near the residence of her son Levi, in Oak Grove Township. When the Benedict 
family came to this State, there were no schoolhouses in this township, but schools 
were taught at private houses, where, and in the log schoolhouses soon afterward 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 349 

erected, the children received their echuiilion. The tliree eldest sons, Levi, Frank- 
lin H. and Martin, worked at the stonemason's husiness witii their father several 
years. Levi Benedict was born in Harrison County, Ohio, August 18, 18:}4, and is 
the second child in the family. He remained on the home farm until twenty six 
years old, after which he farmed on shares eight years; he then l)Ought a farm of 80 
acres in this township, which he sold in 1S82, and purchased another farm of 171 
acres, same township ; he resides on this farm, and it is in capital condition. He 
was married. October 14, IstU), to Miss Mahala Kolb, a native of Hush County, Ind. 
Seven children have been born to them, all of whom are living. Mr. Benedict is a 
member of Summit Grange, No. 247, and he and wife are members of the Christian 
Church. Franklin H. Benedict was born in Harrison County, Ohio, November 27, 
1836, and is the third child in tne family. He stayed on the home farm until twen- 
ty-five years old ; he then worked at the stonemason's trade ten j'ears. During that 
time, he bought fort}' acres of wild land in this township, upon which he has ever 
since resided. In 187fi, he began to farm the land, also working at his trade; in 
1881, in consequence of failing health, he abandoned the trade; he now owns a well- 
improved farm of eighty acres. March 1, 1864, he married Miss Anna L. Forbes, a 
native of County Cprk, Ireland. Five chihlren have blessed their union, all now 
living— Lewis II., Olive J., Rosanette. Franklin K. and Myrtle M. Mr. Benedict 
is a member of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the 
Christian Church, also of Model Grange, No. t»y7, of which thej' \vere charter mem- 
bers. Slartin Benedict was born in Harrison County, Ohio, January 10, 1844, and 
is the sixth child in the familj-. He was employed principally on the home farm 
until nineteen j'cars old; he then followed the stonemason's trade sixteen years. In 
1879, he bougirt a farm of eighty acres in this township, on which he resided until 
the spring of 1882, when he sold that farm, and bought the old homestead of 160 
acres, same township,- and still resides there; the farm is well cultivated, and has 
several groves of fine deciduous and evergreen trees planted by his father, and 
assisted by himself and brothers. He was married, Januar}' 19, 1875, to Miss Isa- 
bella Sabin. a native of La Fayette, Ind. Two children have been left to them — 
Arthur E. and Lillie M. Mr. "Benedict is a ineml)er of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F. 
Andrew J. Benedict, the tenth child in the family, was born in this township July 
4, 1854. He is not yet married, and resides with his mother. With the exception 
of one year, when he farmed in Kansas, all his life has been spent in this town- 
ship. He learned the stonemason's trade with his brothers, and has followed that, in 
connection with farming, ever since. He is a member of Model Grange, No. 937, 
and was formerlj^ an Odd Fellow. In politics, the Benedict i)rothers are Democrats; 
they were earlv settlers in the county, and are all enterprising farmers. 

JESSE BIRCH was born in Licking County, Ohio, March 11, 1820, and is the 
fourth of eight children born to Thomas and Eleanor (Horn) Birch, natives of Mary- 
land and West Virginia, and of English and German descent. When a child, 
Thomas Birch went to Virginia, where he subsequentl}- married and engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, until 1813. He then moved to Licking County, Ohio, 
and followed farming until 1827, when he came to Fountain County, Ind. He 
entered and bought 100 acres of land, which he farmed until 1854. He then 
moved to Attica, where he died June 13, 1850. He and wife were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Birch was a local preacher. He was a 
member of the Sons of Temperance. Jesse Birch farmed in Fountain County sev- 
eral years; then engaged in brick-making and the building trade at Attica. He was 
in mercantile and stock business at the same i)la(e seven years. He next embarked 
in the gi-ain trade at Independence Station, W. <k I*. Railway. In March, 1807, he 
moved to Adams Township, Warren County, where he had previously bought a 
farm. In 1873, he came to Oxford, and was in the grain trade seven years. During 
that time, he owned and operated an elevator at Rankin, 111. After'this, he was in 
the cattle trade one year. Since then, he has lived a retired life. Mr. Birch was 
married 3Iarch 3, 1844, to P^li/.abeth Wiggins, a native of Ohio. They have had one 
daughter — Elvesa J. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which Mr. Birch has tilled various offices. He is a member of Oxford Lodge, 
190, A. F. & A. M.. and is a Republican. 

MILTON V. BOWMAN was born in McMinn County, Tenn., July 8, 1830, and 
is the eldest of twelve children born to Robert R. and Sarah (Griffin) Bowman, na- 
tives of North and South Carolina respectively; the former of Scotch and the latter 
of English descent. When a young man. Robert R. Bowman removed to McMinn 
County, Tenn., where he afterward married. He owned a farm there, and followed 
agricidtural pursuits .several years. In 1S34, he came to Hamilton Countj', Ind., 
wliere he entered 120 acres, which he cultivated and resided on until his death, 
March 4, 18.50. He was one of the Trustees of his township, in Hamilton County, 
under the old constitution. He and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal 



350 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Church. Milton V. Bowmiin had meager schooling facilities during his youth, bu^ 
since arriving at manhood has acquired a good practical education. He is an ex- 
tensive reader, and well informed on all current topics. He worked on his father's 
farm until twenty-four years old ; then learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- 
lowed about twelve years. In 1866, he came to this township and bought 160 acres 
of wild land. This land he has improved, and still resides upon it. From 1860 ta 
1869, he taught several terms of .school. He also taught penmanship during the 
winter season, about fifteen years. October 15, 1874, he married Miss Sarah Bow- 
man, a native of Switzerland County, Ind. One daughter has blessed their union — 
Sarah E. He and wife are members of Summit Grange, No. 247, and Mr. Bowman 
is a Democrat. 

JOHN W. BRADLEY was born in Madison County, Va., September 24, 1822. 
and is one of thirteen children born to Augustin and Mary (Lillard) Bradley, natives 
of Virginia, and of English descent. Augustin owned and operated a farm in Vir- 
ginia, until his death in 1852 or 1853. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, having- 
fought through the entire struggle. John W. Bradley received a limited education, 
and from the age of twelve years made his home with his .sister, until seventeen. 
He then served a two years apprenticeship to the blacksmith, trade. In 1851, he 
came to Indiana and worked at his trade in different places in Warren and Benton 
Counties until 1873, when he bought a farm in Oak Grove Township, this county. 
He followed agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1880, when he came to Oxford, 
and engaged in the hardware business, and has since been doing a thriving trade. 
He carries a stock of shelf and heavy hardware, barbed wire, stoves and all kinds 
of agricultural implements, in value about $8,000. and his average annual sales 
amount to $10,000. Mr. Bradley was married, in 1842, to Mary W. Haynie, a na- 
tive of Virginia. They had six children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Mary 
Bradley died in 1875. She was a member of the Christian Church. In 1877, Mr. 
Bradley married Mrs. Nancy J. (Clark) Branson, a native of Warren County, Ind., 
by whom he has had one son— Morton C. Mr. Bradley is a member of the Christian, 
and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican, and one of 
the leading men of the town. 

MARK J. BRIAR was born in Miami County, Ohio, October 10, 1827, and is 
the fifth of six children born to David and Elizabeth (Jacobs) Briar, natives of 
Pennsylvania and Ohio, of Scotch and German descent. When young, David Briar 
removed to Miami County, Ohio, and subsequently to St. Louis, Mo., where he fol- 
lowed shoe-making. He 'was in the war of 1812, after which he returned to Miami 
County, Ohio, married, and engaged in farming. In 1830, he entered 160 acres in 
Washington Township, Warren Co.. Ind., and improved a farm, on which he resided 
until his death in January, 1841. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mark J. Biiar served a seven years' apprenticeship to the blacksmith's 
trade, and worked as a journeyman in Indiana and Missouri two years. He then 
opened a shop at Terre Haute, Ind., and remained nine months. In March, 1851, 
he opened a .shop at Oxford. In February, 1865, he enlisted in Company F, One 
Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close 
of the war. About 1866, he opened a wagon and carriage .shop at Oxford, and has 
since done a good business. Mr. Briar, in 1850, married Mary J. Hawkins, a na- 
tive of Vigo County, Ind., by whom he had three children, all now living. That 
lady, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in March, 1857. 
In July, 1859, he married Martha M. Lane, a native of South Carolina. They had 
a son and daughter, both now deceased. Mrs. Martha Briar died in February, 1862. 
She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, her father having been a 
minister of that denomination. Mr. Briar married his present wife, Hester R. An- 
derson, a native of Ohio, in January, 1866. By this union there are five children, 
all living. Mrs. Briar is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. 
Briar holds to that faith, though not a church member. He is a member of Oxford 
Lodse, I. O. O. F., and is a Republican. 

JAMES BYARD was born in Fountain County, Ind., November 7, 1830, and 
is the eldest of four children now living born to John and Margaret (Smith) Byard, 
natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, the former of German, and the latter 
of English, Irish and Welsh descent. When a boy, John Byard moved to Coshoc- 
ton County, Ohio, where he received a limited education. He afterward went to 
Darke County, Ohio, where he married. ' In 1S29, he came to Fountain County, 
Ind. In 1831, he moved to what is now Grant Township, Benton County, entered 
200 acres of land, and improved a farm. In 1842, he was in Washington County, 
Iowa, one j^ear. He returned to Grant Township, and resided in Warren and Ben- 
ton Counties until his death, December 18, 1851. James Byard was educated in the 
old log schoolhouse. His mother died when he was thirteen years old, after which 
he made his home among strangers. He worked by the month about one year. 



OAK GROVK TOWiNSMIP— BENTON COUNTY. 351 

then funned on shares until ISoO, when he bought a farm in Iroquois County, 111. 
In 1870, he moved to Pine Township. Warren County Ind., where he bouglit a 
farm. In 1882, he came to O.xford, this county, and opened a grocery store, and has 
since done an excellent business. He carries a stocii of groceries, provisions, glass- 
ware, queensware and notions, valued from $'2,5(10 to $;5.<K)0. ^Ir. Byard was mar- 
ried, September 12, 1855, to Nancy A. Sargent, a native of Warren County, Ind. 
That lad)' died July 11, 18G5. She was a member of tiie Christian Church. March 
29, 1871, he married Rebecca A. Hooker, a native of Warren County, Ind. They 
have onlj" one daughter, Fannie, now living. He and wife are members of the 
Christian Church. He is a member of Du Tour Lodge, No. 101, I. O. O. F., at 
Kainsville, also of Sigler Lodge, No. 101. Knights of Honor, at Ilainsville, and of 
Silva Lodge, A. O. U. W., at Boswell. Politically, he is a Democrat. 

JOHN CAMPBELL was liorn in Penobscot, Me., September 4, 1808, and is the 
youngest of ten children l)orn to Daniel and Elizabeth (Ihom) Campbell, natives of 
Maine, and of Scotch and Irish descent. Daniel Can>pbell removed with iiis wife 
and family, in 1817. to Hamilton County, Ohio, and farmed on shares until 1821, 
when he removed to Fayette County, Ind. He bougiit between 200 and 300 acres of 
land, and improved a farm, upon which he died in 1842, in his eightieth year. He 
and wife were members of the Christian Church. Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell died in 
1848 in her eighty-fourth j'car. John Campbell, on attaining his majority, was 
deeded, by his father, 140 acres of the old homestead. He ultimately bought the 
whole of the farm, and added to it until he owned •i'-iO acres. In 1854, he sold out 
and came to this township, where he bought partially improved farms, amounting 
to over 700 acres. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1860, when he sold 
the farm and came to Oxford. He owns valuable business and resilience property 
in the town. October 17, 1830, he married Mary Furrey, a native of Pennsjlvania, 
by whom he had ten children, seven of whom are living. Four of his sons were in 
tlie late war, one of whom, Amos, was killed at the battle^f Arkansa-! Post. Mrs. 
Mar}' Campbell died June 20. 18(58. She was a member of the Christian (Huirch. 
In September, 18(50, he married Mrs. Hannah (Janes) Nelson, a native of New Yoi-k. 
They have no children, but ]\Irs. Campbell had eigiit children by her former marriage. 
Mr. Campbell and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a Republican, 
and an earnest worker in the temperance cause. 

JAMES CAMPBELL was l)orn in Fayette County, Ind., August 1, 1840, and is 
the sixth of ten children born to John and Mary Campbell, natives of Maine 
and Pennsylvania, of Scotch and German descent. James received a good educa- 
tion in the" common schools, and was employed on his father's farm until he was 
twenty-one years old. He then rented his father's farm one vear. August 8, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer infantry. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Jackson, Miss., Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, through the 
Atlanta campaign, and with Sherman's army on the raemoral)]e march to the sea. 
He was mustered out at Washington, D. C, June 5, 18(55. After his return from 
the army, he farmed two or three years, and was then in a brick yard some time. 
In 1872, he opened an art studio at Oxford. He is the only photographer in the 
town. March 29, 1873, he was married to Margaret Miller, a native of Prussia. 
They have no children. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. 
Campbell is a Republican. 

ALFRED J. CARNAHAN was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 12. 1824, 
and is the .second of seven children born to Robert and Martha J. (Jones) Carnahan, 
natives of Pennsylvania anrl Kentucky, and of Scotch and German descent. In 
1796, Robert Carnaiian removed to Hamilton County, Ohio. His father bought 160 
acres of land and made a farm, whicii was afterwanl owned by Robert, and now by 
our subject. Robert followed Ihc l)rick and ston(' mason trade, in connection with 
farming, for .several j'ears. In 1830, he engaged in dry goods at Cincinnati, and in 
1846 returned to the farm, where lie died November 18. 1848. He was Justice of the 
Peace and Townshij) Tiustee, and he and wife were members of the Christian 
Cliurch. Alfred J. Carnahan received a common sciiotW education, and worked on 
his father's farm until twenty-six years old. He clerked in a dry goods store at 
Rising Sun, Ind. In 1851, he managed a general merchandise store at Oxford for his 
brother, James G. Carnahan, and Adams Earl. Subsecjuently he bought Mr. Earl's 
interest, and later his brother's. In 1861, he sold out and engaged in live-stock on 
a farm. In 1863, he bought a farm of 200 acres in this township, which he sold in 
1868, and returned to Oxford, wiiere he bouglit the hack and mail line from that 
place to La Fayette. In 1871. he was employed on the L. E. ik W. Railway. From 
1873 to 1876, he clerked at Oxford, then became baggage master between Muncie 
and Bloomington. The same year, he and Joseph Heath engaged in <lry goods at 
Oxford as Heath & Co. Mr. Carnahan manages the business. They have a well- 
selected stock, value about $8,000, and are prospering. Mr. Carnahan has been 



352 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Township Treasurer, also County Treasurer. September 39, 1852, he married 
Amanda M. Batchelder, a native of Cincinnati. They have four sons. He is a char- 
ter member of Oxford Lodge, No. 190, A., F. & A. M., and has been W. M. of same 
lodge. He is also a charter member of Oxfoid Lodge. L O. O. F., and politically is 
a Republican. 

JOHN P. CARR, Jr., editor of the Oxford Tribune, was born in White Coun- 
ty, Ind., September 26, 1H54. He is a son of Hon. John P. Carr, Sr., one of the pio- 
neers and representative men of White County, Ind. Our subject received his early 
education in his native county, and in 1866 entered the State Universitj'^ at Bloom- 
ington, Ind., graduating from that institution in 1880. The following year, June 
15, 1881, he purchased the Oxford Tribune. Mr. Carr was married. May 31, 1883, to 
Martha A. Bell, who was born January 8, 1861, in Floyd County, Ind. Politically, 
he is a Republican, and is one of the ablest editors of Northwestern Indiana. 

HIRAM CLARK was born at Geneva, N. Y., August 27, 1802, and is the 
fourth of ten children born to Richard and Lydia (Tatton) Clark, natives of New 
York, and of English and Dutch descent. For many years, Richard Clark was 
Revenue Collector in Genesee County, N. Y., and in 1812 he removed to Scioto 
County, Ohio, and during the war was in the butchering business. He then went 
to Ro.ss County, Ohio. He traded with the Indians at Sandusky until 1824, when he 
returned to New York and practiced medicine until 1851 or 1852. He then came to 
Attica, Fountain Co., Ind., where he resided until his death, in 1856. His wife died 
in 1812. They were members of the Baptist Church. Hiram Clark, ia 1825, came 
to what is now Medina Township, Warren Co., Ind.; entered eighty acres of land, 
which he farmed, and to which he added until he possessed over 700 acres. In 1856, 
he sold out and moved to Attica, living in and near the town until 1870. He then 
retired to Oxford, where he owns a handsome property. August 27, 1826, he mar- 
ried Harriet W. Smith, a native of Maryland. They had six children, four now liv- 
ing. Three of Mr. Clark's sons were in the late war; one, William H., was killed. 
His first wife, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died March 
19, 1855. Mr. Clark married his present wife, Mrs. Mary J. (Smith) Coats, October 16, 
1855. She is a native of Maryland and a sister of his first wife. They are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Clark is a Republican and one of the 
pioneers of Warren and Benton Counties. 

WILLIAM E. CRIGLER was born in Fayette County, Ind., January 23, 1845, 
and is the only child born to Owen T. and Margaret (Tindall) Crigler, natives of 
Fayette and Shelby Counties, Ind. The Criglers are descended from two brothers 
who emigrated to America from Germany and settled in Madison County, Va., 
in the seventeenth century. Criglersville, Va., was laid out by them or their de- 
scendants. Owen T. Crigler followed farming in his native county until his death 
March 6, 1846. Mrs. Margaret Crigler died in February, 1845. William E. Crigler 
lived with his father's relatives until August, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, 
Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, 
Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, 
through the Atlanta campaign and in many minor engagements. He was mustered out 
in September, 1864. After his return, he farmed on shares in Fayette County, Ind., 
two years. He then bought a farm in same county. In 1872, he engaged in the 
grocery trade at Lebanon, Boone County, and afterward was employed in the 
marble and stone-cutting trade. In August, 1880, he came to Oxford, and has since 
done a good business in the marble trade. He was married, April 3, 1866, to Eliza- 
beth H. Oliphant, a native of Rush County. Ind. They have three sons. Mr. 
Crigler is a member of Lebanon Lodge, No. 45, K. of P., also of G. A. R. Post at 
Oxford, and is a Republican. 

CAPT. JOHN M. CROSSON was born in Washington County, Penn.. October 
19, 1882, and is the sixth of seven children born to James and Margaret J. (Brown) 
Crossou, the former a native of Ireland, near Belfast, the latter of Pennsylvania. 
When a young man, James Crosson, in 1815, emigrated to the United States and 
settled in Washington County, Penn., where he married and bought a farm. He 
subsequently farmed on shares in Perry County, Ohio, and in 1849 came to this 
township and resided here until his death April 14, 1866. He and wife were mem- 
bers of the Presb,yterian Church. He joined the Masonic fraternity in the old 
country, and was high up in the order. John M. Crosson was educated in the com- 
mon schools and at Bloomington University. He taught school about three years, 
then engaged in general merchandise at Oxford until December 1, 1861, when he en- 
listed in Company D, Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the 
battle of Jackson, Miss., the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Munfordville, Ky., 
and many minor engagements. In December, 1862, he was promoted to First Lieu- 
tenant, and in April, i863, to Captain, and was mustered out at Indianapolis March 
23, 1865. After his return, he bought a farm in this township, near Oxford, on which 



OAK GROVF, TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 353 

he still resides. The Captain has been candidate for Sheriff, and Treasurer of Ben- 
ton County, and is at present servini^ his<'ij;litli year as Trustee of Oak Grove Town- 
ship. He was married, October Hi, ISfiO. to Mari,Mrct E. Justus, a native of Benton 
County, Ind. They have three daui,diters. The Captain is a member of Oxford 
Lod.ire". No. 190, A., F. & A. M., also of I. O. O. F. and of G. A. R. He is a Re- 
publican. 

CHARLES DAILEY was born in Fayette Coimty, Ind., Octol)er 27, 1822, and 
is the eldest of three children, now livini?, born to William and Nancy (Frazee) 
Dailey, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, and of English descent. When quite 
voung, William Dailey went to Ma.sou County, Ky., where he afterward married, 
ile was a subordinate officer in the war of 1812. In 1820, he moved to Faj-ette 
County, Ind., entered several hundred acres of land, and improved a farm. In 1851, 
on account of ill health, he moved to town. He was State Sinking Fund Commis- 
sioner, and attorney for the State Bank. He died at Fayclteville. in March, 1855. 
He also practiced law from about 18;tJ until his death. Charles Dailey received an 
academic education, and taught, and read law with his father. About 18,50, he went 
to Connersville, Ind., where he edited the Connersville Democrat, afterward the 
Cambridge City Xews. He then taught some time, and later engaged in the prac- 
tice of tiie law. In 1874, he came to Oxford, and has since practiced his profession, 
in connection with the insurance business. ]\Ir. Dailey was married, in 1852, to 
Jane (Bolander) Arnold, a native of Pennsylvania. They had one son — Charles H. 
Mrs. Jane Dailey died in 1854. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
May 25, 1868, he married Miss Cordelia Burns, a native of Kentuckj'. They have 
no children. Mr. Dailey is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 190, A., F. & A. M., 
and is a Republican. He owns a good farm near Oxford, besides valuable propertj' 
in the town. 

ZIMRI DWIGGINS was born in Grant County, Ind., August 31, 1849, and is 
the seventh of eight children born to Daniel and Mary (Starbuck) Dwiggins, natives 
of Ohio, and of Scotch descent. Daniel, soon after his marriage, removed to Grant 
County, Ind.. entered land, erected a rude log cabin, and made a farm. In time, 
he owned well-improved farms, amounting to several h\nidred acres. About 1856, 
he lost most of his property, through having to pay a surety. In 1858, he farmed 
on shares near Rensselaer, and the next year bought a farm in Jasper County. He 
now resides in Rensselaer, and he and wife are memliers of the Christian Church. 
Zimri Dwiggins was educated at the common schools, and at the Normal and Com- 
mercial College, at Terre Haute, Ind. He was employed on the home farm until 
twenty-one years old. In 1871, he studied law with his brother at Rens.selaer, and 
the same year began to practice, and continued until 1879. In February, 1879, he 
and his brother, R. S. Dwiggins, started the Citiz.ens' Bank of Renssefaer, and in 
the fall of the same year, the Commercial Bank of Oxford. Zimri has since resided 
in Oxford, and has the entire management of the l)ank. In April, 1883, he and his 
brother purchased a three-tifth interest in the Citizens' Bank of Attica, Ind. Mr. 
Dwiggins was married, June 22, 1874, to Astella .M. Purcupile, a native of Jasper 
County, Ind. Three children have ble.ssed this union, two of whom are living, both 
daughters. Mr. Dwiggins is a Republican, and one of the prominent business men 
of the county. The great-great-grandmother of our subject was a direct descendant 
of the Stuarts of Scotland. She was married on the Island of Nantucket to a man 
named Starbuck, a sailor, and this is said to have been the first marriage of white 
people in America. On this occasion, the first '"tea party" in America was given. 

JOHN FARHELL was l)orn in County Gaiway, Ireland, in 1829, and is the eld- 
est of three children, now living, l)orn to .tolui and Catherine Farrcll, natives of Ire- 
land. John Farrell, Sr., followed agricultural pursuits in Ireland until his death in 
1846. He and wife were members of the Catholic Church. John Farrell (our sub- 
ject) was engaged in fruit culture and gardening i!i Ireland, until 1850, when he 
emigrated to America. For two years he was employed in a brick yard at Syracuse, 
N. Y. In 1852. he removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he worked on a 
farm, and in a brick yard, several years. In 185!), "he came to Bolivar Township, 
this county, and farmed on shares eight years. In ]8()7, he bought the farm of 160 
acres, in this township, on which he now resides. He was married, April 14. 1858, 
to Mary Hews, a native of Gahvay County, Ireland. They have five sons and three 
daughters. Mr. Farrcll and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is a 
Democrat, and one of tlic enterprising farmers of the county. 

JOHN W. FREE.MAN was born in Pin<' Township, Warren County, Ind., 
March 2(i, 1836, and is one of ten children born to Lemuel ;ind Elizabelh'l Reins) 
Freeman, natives of North Carolina and (Jhio respectively. John W. Freeman had 
limited .school facilities in his youth, but, by his own gxertions, has since acquired 
a good business education, lie was employed on his father's farm until twentj'-six 
years old; the last four years of the time he farmed the place on shares. He then 

21 



354 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

bought a partially improved farm in this township, and followed farming and stock- 
raising until 1877, wlien he came to Oxford and entered the live-stock trade, con- 
tinuing three years. Since that time he has been engaged in the banking business, 
owning stock in the Commercial Bank of Oxford. January 9, 1862, he was married 
to Margaret J. Mills, a native of Warren County, Ind., and daughter of Jacob Mills, 
one of the oldest pioneers of that county. They Lave no children. Mr. Freeman 
is a Republican, and a prominent citizen of Benton County. 

ZACHARIAH GEPHART was born in Butler County, Ohio, October 5, 1823, 
and is the eldest of ten children born to Peter and Elizabeth (Silby) Gephart, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and of German and Irish descent. When 
eight years old, Peter Gephart, in 1807, removed, witli his parents, to Butler County, 
Ohio. He has lived in that county ever since, and now resides upon a farm, upon 
which he settled soon after his marriage. He is not a cliurch member, but holds to 
the Universalist faith. Zachariah Gephart was employed on his father's farm un- 
til he attained his majority. He then farmed on shares several years in his native 
county. In 1850, he went to Miami County, Ohio, where he followed agricultural 
pursuits. In 1864, became to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and about a year later to 
Warren County, where he resided nine years, and then came to this county, where 
he still resides. November 17, 1844, he married Sarah A. Davis, a native of Butler 
County, Ohio. They have had fourteen children, thirteen of whom are living. Mr. 
Gephart is a Republican. 

BENJAMIN F. GEPHART was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 1, 
1849, and is the fourth of fourteen children born to Zachariah and Sarah A. (Davis) 
Gephart, natives of Butler County, Ohio, and of German and English descent. Ben- 
jamin Gephart, when fifteen years old, came to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he 
received most of his education. In 1866, he removed to Adams Township, Warren 
County, and two years later to Pine Township, same county. In 1875, he came to 
this township. He was employed on his father's farm until he was twenty-three 
years old. He then commenced farming on his own account, and now owns a well- 
improved farm of 160 acres. Mr. Gephart was married, November 16, 1873, to Sa- 
rah J. Atkinson, a native of this county. They have had four children — Nellie, 
Bertie, Ernest and Lottie. He is a Republican and one of the enterprising farmers 
of the township. 

THOMAS GORNALL was born in Lancaster, England, June 26, 1808, and is 
the eldest of eight children l)orn to William and Nancy (Rodler) Gornall, natives of 
England. In early life, William Gornall was engaged in agricultural pursuits. At 
the age of twenty-two, he learned the wool-combing trade, which he followed dur- 
ing the remainder of his life. He was a British soldier during the war with Napo- 
leon Bonaparte. He died in 1862. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 'Thomas Gornall followed wool-combing several years, and later was a 
gardener at Bradford, England. In 1844, he emigrated, with his wife and family, 
to America, first settling near Albany, N. Y., where he was occupied in gardening. 
In 1849, he came to this township, where he had previously bought eighty acres of 
land. He farmed the land and added more, and now owns 220 acres. In Decem- 
ber, 1881, he came to Oxford, and has since lived a retired life. March 9, 1834, he 
married Martha Greenwood, a native of Halifax, England. They have no children 
of their own, but adopted a son of Mr. Gornall's sister, Thomas Gornall, Jr. He and 
wife were members of the Church of England before coming to America, but have 
since generally attended Presbyterian services. Mr. Gornall is a Democrat, and one 
of the oldest settlers in the county. 

CHARLES M. GREEN was born at Rising Sun, Ohio County, Ind., June 10, 
1858, and is the fifth of six children born to Benjamin and Jane (Garett) Green, na- 
tives of Ohio and Indiana, and of " English and German descent. When a young 
man, Benjamin removed to Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he was afterward married. 
He worked in a distillery, and in 1854, went to Rising Sun and engaged in the gro- 
cery business, subsequently going to Carroll County, Ky., where he was em- 
ployed in a distillery four years. He then returned to Rising Sun and engaged in 
the saw-mill business. In 1869, he removed to Zionsville, Boone County, Ind., 
where he now resides. He is a member of I. O. O. F. He and wife are members of 
the Christian Church. Charles M. Green was educated at the common schools. He 
served three years' apprenticeship to the baker and confectioner's trade, and then 
worked for some time as a journeyman. In June, 1877, he came to Fowler, this 
countJ^ and opened a bakery and confectionery. In 1881, he came to Oxford, opened 
a grocery and confectionery store, and has since done a good trade. He was mar- 
ried, February 2, 1881, to Lizzie M. Birch, a native of Oxford. One daughter has 
blessed their union, Nina C. 

FRANCIS P. GREENWOOD was born in Yorkshire, England, September 11, 
1817, and is the youngest of three children born to Francis and Elizabeth (Turner) 



OAK GROVK TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTV. 355 

Greenwood, natives of Yorkshire. Francis Greenwood, Sr., followed wool-comb- 
ing at Bradford, in Yorkshire, nearly all his life. Diiriiit: the war witli Napoleon 
Bonapartf, he servi'd tivc years in the First We.st Yc^iksliire Militia. lie was not a 
church nicmhor, hut was a member of the Ancient < )rder of Druiils. IIu died in Jan- 
uary, 1848. Mrs. Elizabeth Greenwood, after her husband's decease, lived with her son 
Francis, until her death November i'^, 184!). Francis P. Greenwood was ent^aged 
in wool-combiner in Entrland. In 1850. hi- enugraied with his family to the United 
States. He came to Benton County, Ind., as advance agent for "Bradford Co- 
operative Emigraiion Company." For some tinu; he carried the mails from 
Momence, III., through Oxford, Rainsville, and Independence to La Fayetti;. In 
the fall of 18.")U, he located about 9(50 acres of land, in what is now Center Town.ship, 
Benton County, for the emigration compauj', some of whom arrived the same fall. 
In November. 18.")1, Mr. Greenwood withdrew from the society, and the following 
year Itought a quarter-section of canal lands in this township. This land he has 
improved, and still resides upon it. lie now owns 4 acres. Mr. Greenwood was 
one of the Commissioners of Benton County from 187(5 to 1879. He was married in 
1836, at Bradford, England, to ^Mary Shackelton, a native of Yorkshire, England. 
They have seven children, four sons and three daughters. Mr. Greenwood is a very 
well-informed man, and possesses an excellent library. He is liberal in his religious 
views, and independent in politics. 

JOSEPH GREENWOOD was born in Bradford. Yorkshire, England, in 1837, 
and is the eldest son of seven children, now living, born to Francis P. and Mary 
Shackelton Greenwood. Joseph worked on his father's farm in this township until 
twenty-four years old. In November, ISOl, he eidisted in Company E, Fortieth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was in 
battle at Shiloh, Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville. He was wounded at Missionary Ridge and at 
Franklin. After his return, he farmed two years on shares. In i8()8, lie bought 
eighty acres of land in this township, adjoining the old homestead. He farmed the 
land, and now possesses IfiO acres. He was married in February, 1870, to Susanna 
Gibbs. a native of Fountain County, Ind. They have had four children — Henry, 
Charles, Walter and John M. Mr. Greenwood is a member of the G. A. R., also of 
Model Grange, No. 937. He is a Republican, and one of Benton County's early 
settler.«. 

WILLIAM GREENWOOD was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, Sep- 
tember 13, 1841, and is the third of seven children, now living, born to Francis P. 
and Mar}' (Shackleton) Greenwood. William was employed on his father's farm in 
this township, until he was married. In Febni.iry, 18(15, he enlisted in Company K, 
One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with" the 
regiment until they were mustered out in August, 186."). at Harper's Ferry, Va. 
Alter his return from the army, he farmed on shares two years. In 1869, he bought 
eighty acres of prairie land in this township adjoining the old homestead. He has 
improved a farm, and now has 160 acres. He was married. March 3. 1868. to 
Minerva Ilowarth. a native of ^lanchester, England. They have had three chil- 
dren, two of whom are living— Luther E. and Albert B. He and wife are members 
of Model Grange, No. 937. Mr. Greenwood is independent in his political views. 
He is one of the pioneers of this county. 

JOHN U. GUTHRIDGE was born in Warren County. Ind.. June 1.5, 1841. and 
is the eldest of five children born to Lewis and Hester (Little) Gut bridge, natives of 
Virginia and Ohio. About 1830, Lewis Guthridge moved to Adams Township, War- 
ren Co., Ind., where he afterward married. Soon after his marriage, and after his 
father-in-law's death, his wife inheriterl 160 acres of unimproved laiul in Liberty 
Township, Warren County. This land he farmed until IS.'iti, when he sold out. and 
came to this township, where he bought a farm, on which he resided until his death, 
March 23, 186.5. Mrs. Hester Guthridge is still living, and resides on the old home- 
stead. She is a member of the M. E. Church. John C. Guthridge was emplo^-ed 
on the home farm until he attained his majority. He then worked on a farm 
three years, after which he farmed on shares for five years. In 1870. he bou^^ht 
eighty acres of wild land in this townsliip. He ha^ improved a farm, and still resides 
on it. April 6, 1870, lie married Matilda Lambert, a native of Ohio. One son has 
blessed their union, George L. Mrs. Guthridge is a member of tiie Christian 
Church. Mr. Guthridge, though not a church member, adheres to the Methodist 
faith. He is a Democrat. 

GEORGE S. GWIN was born in Greene County, Ohio, January 3, 1828. and is 
the eldest of nine children born to Nicholas and Rebecca (Smith) Gwin. George S. 
Gwin worked on his father's farm until twenty two years old, the- last year of that 
time farming the place on shares. He then farmed on shares in Medina and Warren 
Townships, Warren County, Ind., about three years. He then bought forty acres in 



3nG BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Adams Township, sam3 couaty, to which he afterward added more land. He resided 
on that farm fifteen years ; most of the time he also operated a threshing machine 
durin.; the fall and winter seasons. In 1S'3J, he sold a part of the farm and came to 
this township, where he bought eighty acres of wild land. He subsequently im- 
proved the farm, upon which he now resides. His land is well cultivated. He was 
married. February 23, 1851, to Margaret C. Kiblinger, a native of Logan County, 
Ohio. Four children blessed their union, two of whom are now living — Sarah R. 
(Mrs. W. A. Colvert) and Anna M. Mr. Gwiu and family are members of the M. E. 
Chureli, also of Summit Grange, No. 247. Mr. Gwin is a Republican, and one of 
the township's ])rominent citizens. 

DANIEL S. GWIN was born in Greene County, Ohio, August 25, 1829, and is 
the second of nine children born to Nicholas and Rebecca (Smith) Gwin, natives of 
Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, the former of Irish, and the latter of Ger- 
man descent. When six years old, Nicholas Gwin removed with his parents to 
Virginia, where he afterward married. He served a two years' apprenticeship to 
the cooper's trade, which he followed in Virginia until 1827. He then bought a 
farm in Greene County, Ohio, and in 1835 came to Warren Township, Warren 
County, Ind. ; he bought 160 acres of wild land, which he improved and resided on 
until his death in September, 1868, in his seventieth year. He and wife were mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church. Daniel S. Gwin worked on his father's farm until twen- 
t_y-flve years old, the last four j'ears of that time farming the place on shares. He 
then farmed on shares in Adams Township, same county ; in 1857, removed to a farm 
in Bolivar Township, Benton County, which he sold three years later. Then he 
farmed on shares about five years. In 1865, he bought a partiall.y improved farm 
of 24') acres in this township, upon which he still resides. The farm is now well 
cultivated. He was married in February, 1853, to Phcebe Lank, a native of Fay- 
ette County, Ohio. They have had nine children, four of whom are now living. He 
and wife are members of the M. E. Church, and Mr. Gwin is a Republican. He is 
one of the prominent farmers of the county. 

JOSEPH R. HALL was born in Somerset County, Md., December 4, 1841, 
and is the eldest of two children born to William J. and Margaret P. (TuU) Hall, na- 
tives of Marjdand, and of Scotch and English descent. William J. Hall was a 
farmer all his life, and died in 1844. Joseph R. Hall at an early age had the care of 
his mother and a sister. In 1862, with his mother and sister, he removed to Zions- 
ville, Boone County, Ind., and engaged in merchandise and the lumber trade about 
ten years. In January, 1865, he helped to recruit Company D, One Hundred and 
Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which company he was appointed First 
Lieutenant. He served until the close of the war. In 1872, he came to Oxford and 
embarked in the coal and lumber business for five years. A part of the time he also 
owned and operated coal and lumber yards at Fowler and Templeton. In the mean- 
time he bought a grain farm of 240 acres in this township, and a few years later he 
bought a stock farm of 320 acres, between Oxford and Fowler. Since 1877, he has 
been extensively engaged in stock-raising. He owns some of the finest thorough- 
bred short-horn and Hereford cattle in Benton County, and keeps on an average 
3')0 head of cattle. Mr. Hall was married March 10, 1873, to Mary E. Lewis, a na- 
tive of this county. They have two children— Charles P. and Etta M. He and wife 
are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Hall is a Democrat. 

JACOB M. HARM AN w^as born in Frederick County, Va., December 12, 1834, 
and is the youngest of three children now living born to John and Elizabeth (Crider) 
Harman, natives of Virginia and of German descent. John Harman followed cab- 
inet-making several years at Middletown, Frederick Co., Va. After this he was 
Superintendent of the Frederick County Poor Asylum for five years. Since that 
time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Jacob M. Harman worked on 
the home farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then farmed on shares in 
his native county until 1872, when he came to Bolivar Township, this county, and 
purchased a partially improved farm of 240 acres, and engaged in farming and stock- 
raising. A few years later he bought another farm of 120 acres in this township. 
In September, 1881, he came to Oxford, where he has since resided. He was married, 
November 29, 1859, to Miss Rachel A. Bond, a native of Virginia. Thej-- have two 
daughters and one son. Mr. Harman is a member of Oxford Lodge. No. 190, A., F. 
& A. M. He generally votes the Democratic ticket, but is liberal in his political 
views. ' 

JOHN HEBER was born at Wurtemberg, Germany, August 27, 1839, and is the 
fourth of twelve children born to Chnstopher and Anna M. (Colphus) Heber, na- 
tives of Germany. Christopher Heber followed weaving and farming in Germany. 
He was Burgomaster of liis native village for many years. He died June 28, 1871. 
He and wife were members of the Lutheran Church. John Heber was a weaver 
two years in Germany. In 1854, he emigrated fo America, and settled in Medina 



I 



OAK (JROVI-: TOWNSfnr— BENTON COUNTY. 357 

Township, "Warren Co., Iml. For six years he worked in Warren and Tippecanoe 
Counties, Ind., and in Kansas. In the" meantime, he bought a partially improved 
farm in Adams Township. Warnn County, on which lie resided one year. After- 
ward, he bought and sold other farms, and m 1867 came to this township and bought 
the farm upon wliich he has since resided. lie was married. September S. 1864, to 
Hannah J. Garner, a native of Montgomery County, Ind. They have had five chil- 
dren, four of whom are living— Eliza J., (teorge II., Martha A. and Peter W. Mrs. 
Hannah J. Hebcr died .'>cpteml)er IS, 18S1. She was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Ileljer was a member of the Lutheran Church in Germany, 
but there not being any churches of that denomination within a convenient distance 
of his present location, he has not renewed his membership. lie is a member of 
Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a Democrat. 

NATHAN IIIBBS was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, January 15, 1834, and 
is the second of six children born to Thomas and Lovica (Crago) Ilibbs. natives of 
Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Thomas Ilibbs, when young, came with his 
larents to Ilamilton County, Ohio. At that time, Cincinnati was a small village. 
n 1834 or 1835, he entered ninety-six acres of land in Fayette County. Ind., which 
he farmed, and to which he added until he possessed 270 acres. In 1872. he removed 
to Cambridge CMty, AVayne Co., Ind., wiiere he still resides. He and wife are mem- 
bers of the Christian Churcii. Nathan Hibbs attended; the common schools, but 
since arriving at manhood he has acquirecl a good academic education. After at- 
taining his majority, he farmed on shares in summer and taught during the winters, 
in Fayette County, Ind., for several years. In February, 18G5, he came to this 
township, where he had previously bought eighty acres of land. He imjiroved the 
farm, and (with the exception of t"hiee years spent in Center Township, this county) 
has since resided on it. He was Township Trustee one term. January 22, 1868. he 
married Mary B. Phares, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio. They have had eight 
children, six' of whom are now living. He and wife are members of Model Lodge, 
No. 937, of Oak Grove Township. Sir. Hibbs is a Democrat. 

JOHN HOPPER was born in Buckingham County. Va.. Januarys, 1808, and 
is the fourth of fourteen children born to John and Martha (Anderson) Hopper, na- 
tives of Virginia, and of English descent. John Hopper, Sr., removed in 1829 to 
Pike County, Ohio, and bought a farm, on which he resided several years, but ulti- 
mately lost the farm in con.se(nience of a defective title. He was a soldier through 
the war of 1812. He died in Pike County, Ohio. John Hopper, our subject, was 
overseer of a plantation two years. In 1829, he removed with his parents to Pike 
County, Ohio, where he farmed; also worked on the Ohio & Erie Canal; after- 
ward bought a farm in same county. In 1846, he removed to Tippecanoe County, 
Ind., where he farmed on shares until 1848, when he came to Grant Township, this 
county, and settled on land he had previously entered. Later, he bought a farm in 
this township. In 1861, he came to Oxford and engaged in general merchandise. 
In 1869, he moved upon the farm where he now resides. He was Justice of the 
Peace of this township several years. Jiinuary 10, 1833. lie married Mary D. An- 
derson, a native of Virginia. By this marriage there are three daughters living. 
Mrs. Mary D. Hopper (who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church) died 
in March. 1858. In November, 18.58, Mr. Hopper married Mrs. Margaret J. (Cros- 
sou) Littler, a native of Washington County, Penn. They have bad five children, 
only one of whom is now living, Eva. Mr. Hopper is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, also of the Freemason fraternitv. He is a Democrat. 

JAMES HOWARTH. deceased, was born in Manchester, England, in 1804. 
When six years old he was left an orphan, after which he lived with his aunt and 
grandfatiier until twenty-one years old. At seven years of age, he began work in a 
cotton factory. He reniained there seven years, and mastered all the details of cot- 
ton manufacturing. During these years, under the tuition of his grandfather, be 
became an expert mathematician and mechanical draughtsman. When fourteen 
years old, he liegan a seven years' apprenticeship to the machinist's trade. About 
the time that this apprenticesliip exi>ired, lie was married to Miss Frances Hilling- 
worth, also a native of Manchester, England, by whom he had thirteen children, 
only four of whom (two sons and two daughters) are now living. Soon after his 
marriage, he was appointed Superintendent of two large cotton factories and the 
machine shops in connection with them, at Manchester. In 1M40. he received the 
appointment (over twenty two other candidates) of General Manager of Cotton 
Mills, at Tammerfors. inFiidand. He superinten(h'd the rebuihling and the placing 
of the machinery of the mills, and afterward operated them several years. While in 
Finland he taught mathematics .and meciianical drawing, also learned tiie Swrilish 
and Finnish languages. While in Tammerfors. the Czar of Russia offered to give 
Mr. Ilowarth's eldest son. .1. Alfred, ;i tliorougii Russian education on condition 
that he would allow him to remain in Finland, and teach for five years. This he 



358 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

declined. In 1845, two of his children died, and in the same year he returned to 
Manchester, En'j,land, where he again managed a cotton factory. In 1850, he emi- 
grated to America, and came to this township. He bought half a section of land, 
and purchased property in Oxford. He improved a farm, upon which he resided 
until his death, Februar}^ 1, 1877. Mr. Howarth was essentiallj^ a self-made man. 
He was an enthusiastic student and was endowned with great mental acquirements. 
He was invariably ready to aid those in distress. His two eldest sons. J. Alfred, 
born Septembers, 1838. and James H., born April 2, 1838, are natives of Manchester, 
England. They received a good education in their native land, and in Finland, where 
they ac(|uircd tiie Swedish and Finnish languages. After the family came to America, 
both sons were employed on their father's farm until after their marriage. During 
the latter years of his residence on the home farm, J. Alfred farmed the place in 
partnership with his father. Soon after attaining their majority, they bought 200 
acres of land (adjoining the old homestead) which they divided and farmed, and 
upon wliich they have lived since their marriage. J. Alfred Howarth was married 
February 15, 1876, to Eva Henning, a native of Utica, N. Y. They have two chil- 
dred — AnnaF. and James F. He and wife are members of the Church of England, 
also of Summit Grange, No. 247. Mr. Howarth is a Republican. James H. Ho- 
warth was married February 23, 1871, to Louisa Glass, a native of Rush County, 
Ind. They have two children — Lillian M. and Bertha. Mr. Howarth is a member 
of the English, and Mrs. Howarth of the Christian Church. Mr. Howarth is a Re- 
publican. By his father's will he was appointed executor of the estate, and after 
the death of his mother, Mrs. Frances Howarth, June 17, 1880, the old liomestead 
was sold. Mr. Howarth is Treasurer of Oak Grove Township. 

A. DANIEL HUFFMON was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., Septem- 
ber 27, 1828. and is one of nine children born to George and Martha (Fink) Huflf- 
mon, who were of German and Scotch descent. George Huffmon (a native of Mary- 
land) followed the wagon-making trade in Westmoreland Countj^. Penn., until his 
death in 1878. He held various civil offices, such as Assessor, Trustee, etc. He 
and wife were members of the Lutheran Church. A. Daniel Huffmon, when ten 
years old, left his home and lived with relatives in Kentucky and other States. He 
followed the carpenter's trade until he was twenty-seven j'ears old (excepting one 
year spent in Indiana), wlien he returned to Pennsylvania. After his marriage in 
1858, he came to Oxford, and has since been engaged at his trade. He has been 
School Trustee several terras. Mr. Huffmon was married, January 13, 1858, to Sarah 
S. Potts, a native of Pennsylvania. They had two children. His first wife died 
December 23, 1871, and Mr. Huffmon next married, June 23, 1873, Sarah S. Snyder, 
also a native of Pennsylvania. They have had one child — Laura E. He and wife 
are members of the Lutheran Church, but now attend the Presbyterian services. 
Mr. Huffmon is a memb-r of Oxford Lodge, No. 19^, A., F. & A. M. 

JUDGE BASIL JUSTUS (deceased) was born in Pennsylvania March 29, 1796. 
When quite young, he removed to Pickaway County, Ohio, with his parents. In 
1831, he came to Indiana, and the following year settled in Benton County. After 
the organization of the county, he was elected its first Clerk of the County Court, 
and served in that capacity several years. Subsequently he was elected an Asso- 
ciate Judge, which position he held until the office was abolished by the Legisla- 
ture. The early County Courts were held at his private house for several years ; 
the Judges and lawyers staying with him. His death occcurred at Vincennes, Ind. , 
April 8, 1879. The Judge was one of the earliest pioneers of the county. 

WILLIAM H. KELLEY was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., March 5, 1837, 
and is the eldest of five children born to James and Sarah A. CVyilliams) Kelley, na- 
tives of Ohio, and of Irish descent. In 1833, James Kelley came to Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., and soon after married. He farmed in Tippecanoe, Fulton and War- 
ren Counties until 1872, when he settled on a farm in Grant Township, this county, 
on which he resided until his death June 17, 1877. During the last two years of his 
life, he operated a livery stable at O.xford. William H. Kelley received a limited 
education in the common schools, and worked on his father's farm until he was 
twenty-one years old. He then farmed on shares two years, after which he bought 
a farm in Prairie Township, Warren County. In 1866,' he removed to Watseka, 111., 
and engaged in the livery business until 1873, when he went to Sheldon, 111., 
remaining one year. In 1874, he came to Oxford, was in the livery business one 
year and the hotel business two years. He then opened a grocery store, and has 
since done a prosperous business. He carries a well selected stock, worth from 
$1,500 to $2,000. He was married, December 29, 1859, to Sarah A. Ogborn, a native 
of Warren County, Ind. They have not had any children, but have adopted one 
boy. Mrs. Kelley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her father, the 
Rev. David Ogborn, was one of the pioneer ministers of the United Brethren 
•Church in the Wabash Valley. Mr. Kelley is a member of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 359 

F.. to which he has belouijecl since he was tweuty-two years old. He is a Rejiub- 
lican. 

JAMES J. KEYS was born at Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio, June 4, 1834, 
and is the second of ten children born to Samuel A. and Jane Ki-ys, natives of Vir- 
ginia and Ohio, and of Scotch descent. When a boy, Samuel Keys came to High- 
land County, Ohio. His father. Col. William Keys, entered laud "and felled the first 
tree on the present site of Hillsboro. Tiie Colonel recruited and commanded 
the First Ohio Volunteers, during the war of 1812. Samuel was married in High- 
land County, where he became a painter, and later enixagcd in agricultural pursuits 
and in milling. In 18.")1, he entered land in tliis township, where he farmed mitil 
his death in September, 18)7. He was for a time Justice of the Peace of the town- 
ship and Sheriff of the county. He and wife are members of the Presb3'terian 
Church. James J. Keys was employed several years farming and handling live 
stock. In 18G0, he learned the |)lasterer's trade, which he has since followed. De- 
cember 8. 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Si.xtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
and was soon after appointed Sergeant and served with the regiment until Novem- 
ber 14, 18()2, when he was discharged on accoiuitof disabilit}'. He had two brothers 
in tile army — Milton and Hugh H. Milton served tlirough the whole of the war. 
Hugh was severely wounded at Arkansas Post, and died in hospital at St. Louis, 
Mo., in March, 18()3. Mr. Keys is a Democrat. 

THOMAS KIRK was born in Ireland December 22, 1825. and is the fifth of six 
children born to John and Mary (Lee) Kirk, both natives of Ireland. John Kirk 
followed agricultural pursuits, also the dair}' business, in Ireland, where he died 
in 1S45. He and wife were meml)ers of the Catholic Church. Thomas Kirk, in the 
spring of 1846, emigrated to America and settled at Syracuse, N. Y., where he 
was employed in the salt works and at farming about three j'ears. He then came 
to La Fayette. Ind.. where he worked in a warehouse one year; then moved to 
Pine Township, Benton Countj', and farmed on shares about four years. In 1854, 
he went to California and was engaged in mining there, also in Washington Terri- 
tory, British Columbia (on the Fraz.er River), and in Vancouver's Island. In the 
fall of 1858, he returned to the States, and the spring of 1859 came to this township 
and farmed on shares one year. In 1860, he bought 200 acres of wild land in this 
townsiiip. which he improved and wliere he still resides. He was married in New 
York Citj^ November 28, 1858, to Hanora Murry, a native of Ireland. They have 
had eight children, six of whom are living— Mary T., John S., Catherine H.. Ellen. 
Thomas and Joanna. In 1880, Mr. Kirk was candidate for Sheriff of Benton Coun- 
ty. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Kirk is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM T. KIRKPATRICK was born in Nova Scotia June 10. 1821, and is 
the third of nine children born to John and Letitia (Patterson) Kirkpatrick, natives 
of Ireland. John Kirkpatrick was married in Ireland, where he followed agricult- 
ural pursuits many years. About 1819, he emigrated to Nova Scotia, where he 
farmed several years. He afterward resided on Long Island. N. Y., and a short 
time at Brooklyn. Later, he moved to Middlesex County, N. J., and bought a 
farm, upon which he resided until his death in 1852. He and wife were members 
of the Episcopal Church. William T. Kirkpatrick worked on his father's farm 
until lie attained his majority. He then farmed on shares several years in Middle- 
sex County. N. J., wiiere he subse(iuently bought a farm. In 1864, he came to this 
township and farmed the '■ Otis farm " on shares two years. He then bought 320 
acres of unimproved land, on which he still resides. His farm is one of the best in 
the township. Mr. Kirkpatrick was married, September 10, 1851. to Elizabeth V. 
N. Van Deripe, a native of New Jersey, and of Holland descent. Five children 
have blessed their union — James V. N., Anna, William B., Letitia and Margaret S. 
Mr. Kirkpatrick aud wife are members of the Episcopal Church, also of Summit 
Grange. No. 247. Mr. Kirkpatrick is a leading farmer and stock-raiser, and is a 
Democrat. 

JONATHAN KOLB, M. D., was born in Fayette County, Ind., October 22, 
1830, and is the second of nine children born to William and Kezia (Rich) Kolb, 
natives of Georgia and Ohio, and of German and Scotch descent. About ISIO, Will- 
iam removed to Fayette County, Ind.. wiiere his fatlier entered land and made a 
farm. In that county. William was educated ami married. He engaged in teaching, 
and in 1^:53 removed to Rusli County ;ind hougiil a farm. In 1>>54, he came to this 
townsiiip and bought 1<!0 .acres, which he farninl until 1869, wiien he sold out, came 
to Oxford, and has since lived a retired life. He is in liis seventy-eighth year, and 
he and wife for over fifty years have been members of the Christian Church. Jon- 
athan Koli) recf'ived a good common .sciiool and academic education, and worked on 
the farm until lie attained his majority. He then tauglit school for some years. In 
1855, he commenced the study of inedicinr under Dr. J. J. Rawlings, of Oxford, 
and in 1862 and 18()3 attended' the Medical College at Ann Arbor, Mich. : he then 



360 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

located at Oxford and has an excellent practice ; he is a member of the School 
Board, and had been Coroner of the county. Dr. Kolb was married, November 14, 
1858, to Mary E. Skelo, a native of Logan County, Ohio. Five children have 
blessed this union, four of whom are living. The Doctor and his family are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. He is a member of Oxford Lodge, I. 0. O. F., and 
has always been an active worker in the cause of temperance. 

JOSEPH B. LANE was born at Lebanon, Boone Co., Ind., January 8, 1S57, 
and is one of nine children born to Levi and Pheriba (Hays) Lane, natives of Ten- 
nessee and Indiana respectivel^y. About 1835, Levi moved to Boone County, Ind., 
then almost a wilderness ; he was there married ; he was one of the first County 
Clerks, and served two terms in that office, and has been Deputy Clerk over forty 
years, having made out every docket in that county since its organization. He and 
wife from their childhood have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Joseph B. Lane received a good common school and academic education, and at 
fifteen years of age began learning the blacksmith's trade, but abandoned it in about 
a year. He then clerked in a drug store for his brother. In April, 1881, he came to 
Oxford, Benton County, bought a drug store, and has since done an excellent busi- 
ness. He carries a large and well-selected stock of pure drugs, paints, oils, liquors, 
lamps, wall and window paper, carpets and druggists' sundries. Mr. Lane was mar- 
ried, September 10, 1876, to Margaret E. Sink, a native of Boone County, Ind. Two 
daughters have blessed their union— Daisy and Blanche. Mrs. Lane is a member of 
the Christian Church. Mr. Lane is a Republican and one of the enterprising young 
business men of the town. 

MITCHELL LANK was born in Ross County, Ohio, December 29, 1828,and is 
the third of eleven cliildren born to John and Sarah (Wilkins) Lank, natives of 
Delaware and of Maryland, and of Welsh and Irish descent. When John Lank 
was six weeks old, in 1805, his parents removed to Ross Countj^ Ohio. In this 
county he was educated and married. He farmed for several years, and in 1836 
went to Randolph County, Ind., and afterward to Tippecanoe, Boone, Benton and 
Warren Counties. About 1864, he removed to Independence and engaged in the 
grocery trade, and still resides in that town. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he has held official positions. Mitchell Lank received a 
common school education, and was employed on his father's farm until twenty-one. 
He farmed on shares in Bolivar Township until 1856, when he bought a farm of 
forty acres in same township, afterward adding eighty acres. In 1874, he sold out 
and removed to Iroquois County, 111., where he bought a farm of 160 acres, which he 
still owns. In 1880, he came to Oxford and engaged in the lumber business, and 
was doing a good trade when, in April, 1883, he sold out. Mr. Lank was married, 
January 19, 1854, to Elizabeth Ladd, a native of Pike County, Ohio. They have 
had eight children, seven of whom are living. He and wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Lank has held official positions since he 
was twenty-one years old. He is a Republican, and a prominent citizen. 

ISAAC W. LEWIS was born in Clarke County, Ohio, September 20, 1827, and 
is the third of ten children born to Thomas and Prudence (Waldrip) Lewis, natives 
respectively of South Carolina and New Jersey, both of Welsh descent. Thomas 
removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ind. He married in that county, and 
soon after removed to Clarke County, Ohio, subsequently to Adams Township, War- 
ren Co., Ind. He afterward bought 160 acres in Oak Grove Township, Benton 
County. Later, he farmed in Keokuk County, Iowa, and in Tehama County, Cal., 
where he died in February, 1862. In 1849, he Avent to California and engaged in 
mining with fair success, returning to Indiana in 1851. He was Justice of the 
Peace and one of the Commissioners of Benton County. He and wife were mem- 
bers of the Quaker Church. Isaac W. Lewis, by his own exertions, acquired a 
good business education. He worked at home until twenty years old, then a year 
on a farm at $13 per month. He farmed on shares in Benton County two or three 
years. In 1852, he bought 100 acres in Oak Grove Township, and sold it the follow- 
ing year. He then purchased 200 acres in same townsliip ; afterward bougiit 160 
acres, and in 1879 bought the place where he now lives, near Oxford. In 1871, he, 
with P. M. and C. Atkinson, built an elevator at Oxford on the L., E. & W. Rail- 
road, and has since been engaged in the grain business and farming. He was mar- 
ried. May 28, 1850, to Lovicy McConnell, a native of Adams County, Ohio. Eight 
children blessed tlieir union, .seven now liviirg. Mr. Lewis is a Republican and one 
of the prominent men of the county. He aud son own an elevator at Ambia. 
April 14, 1878, he lost by fire a barn, sixteen head of horses and mules and 1,000 
bushels of grain. He now owns well-improved farms in Benton County, amounting 
to about 600 acres. 

JUDGE DAVID McCONNELL was born in Ohio County, W. Va., November 
1, 1792, and is the third of twelve children born to Hugh and Elizabeth (Jolley) Mc- 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 361 

Connell, the former a native of Delaware, the hitter of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch 
and Irish descent, respectively. When j-onnL'. Hugh retnoveci to Virjzinia, where he 
married and euf^ai^ed in fanning nnlil 18(il, wiicn lu- removed to Koss C(ninty, Ohio, 
where he farmed on shares, on land owni'd by Gen. Massey, for several years. He 
then went to Highland County, < Hiio, where he resided some fifteen years. In 1828, 
he came to Fountain County, Ind., where lie died in 183."). He was a veteran of the 
Revolutionary war. having served througli the whole struggle, and immediately af- 
terward in a war witli the Indians, by whom he was severely wounded in a battle 
near Wheelinir, W. Va. He was from early life a consistent member of the Presby- 
terian ("hurch. David MeConuell received a fair education in the log schoolhouse 
of his youth. In isr2, lie enlisted in Col. Kays regiment, and served under Gen. 
Harrison until the close of the war. He then engaged in farming in Highland Coun- 
ty. Ohio, until 18'22, when he removed to Adams County, Ohio, where he was mar- 
ried. In the spring of 1X31, he came to Warren County, Ind., remaining till 1835, 
when he came to Oak Grove Township, Benton County, where he entered 200 acres 
of land, upon which he erected a log cal)in, and subsetiuently improved.the farm, 
and has resided there ever since. He added to liis farm until he owned oGO acres. 
The tirst and second additions to the town of 0.\f(»rd were laid out on a part of his 
farm. Mr. McConnell was Justice of the Peace for a term in Warren County, As- 
sociate Judge of Warren and Benton Counties for some ten years, afterward Pro- 
bate Judge in Benton and Jasper Counties for two years, and still later Associate 
Judge in'Benton County for two years. In the winters of 184^^-44 and 1848-49, he 
represented Benton. Jasper. White and Pulaski Counties in the Lower House of the 
State Legislature. Mr. McConnell is a Democrat, and has never been defeated for 
any office for which he was a candidate. He was twice appointed District Marshal 
by the Governor. Mr. McConnell was lirst married, in 1822, to Mi.ss Polly Moore, a 
native of Adams County. Ohio. To this union eleven children were born, ten of 
whom are now living. Mrs. Polly McConnell died in 1846. and in 18r)2 he married 
Mrs. Sarah (Brown) Blanchtil, a native of Ireland. They iiave no children, but 
Mrs. McConnell has two children by her former marriage. Mr. McConnell is not a 
member of any church. He is one of the oldest pioneers and most prominent citi- 
zens of Benton County. 

WILLIAM B. McCONNELL was born May 10, 1825, in Adams County, Ohio, 
and is one of ten children born to David and Polly (Moore) McConnell. For .sketch 
of father see bibgraphy of Judge David McConnell, Oxford. William B. McCon- 
nell received an ordinary education, principally in the schools of Benton County; 
lived with his father's family until about twenty-one years of age, and afterward 
rented and worked farms in Oak Grove Township. Benton County, for several years. 
He then bought the farm now owned by J. N. :McConnell and C. H. Zeis, which he 
owned a few years; he next opened a grocery store in Oxford, which he con- 
ducted for several years, when he bought a part of the farm owned by D. S. Gwin, 
which he owned for about ten years; he was then elected Treasurer of Benton Coun- 
tv, for two terms, and since the expiration of his term of office he has pa.ssed the 
g'reater portion of his time in farming. In 1H81, he received the appointment of 
Superintendent of the County Poor Farm, which position he still holds. He was 
married, April 7, 1S47, to Frances J. Howard, a native of Ohio, and eleven children 
have blessed this union, only five of whom are now living. In politics, Mr. McCon- 
nell is a Democrat, and is one of the oldest settlers, and prominent men of the 
county. 

JASPER N. McCONNELL was born in Adams County, Ohio, June 10. 1828, 
and is the fourth of eleven children born to David and Polly (Moore) McConnell. 
Jasper worked on the home farm until he attained his majority. He then bought 
forty acres of land in this township, which he farmed, and from time to time 
added more land, until he owned ICO acres. In 18()f), he sold this farm and pur- 
chased another containing 108 acres, in the same township. This farm he still 
owns, and also property in the town of O.xford. where he now resides. He has 
been one of the Town Trustees, and a member of the school board. Mr. McConnell 
was married. November 17, 1H")3, lo Sallie .M. Wilson, a native of Highland County, 
Ohio. They have had fourteen ciiildren. nine of wiiom are livimx. Mrs. MeConnell 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. McConnell is a Democrat, and one of 
the pioneers of the county. 

HUGH McCONNELL was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 20, 1807, and 
is the tenth of twelve children born to Hugh ami Elizabeth (Jolley) McConnell. 
Our subject was employed on his father's farm until he was nearly thirty years old. 
In 1836, he entered and" bought 160 acres of land in this township, which he farmed, 
and lias since a(lded more hind, now owiiingabout 400 acres. In 1S.')7, he removed to 
Warren County. Iowa, but did not sell his farm here. In Iowa, he bougiil a farm. 
and remained there till 1873, when he returned to Benton County, where he still 



362 BIOGllAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

resides. He was married, in 1840, to Margaret M. Johnston, a native of Preble 
County, Ohio. They have had six children, four now living. Mr. McConnell is 
liberal in his religious views, and is not a member of any church. He is a Demo- 
crat, and one of the oldest pioneers of the county. 

WILLIAM H. McCONNELL was born in this township October 16, 1844, and 
is the elder of two sons born to Thomas L. and Margaret (Wilkinson) McConnell, 
natives of Ross County, Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish and German-Welsh descent. In 
1834, Thomas McConnell entered and bought 200 acres of land in this township. 
He improved a farm, and resided on it until 1851, when he engaged in the saw-mill 
business in Warren County, Ind. He died February 17, 1852. He was one of the 
first grand jurors of this county. William H. McConnell enlisted in 1863, in Com- 
pany H, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with 
that regiment until mustered out in 1864. He farmed on shares three years, and 
then moved onto a farm he had previously bought in this township. His farm con- 
tains 165 acres of well-improved land, including a part of the old homestead. Sep- 
tember 9,»1866, he married Mary J. Jackson, a native of Clinton County, Ohio. 
They have two sons— John T. and Samuel F. Mr. McConnell is a member of 
Garfield Post, No. 32, G. A. R. at Boswell, Ind. He is a Republican, and a prom- 
inent farmer of the township. 

PATRICK MALONEY was born in Belleville, Upper Canada, February 7, 
1833, and is the fourth of five children born to John and Ann (Lnrkin) Maloney, 
both natives of Ireland. John Maloney was married in his native country, and fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits several years. About 1827, he emigrated with his wife 
and family to Upper Canada, where he bought a farm of 20U acres. He .success- 
fully cultivated this land until 1842 or 1843, when he sold out, and came to La 
Fayette, Ind., where he died in 1850. He and wife were members of the Catholic 
Church. Patrick Maloney received a limited education, but has since acquired con- 
siderable practical knowledge. After his father's death, the support of his mother 
and a younger brother fell upon him. His mother died in 1854. Mr. Maloney 
worked about six years on the Wabash & Erie and Miami Canals. He was em- 
ployed a similar time on a farm in Warren and Tippecanoe Counties. In 1865, he 
moved to a partially improved farm of sixty acres in this township, which he had 
bought two vears previously. He still resides on this farm, which is well cultivated. 
In the spring of 1882, he was elected Road Superintendent of_ this township. 
December 13, 1857, he married Catherine Gannan, a native of Jefferson County, 
Ind. They have had twelve children, seven of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Maloney are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Maloney is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM R. MENEFEE was born in Rappahannock County, Va., July 10, 
1817, and is the second of twelve children born to J. and Frances (Hopkins) 
Menefee, natives of Virginia, and of English and Irish descent. J. Menefee was 
married in Virginia, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits many years. In 
1854, he removed to Greene County, Ohio, remained there two years, and then 
moved to Van Wert County, Ohio. He resided there until his death, October 4, 
1866. Mr. Menefee was a veteran of the war of 1812 He was for several years 
Justice of the Peace in his native State. He was a member of the Baptist Church. 
Mrs. Frances Menefee, who died in 1868, was a member of the M. E. Church. 
William R. Menefee was employed on his father's farm until twenty years old. He 
then bought a farm in his native State. In 1858, he moved to Greene County, Ohio, 
accomplishing the journey in a wagon. He farmed there on shares two years, and, 
in 1860, came to this township, where he farmed on shares about seven years. He then 
bought eighty acres of wild land, which he has improved, and on which he still 
resides. In the fall of 1882. he was elected Commissioner for the south district of 
Benton County, which position he still holds. Mr. Menefee was married, September 
12, 1843, to Jane C. McLaren, a native of Fauquier County, Va. Seven children 
have blessed their union, six of whom— five boys and one girl— are living, and all 
are now married. Mrs. Menefee is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Menefee is a member of Summit Grange, No. 247, and is a Democrat. 

WINFIELD MENEFEE was born in Rappahannock County, Va., February 
12, 1848, and is the third of seven children born to William R. and Jane C. Menefee, 
natives of Virginia, and of English-Scotch and Irish descent. Winfield received a 
common school and academic education, and was employed on his father's farm 
until eighteen years old. In 1867, he went West, and worked at teaming, ranching 
and mining in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. In 1870, he came to this county 
and attended school about one j^ear; he then taught for a time. In the spring of 
1873, he went to Boswell, and engaged in the himber business with his brother, re- 
maining until 1882, when he sold his interest and came to Oxford and embarked in 
the boot and shoe trade, and has since been doing a flourishing trade ; he carries a 
well-selected stock, worth from !};4,000 to $5,000, and his annual sales average about 



OAK GROVE TOWNSMIP— BENTON COUNTY. 3G3 

f 9,000. Mr. Menefcc was Justice of the Peace in Grant Township from 1875 to 
1879. He was married, October 27, 1872, to Harriet A. Leach, a native of Virginia. 
Three children have blessed. their union, all of wliom are livinj;. Mr. Menefee is a 
member Oxford Lodixe, No. 190, A., F. &. A. M., and has been W. M. of Boswell 
Lodge. No. 486. He is a Democrat. 

DANIEL A. MESSNER. Su., was born in Cumberland County, Penn., July 
29, 1825, and is the second of three children born to Michael and Catherine (Clark) 
Messner, natives respectivelv of Cumberland and Berks Counties, Penn., both of 
German descent. Michael Messner was a carpenter all his life, and for many years 
an extensive builder and contractor. He married in his native State, and in 1836 
removed to New Madison, Darke Co., Ohio, where he died in June, 1848. He and 
wife were both members of the Christian Church. Mrs. Catherine Messner was a 
daughter of Daniel Clark, a pioneer of Butler County, Ohio. Her death occurred 
in Warren County, Ind. Daniel received a common school education, and became 
a carpenter, which has been his chief occupation. In 1849, he moved to Warren 
County, Ind., and the following sjjring bought 300 acres (a part of which he has 
since sold), and engaged in agricultural i)ursuits. in connection with his trade. He 
built most of the frame houses and barns in the north part of Warren County. In 
1874, he embarked in merchandise in Pine Village, Warren County, and in 1876 
came to Oxford, Benton County, and started in dry goods with William C. Smith, 
trading as Messner & Smith; they carr}- a well-selected stock, value $10,000, and 
their average annual sales are |18,0ii0; they are doing a good business. Mr. iless- 
ner has been County Commissioner of Warren County, also Trustee and Assessor 
of Adams Township (same county) six j'ears. He married, December 28, 1844, 
Rebecca A. AVood. a native of Warren County, Ohio. They had ten children, nine 
of whom are living. Mrs. Rebecca Messner died in February, 1871, and January 
26, 1876, he married Mrs. Fannie (Barker) Burt, a native of Ross Covmty, Ohio. Mr. 
Messner is Treasurer of Oxford Lodge, No. 190. A., F. &. A. M., and is a Republican. 

JACOB MILLER was born hrGermany September 19, 1822, and is the eldest 
of four children born to Mattbias and Elizabeth (Sittig) Miller, natives of Germany. 
Matthias was a weaver, and in June, 1853, came to the United States with his fam- 
ily, and settled at Oxford, this county; he died April 8, 1874. He and wife were 
meml>ers of the Lutheran Church. Jacob Miller was a nail-maker in Germany, and 
was a soldier in the German Army five years. After coming to this country, he fol- 
lowed shoe-making until 1872, when ill-health caused him to abandon it. He is 
now serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace in Oak Grove Township. In 
June. 1849, he married Anna M. Motz, a native of Germany, by whom he had two 
daughters — Emil}' and Margaret. That lady, who was a member of the Lutheran 
Ciuuch, died April 17, 1852. and Mr. Miller next married, January 1, 1853, Mrs. 
Margaret (Yager) Rhlnehart, a native of Germany. They had two sons and a 
daughter, all of whom are deceased. His second wife died October 28, 1861 ; she, 
also, was a member of the Lutheran Church. He then, July 25, 1862, married his 
present wife, Mrs. Magdalene M. (Klien) Kluth, a native of .Germany. Bv this 
marriage there were five children, three of whom are living. Mrs. sillier is a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Miller is a member of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F., 
and is a Democrat. 

JAMES F. MILLS was born in Warren County, Ohio, December 28, 1826, 
and is the fourth of thirteen children born to Jacob and Jane (Cassell) Mills, natives 
of South Carolina and of English, Scotch and German descent. They were early 
pioneers of Warren and Benton Counties, Ind. James F. Mills came in 1829, with 
his parents, to Fountain County, Ind.. and the following spring went to what is now 
Adam>; Township, Warren County, wiu;re he received his early education. In 1847, 
he attended the school of Hartley T Howard, in Benton County. He then attended 
the Fairfield Farmers' Institute. For several years he farnu'd on the home farm. 
He was one of the organizers of Adams Townsliip, Warren County, and helped to 
make most of the roads in that township. In 1850, he came to this township, and 
bougiit eighty acres of bind, upon which he still resides. He added to his farm 
until he owned 520 acres of well-Improved land, a part of which he has since deeded 
to his son. Mr. Mills has acquired all his jiroperly by Industry and economy, as he 
had nothing to begin with. He has a handsome residence, and the grounds are 
tastefnlly laid out, there Ix'ing about twciuy-five varieties f)f evergreens, and an 
equal number of deciduous trees. He is a large stock-raiser, and keeps a high grade 
of cattle. He was married, in 1852, to Martha L. Young, a native of Fountain 
County. Ind. They have two sons and four daughters. Mrs. Mills is a member of 
the Christian Church, and Mr. Mills (tiiough not a ciuu'ch meml)er) professes Cliris- 
tlanity. He is a Repul)liean. .ind tuki-s a lively Interest in political atTairs. During 
the late civil war, he donated |3.0t>0 to soldiers and their families, and was active in 
recruiting. 



364 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

JOHN E. MORGAN was born in Champaign County, Ohio, August 1, 1837, 
and is the sixth of nine children born to Jacob and Elizabeth (Rochester) Morgan, 
natives of Virginia, and of English descent. Jacob Morgan removed to Hamilton 
County, Ohio, in 1810 or 1812. He enlisted under Gen. Harrison, and served through 
the war of 1813. Soon after the war, he removed to Champaign County, Ohio, 
where he was married. He farmed on shares several years, and in 1835 entered 130 
acres of land in Pine Township, ^yarren Co., Ind. He improved a farm, to which 
he added more land. His death occurred in Februarj-, 1861, and was caused by his 
being thrown from a load of hay by a runaway team. He and wife were members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John E. Morgan, in youth, received a limited 
education, but has since acquired considerable business knowledge by his own 
efforts. After his twenty-second year, he farmed on shares, on the home farm, 
three years. In 1850, he bought eighty acres of wild canal lands in this township. 
He erected a small frame house, and subsequently improved a farm, adding land 
until he now owns 330 acres. He has a line residence, and the grounds are taste- 
fully laid out. His barn is surmounted by a wind-mill, which pumps water for 
various pasture fields, and drives machinery in the barn, which shells the corn and 
grinds all kinds of grain, except wheat, and chops the feed. All this can be done 
at one time. Mr. Morgan breeds extensively thoroughbred and high grade short- 
horn cattle, also full-blooded Poland-China hogs. When he started in life, he had 
to borrow money to purchase land, but by industry and economy he has become 
one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. He was married, February 21, 1850, to 
Mary Wattles, a native of Fountain County, Ind. They have had three children, 
two now living— Elizabeth J. and Luther J. He and wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Morgan is a Republican. 

LUTHER J. MORGAN was born in this township February 17, 1856, and is 
the youngest of three children born to John E. and Mary (Wattles) Morgan. 
Luther J.Morgan received a good practical business education, and was employed 
on the home farm until attaining his majority. He has since farmed the home 
farm in partnership with his father, and owns a half-interest in the stock. He was 
married, April 17, 1878, to Aneva Courtney, a native of La Fayette, Ind. Mr. L. J. 
Morgan is a Republican, and one of the rising farmers of the county. 

JOHN K. NALLEY was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., December 18, 1848, 
^nd is the fourth of fourteen children born to Isaac and Susanna (Kraft) Nalley, 
natives of Maryland and Ohio, and of English and German descent. When about 
eighteen years old, Isaac Nalley removed, in 1836, to Hancock County, Ohio, where 
he married, and followed farming several years. He then went to Ogle County, 111. ; 
remained there two years, and in 1844 came to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he 
bought a farm, on which he resided until his death July 33, 1878. He and wife were 
members of the United Brethren Church. John K. Nalley was employed on his 
father's farm until he attained his majority. He then farmed on shares in his native 
county two years, and in 1873 he came to this township and farmed on shares two 
years. His father-in-law then gave him a farm in this township, on which he still 
resides. He was married, September 14, 1869, to Susanna Runner, a native of Oak 
Grove Township. They have had four children, three of whom are living— Eva, 
Cora and Alta. Mr. Nalley is one of the rising young farmers of the county. 

WILLIAM C. PARKER was born at Portland, Jay Co., Ind., November 17, 
1819, and is the second of seven children born to Calvin J. and Catherine G. (Shade) 
Parker, natives of North Carolina and of Pennsylvania, and of English-Irish and 
German-French descent, respectively. Calvin J., who was self-educated, was a 
teacher and civil engineer. He removed to Darke County, Ohio, where he married, 
but prior to his marriage he was Principal of the Public Schools at Palestine, Ohio. 
He was also employed as engineer of various public works. Later he went to Port- 
land, Jay County, Ind., where he had charge of the public schools. After that he 
was Superintendent of Schools at Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio. He then superin- 
tended a large school in Jay County, Ind., and in 1855 removed to Vermillion 
County. 111., remaining until 1859, when became to Pine T6wnship, Warren Co., 
Ind. He subsequently removed to Rainsville, same county, and died in 1870. He 
was a Freemason. William C. Parker served a three years' apprenticeship to the 
carriage-builders trade, and worked as a journeyman about seven years. In 1876, 
he opened a carriage manufactory at Oxford, and has now the largest business in 
that line in the county. He turns out from thirty to thirty-five carriages and buggies 
a year, and has a large repairing trade. Mr. Parker was married, November 38, 1878, to 
Mary Underwood, a native of La Fayette, Ind. They have had three children, two 
of whom, Leah and William W., are living. Mr. Parker is a Republican, and one 
of the leading business men of the county. 

JOHN H. PHARES was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, August 6, 1831, and 
is the eldest of five cliildreu born to William and Jerusha (Hutchinson) Phares, na- 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 365 

lives of New .lersoy. and of English-Irish and German descent. When two years 
old, in 1805, Williani Phares removed with his parents to Hamilton County. Ohio. 
He was there married, and followed agri( ultural pursuits until his death in August, 
1854. He was for many years Trustee of his township. Jolin H. Phares was em- 
ployed on his father's farm until he attained his majority, lie then farmed on 
shares several years. In 18')"), he bought Vii acres of land in this township, on 
which he still resides. Ills farm is well improved. October 6, 184"2, he married 
Hannah liutlcr, a native of BuUcr County. Ohio. By tliis union they had seven 
cliildren, foiu- of whom are now living. ]\Irs. llannali Pliares (who was a member 
of the Presbyterian Church) died August 19, 18(50. Mr. Phares. in January, 1862, 
married Mrs". Naomi (Hutchinson) Frost, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio. That 
lady died March 10. 1872. She also was a member of the Prei5b3'terian Church. In 
May. IS?'). Mr. Phares married Mrs. Eunice G. (Butler) Frost, a native of Hamilton 
County, Ohio. They have one daugiiter, Minnie P. He and wife are members of 
the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Phares is an Elder and a Trustee. He is a 
Democrat. 

SAMUEL PHARES was born in Hamilton County, Ohio. September 27, 1823, 
and is the second of five children born to William and .lerusha (Hutchinson) Phares. 
Samuel Paares was employed on his father's farm until Iv: was twenty-one years old. 
He then worked the home farm on shares with his father until the latter's death. 
During the last four years of that time, they were also engaged in merchandi^^ at 
Harrison, Ind. After his father's death, Samuel operated the farm and store alone 
for two years. In March. ISHQ, he bought a tract of wild land. He subsequentlj' 
added more land, and has now a well improved farm of 372 acres. He has already 

6ut in 1.200 rods of tiling, and is continuing the work. Mr. Phares was married in 
•ecember, 1846, to Jane Gould, a native of New York. The}' have had nine chil- 
dren, seven of whom are now living. He and wife are members of the Christian 
Church. Mr. Phares is a member of Model Grange, No. 937, of Oak Grove Town- 
ship, and also for many years one of the Directors of the " Oxford Academj'." He is 
a Democrat. 

JOHN J. RAWLINGS, M. D. (deceased), was 1)orn in Bloomington, Monroe 
County, Ind., March 22, 1822, and was the youngest of eleven cliildren born to Dan- 
iel and Rebecca (Jenkins) Rawlings, natives of Maryland and of English descent. 
Daniel was an extensive planter, and owned a numi)er of slaves. Under the minis- 
try of Rev. Whitfield, he was converted to the Methodist faith, and soon after lib- 
erated his slaves. After this, his persecution Ijy neighboring planters became so 
intense that he emigrated to Indiana, and in 181S settled in Bloomington. After 
coming to Indiana, he followed the carpenter's trade until his death, which occurred 
in 1823. John J. Rawlings was educated at the common schools and at Blooming- 
ton University. In 1845, he began studying medicine with Dr. R. C. Hamil, of 
Bloomington, with whom he read three years. He then practiced his profes.sion 
with his preceptor until 1850, when Dr. Hamil removed to Chicago, and he took 
charge of the entire practice. He graduated from the Medical Department of the 
University of Missouri with the class of 1853-54. In the fall of 1854. he came to Ox- 
ford, Benton County, and practiced successfully several years. The Doctor was 
married, October 2, 1819, to N. Agnes Langley. "a native of Rush County. Ind., and 
daughter of John Langley, a pioneer of Rush County. Six children blessed 
their union, three of whom are living. In 1871. he removed to Oregon, where he 
died May 4, 1873. He and wife were members of the Christian Chu^x-h. In 1862, 
he was elected Treasurer of Benton County, and re-elected in 1864. He was a 
Republican, and took a lively interest in all political affairs. He was also a mem- 
ber of Oxford Lodge. I. O. O. F. 

JONATHAN RHODE was born in Adams Town.ship, Warren Co., Ind.. May 
4. 1830, and is the third of six children born to Seymour and Rebecca (Herley) 
Rhode, both natives of Ohio, and of English descent. Seymour Rhode was married 
in Ohio, and .soon after came with his father and brothers to Warren County, Ind. 
His father deeded him a tract of land in what is now Adams Town.ship, which he 
farmed until 1855, when he sold out, and removed to Fremont County. Iowa, where 
he bought a farm, on which he resided until liisdcatliin IH(;4. He was not a church 
mend)er, but adlK'red to the "Friends' doctrine." Jonatiian Rhode lost iiis mother 
when he was eight years old, after which he lived with two uncles until sixteen; 
then worked on his father's farm until twenty-one. He then farmed the home farm 
on shares three jears, then another farm in same county one year. In 1856, he 
moved to a farm in Fremont ("ounty, Iowa, deeded to him by hfs father: in 1859, 
lie bought 160 acres in this township, which he improved, and now resides upon. 
November 23, is.")5. he married Dorothy Gray, a native of Warren County, Ind. 
Seven cliildren have blessed their union, six of whom are living— Rebecca A. (Mrs. 
I. H. Edwards). Sarah E. (Mrs. John C. Messner). Lillus M. (Mrs. F. D. Stotts), 
Mary J., Martha K. and Charles S. Mr. Rhode is a Democrat. 



366 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

JOHN W. ROMMEL was born in Germany September 2, 1842, and is the sec- 
ond of six children born to Henry and Margaret (Storch) Rommel, natives of Ger- 
many. Henry Rommel followed farming in bis native country several years. In 
1853, he emigrated to the United States, and came to this township ; he farmed sev- 
eral years on shares, and in 1866 bought a farm in Center Township, this county, 
where he still resides. John W. Rommel was employed on his father's farm until 
after his twenty-first year. He then worked nine years for Dr. Stembel; at the end 
of that time began farming eighty acres, which he had previously bought in Center 
Township. He remained here until 1877, when he sold out, and bought 120 acres 
in this township, on which he still resides. The farm is well cultivated and drained, 
Mr. Rommel having put in over 600 rods of tiling. He was niarried, October 20, 
1870, to Amelia Miller, a native of Germany. They liave no children. Mrs. Rom- 
mel is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Rommel, though not a church 
member, adheres to the same faith. He is a member of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F., 
and is a Democrat. 

JOHN P. ROSS was l)orn in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 7, 1821, and is the 
third of nine children born to William F. and Sarah J. (Patton) Ross, natives of 
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and of English and Scotch descent. In 1808, Will- 
iam F. Ross moved to Cincinnati, Ohio; he became a carpenter, and followed that 
trade nearly all his life. He was married in Cincinnati; he died at Harrison, Ham- 
ilton Co., Ohio, May 20, 1878, in his eighty-eighth year. He was Mayor of Harri- 
son for a time; for many years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and his wife of the Presbyterian Church. John P. Ross was educated in 
the common schools; he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it in Ohio and 
Indiana thirty years. In 1852, he removed from Cincinnati to Harrison, and in 
1853 to Oxford, this county, and worked at his trade until 1873; he then engaged in 
the furniture and undertaking business; he carries a good stock, worth from $3,000 
to .$4,000. Mr. Ross was married, June 9, 1843, to Adeline M. Geisse, a native of 
Philadelphia. They have had four children, three of whom are living — Mary E. 
(now Mrs. W. D. Owen, of Logansport), William J. and Charles G. He is N. G. of 
Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F., and a Republican. 

DR. CHARLES G. ROSS, dentist, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 15, 1851, 
and is the youngest of three children now living born to John P. and Adeline Ross, 
natives of Cincinnati and Philadelphia, and of Scotch and German descent. Charles 
G. Ross received a good common school education, and in 1868 studied dentistry 
under Dr. R. S. Mowrer, of Watseka, 111. In 1876, he attended the Pennsylvania 
College of Dental Surgery at Philadelphia, graduating from that institution in 1877. 
Since then he has practiced at Oxford, and has the most extensive practice in the 
county. He was married, June 13, 1872, to Mary E. Furness, a native of Hamilton 
County, Ohio, by which union they have had one child — Warner A. He and wife 
are members of the Christian Church, in which the Doctor has filled various posi- 
tions. He is a Republican, and takes a lively interest in State and county politics. 
For many years he has been an active worker in the temperance cause. 

ISAAC RUNNER was born in Berkeley County, Va., October 24, 1822, and is 
the only child now living born to William and Rebecca (Miller) Runner, natives of 
Virginia and Maryland, and of CJerman descent. William Runner was a farmer in 
his native State until his death in 1824. He was a Captain in the Virginia militia 
during the war of 1812. Mrs. Rebecca Runner died six weeks after her husband. 
Isaac Runner lived with hisgrandfather until he was twelve years old, and then with 
an uncle three years. In 1838, he came (on foot) to La Fayette, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., 
where he worked in a packing house and subsequently on a farm. About#1839, he 
went to La Salle County, 111., where he opemted a ferry and was afterward on a 
farm. Later, he bought a team and farmed on shares. In 1840, he returned to Wea 
Plains, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. In 1843, he entered 160 acres in this township and 
made a farm, on which he still resides. He added more land, until he owned 1,200 
acres, a part of which he has since deeded to his children. Mr. Runner had abso- 
lutely nothing when he started in life, but by economy and industry has accumu- 
lated a handsome fortune. He was married, March 5, 1846, to Rebecca Beavers, a 
native of Lawn-ence County, Ind., by whom he had four children, all still living. 
His first wife died February 18, 1853. She was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. Mr. Runner next married, January 25, 1855, Charlotte E. Brake, a na- 
tive of Highland County, Ohio. They have had eight children, four of whom are 
living. Mrs. Runner is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Runner is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. and a Republican. 

THEOPHILUS C. RUNNER was born in Oak Grove Township, Benton Co., 
Ind., April 29, 1851, and is the j'oungest of four children born to Isaac and Rebecca 
Runner. Theophilus received a good common school education, and was employed 
on the home farm in this county, until twenty-three years old. He then bought a 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 367 

farm of eighty acres Ln this township (one mile north of the home farm), upon 
which he resided until the sprinj^ of 1KS3. when he rented that farm and moved to 
another, owned by his wife, in the northeast i)art of the township. He was mar- 
ried, March 4. 1875, to Cynthia Atkinson, a native of this township. They have 
had three children— Isaac' E., Robert R. and William E. lie and wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch, and Mr. Runner is a Republican and one of 
Benton County's enterprising farmers. 

CAPT. CilARLES M. SCOTT was born in Fayette County. Ind., January 22, 
1833, and is one of eight children born to Andrew and Jane E. (Dannells) Scott. 
Charles was educated in Delaware and Tippecanoe Counties, Ind., and in 1849 went 
by the overland route to California. He was engaged in mining and the cattle busi- 
ness three years, and then returned to Indiana, staying with his father three years. 
He then went back to California, remaining there eighteen months. In 1857, he 
married Miss Elizabeth Murdock. a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind. They have 
had live children, only two now living. He soon after removed to this county and 
farmed several years. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-ninth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and at the organization of the company was appointed 
a Sergeant, and in February, 1804, was promoted to Captain, lie participated with 
his regiment in all its marches and engagements, excepting the march from Atlanta, 
when he was on sick leave, but rejoined the regiment on the coast. They were 
mustered out June 5, 18(55. Soon after his return, he was appointed Deput}' Clerk 
of this county, and was subsequently elected County Court Clerk, which office he 
held eight }'ears. He then went iiito the boot and shoe trade at O.xford, afterward 
in the lumber business at the same place and at Ambia. He next farmed for some 
time, and has also been extensively engaged in real estate business. In March, 1883, 
he returned to Oxford, where he now resides. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and the Captain is a member of Oxford and Boswell Lodges, 
I. O. O. F. The town of Boswell was laid out by him. 

WILLIAM M. SCOTT was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., January 29. 1844, 
and is the seventh of eight children born to Andrew and Jane E. (Dannells) Scott, 
natives of Ohio and Kentucky. Andrew, in early life, was for several years flat- 
boating on the Kanawha River. In 1828, he came to Fayette County, Ind., engaged 
in farming, and was there married. From 1838 to 1856, he was occupied in mercan- 
tile pursuits in Yorktown and Granville. About 1846, he erected a grain warehouse 
on the Wabash & Erie Canal at Granville. The warehouse was destroyed by fire in 
1856. He removed to Grant Township, where he owned 2,200 acres of land. He 
farmed and raised stock until his death, September 16, 1863. He held to the Uni- 
versalist faith, but was not a member of any church. William M. was educated in 
the common schools. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety- 
ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Jack- 
son, Miss., Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain and through the At- 
lanta campaign. July 28, 1864, he was wounded before Atlanta. He was promoted 
to Sergeant, and mustered out June 5, 1865. He was salesman in a drug store at 
Oxford until 1867, when he engaged in the drug trade with J. W. Barnes, trading as 
Barnes it Scott. In January, 1869, he sold his interest, and in October of the same 
year, with his brother, he started a drug store at Goodland, Newton County. He 
returned to Oxford, and is now in the same trade. He built the first brick store 
room in Oxford, which he still occupies. He carries a large stock, and is doing a 
good business. Mr. Scott was married, October 29, 1865, to Harriet C. Bradley, a 
native of Virginia. They have had eight children, six of whom are living, lie is 
a member of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F., was a charter member of Goodland Lodge, 
No. 346, I. O. O. F., and w^as its first N. G. Mr. Scott is a Republican. 

WILLIAM M. SLEEPER, M. D., was born in Butler County, Ohio, July 4, 
1824, and is the eldest of three children born to Jonathan and Elizabeth (HoUings- 
worlh) Sleeper, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and Scotch 
descent. Jonathan Sleeper .served in the army in the war of 1812; about 1820. he 
removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, afterward to Butler County, Ohio, where he married. 
There, and in Warren County, Ohio, he followed the cooper's trade, in connection 
with farming, .several years; in, and after 1835, he engaf^ed in mercantile pursuits at 
Philadelphia; in 1848, he came to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and lived with his chil- 
dren until his death, which was caused by his being thrown from a load of hay. He 
and wife were memi)ers of the Friends Church. William M. Sleeper's mother died 
when he was nine years old. He was employed in a store at Philadelphia; in 1839, 
he came to Indianapolis, Ind.. and was engagefl in a store; in 184.5, he studied medi- 
cine with Dr. Wil.son, f)f Indianapolis; in 1846, he attended the Physopathic Medi- 
cal College at Cincinnati, Ohio; in 1848. he came to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and 
practiced his profession ten years; in 18.58. he settled on 120 acres of land in this 
township, ancl improved the farm, on which he still resides. He conuuenced the 



368 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

nursery business in 1864; his was the first, and is the only nurserj' in the county. 
He ceased the practice of his profession in 1880, havini? practiced longer than any 
physician in the county. The Doctor was married in 1^44 to Deborah A. Zimmer- 
man, a native of Pennsylvania. The}' have had three children, all now living. Dr. 
Sleeper was County Coroner one term. He is a Republican. The Sleepers in Amer- 
ica are descended from three brothers, two of whom were Quakers, who settled 
near Boston, Mass., about 1740. 

ALONZO D. SLEEPER was born in Marion County, Ind., February 18, 1845, 
and is the eldest of three children born to William M. and Deborah A. (Zimmerman) 
Sleeper. Alonzo D. Sleeper was employed on his father's farm until February, 
1863, when he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry. He served with the regiment until July, 1863, when he was 
discharged on account of disability. He then engaged ten years in the nursery 
business with his father. In 1873, he bought a farm in this township, and has since 
followed agricultural pursuits. He was married, June 5, 1873, to Lucy Underwood, 
a native of Philadelphia. They have four children— Anna A., Edith, William A. 
and Arnold Z. Mr. Sleeper is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 190, A., F. & A. M., 
in which lodge he has held various official positions. He is also a member of La 
Fayeite Chapter, R. A. M,, and politically a Republican. 

HIRAM SMITH was born in Henry County, Ind., December 15, 1837, and is 
the fourth of ten children born to Nathan and Rebecca (Pickering) Smith, natives 
of Virginia and Ohio. When six years old, Nathan Smith removed to Preble 
County, Ohio; subsequently went to Henry County, Ind., where he married, and 
soon after went to Wayne County, where he farmed four or five years. He returned 
to Henry County and bought a farm, on which he resided until 1870, when he moved 
to Greensboro, and has since lived there, excepting two or three years spent in Ne- 
braska. He is a member of the Quaker Church, in which he has filled various 
offices. Hiram Smith was employed in farming until he was twenty-two years old, 
when he learned the carpenter's' trade. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, 
Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which regiment he remained until May, 
1863. In July of the same year, he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-fifth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the 
battles of Chickamauga, Resaca and Kenesaw Mountain, through the Atlanta cam- 
paign, and on Sherman's march to the sea. After his return, he worked at his trade 
in Wabash County. Ind., until 1870, when he came to Oxford, and has since fol- 
lowed his trade. Mr. Smith was married in 1866 to Ann Nelson a native of Fay- 
ette County, Ind., by whom he has had five children, three now living. He and wife 
are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Smith is a member of Oxford Lodge, 
No. 190, A., F. & A. M., of which lodge he is W. M. He is a Republican. 

THEOPHILUS STEMBEL, M. D., was born in Frederick County, Md., De- 
cember 9. 1813. In 1833, he moved to Ohio, and in 1837 graduated at the Ohio 
Medical College. In 1843, he came to Warren County, Ind., and in 1846 removed 
to Benton County and settled on a farm near Oxford, where he still resides. For 
some years Dr. Stembel practiced his profession in connection with farming, but 
since 1855 he has devoted his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He was 
one of the Commissioners of Benton County for two years, and also County Treas- 
urer one term. Dr. Stembel was the first physician who located in this county. 

FRANK H. STEMBEL was born in Oak Grove Township, Benton Co., Ind., 
July 89, 1854, and is the fifth of twelve children born to Theophilus and Martha A. 
(Justus) Stembel. Frank H. Stembel was employed on the home farm until he was 
eighteen years old. He then engaged in the cattle business two years for his 
brother-in-law, Mr. Harris. In the spring of 1878, he moved on to the farm of 160 
acres in the northern part of this township, where he now resides. This farm, 
which is well cultivated, was subsequently deeded to himself and wife by his father 
and father-in-law. He was married, April 14, 1880, to Ida J. Runner, a native of 
this township. They have one son, Charles K. Mr. Stembel is a Democrat, and 
one of Benton County's enterprising farmers. 

EDWIN C. STEELE was born at Winchester, Randolph Co., Ind., February 
18, 1854, and is the eldest of eight children born to Amaziah and Andelia (Binna^er) 
Steele, natives of Ohio, and of Scotch and German descent. Amaziah, in 1839, 
came to Randolph County with his parents, and was afterward married in that 
countv. He worked as a tanner, and also farmed for several 3'ears. In 1864, he went 
Ford County, 111., and in September of that year enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Forty-sixth "Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was soon after tran.sferred to the regi- 
mental band. He was mustered out July, 1865. He then learned the carpenter's 
trade, wliich he has since followed. In 1870, he came to Oxford, and later to Otter- 
bein, this county, where he still resides. He is a member of Oxford Post, G. A. R. 
Edwin C. Steele received a common-school education. He served a three-years 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 369 

appfentieeship to the tinner's trade, and then worked as a journeyman in Indiana 
and Ohio until 1872. The sprini^ of that year, lie came to Oxford, opened a hard- 
ware store, and has since done a prosperous trade. He carries a well-assorted stock 
of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves and agricultural implements. Mr. Steele was 
married. August IS, ISSO. to Josie V. McConnell. a native of this county. One son 
has blessed their union. Roy. Mr. Steele is a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
lie is a Republican, and one of the prominent business men of the town. 

ZLMRI N. THOMAS was born in Fayette County, Ind.. December 2, 1843, and 
is the eldest of four children born to John I. and Clarissa (Utter) Thomas, natives 
of New York and Indiana, and of English and German descent. Mrs. Clarissa 
Thomas' parents were pioneers of Ftu'etie Count}-, Ind. When five years old. John 
I. Thomas came with his parents to Fayette County, Ind., where he afterward mar- 
ried, and followed farming .several years. In 1856, he removed to ]\Iason County, 
111., but in 1861 returned to Fayette County, Ind. June. 1861. he enlisted in Com- 
pany C, Second Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served with the regiment until 
mustered out in Julv. 1864. After the war, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits 
in Fayette Count}', Ind., until his death in 1872. He and wife were members of the 
Chri-stian Church. Mr. Thomas was a member of I. O. O. F. Zimri N. Thomas 
had a good common-school and academic education. June 18, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company K, Eighty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment 
until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone'River, 
Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, on Sherman's march to the sea, and in 
many minor engagements. After the war. he taught school in Fayette Coimty. 
Ind.. several years. In 187' >, he came to this township, and has since been engaged 
in airricultural pursuits and iu teaching. He has taught eighteen or twenty terms 
in Rush. Fayette, and Benton Counties. March 27, 1872, he married Charlotte 
Martin, a native of Fayette County, Ind. They have one daughter. Ruby. He 
and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Thomas is a member of 
Oxford Lodge. No. 190. A. F. & A. M., in which lodge he has held various offices. 
He is a Republican. 

JOHN WATTLES was born in Butler County, Ohio. August 26, 1827, and is 
the fourth of six children born to L. W. and Lucretia (Stout) Wattles, natives of 
Connecticut and New Jersey, and of English and German descent. L. W. Wattles 
was educated in Chenango County, N. Y. While a young man, he removed to 
Butler County, Ohio, where he married, and farmed several years. In 1830, he 
came to Fountain County, Ind., and farmed there and in Warren and Benton 
Counties, until 1854, when he removed to Wisconsin, where he died Febi-uary 14. 
1859. He was a veteran of the war of 1812. John Wattles received a common- 
school education, and at fifteen years of age was employed on a farm, continuing 
eight years. He then farmed on shares in this township five years. In 1853, he 
bought eighty acres of wild land in this township, which he cultivated, and on 
which he still resides. He now owns 200 acres of well-improved land. He was 
married. September 19, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth K. Gray, a native of Warren County, 
Ind. Six children have blessed their union, all of whom are living. Mr. Wattles 
is a member of Model Granjje, No. 937, and is a Democrat. 

ALLEN W. WELLS. M. D., was born in Lorain County. Ohio. August 14. 
1836, and is the eldest of four children born to David and Cynthia (Eddy) Wells, 
natives of Connecticut and New York, and of Welsh and English descent. About 
1829, David Wells removed to Lorain County. Ohio, journeying mostly on foot. 
He entered 160 acres, made a farm, and married in that covmty^ In 1868, he sold 
his properly and retired from active life. He is now in his seventy-sixth year. For 
some time he was a Comissioner of Lorain County. He is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, and his wife belongs to the Friends Church. Allen was educated in the 
common and high schools, and at Oberlin College. At the age of eighteen, he began 
teaching, and continued, at intervals, about seven years. He studied medicine un- 
der Dr. H. C. Pcarce, of Urbana. Ohio, and in 1860-61 attended a course of lectures 
at the Cincinnati College; he then practiced with his preceptor at Urbana. In 
March, 1864, he graduated from the Starling .Medical College of Columbus, Ohio. 
In the spring of 1863, he was one of a commission of thirlcen physicians to look af- 
ter the Ohio sick and wounded in the hospital boats on the Mississippi Riv- 
er. In 1864, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and 
Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the fall of the same 
year. January 1865. he came to Oxford, this county, and has acquired an 
extensive and lucrative practice. During the winter of lS(i(i-»)7, he attend- 
ed a course of lectures at Bellevue Hosi)ital Medical College of New York. 
From 1868 to 1870. he was Superintendent of the Academy at Oxford, and 
for several years has been a member of the school board. The Doctor was mar- 
ried, May 25, 1868, to Myra N. Shideler. a native of La Fayette, Ind. Five children 

22 



370 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

have blessed this union, all now living. The Doctor and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 190, A. 
F. & A. M. 

AXLEN H. WHINERY was born in Clinton County, Ohio, September 4, 1833, 
and is the ninth of ten children horn to Joseph and Lydia(Perlcin8) Whiuery, natives 
of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and of Scotch and English descent. Joseph 
Whinery worked as cabinet-maker in Philadelphia three years. About 1812, he re- 
moved (on horseback) to Clinton County, Ohio, and followed his trade at Wilming- 
ton until 1887, when he removed to Grant County, Ind. There he continued at the 
cabinet-maker's trade twenty years, after which he retired from active life, and 
lived with his children until his death, April 24, 1873. He was a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. Allen H. "Whinery, in 1851, came to O.vford, Benton County, hav- 
ing at the time only $4. He worked on a farm, several years, and in 1858 bought 
100 acres of land in this township. He has improved his farm, and still resides on it. 
He was married, January 29, 1858, to Mary Adkinson, a native of Greene County, 
Ohio, by whom he has five children. Mr. Whinery is a Republican. 

WILLIAM D. WHITE was born in Charleston, S. C, August 14, 1821, and is 
the second in a family of five boys born to William D. and Mary (Cogan) White, 
natives of Scotland and Maryland, and of Scotch and Irish descent. William D. 
White, Sr., learned the machinist's trade in Scotland. Soon after attaining his ma- 
jority, he came to America, and first settled at Baltimore, where he was employed 
in the United States Arsenal during the war of 1812, and where he was afterward 
married. Soon after that war, he went to Greenville Court House, near Charleston, 
S. C, and was engaged in the manufacture of arms in the United States Arsenal 
several years. He afterward built and put in the machinery in several cotton facto- 
ries in South Carolina and Georgia, some of which are still in operation. In 1835, 
he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at his trade two years, then came 
to Harrison, Ind., where he resided until his death. He and wife were members of 
the Christian Church. William D. White, Jr., was a machinist, many years in the 



employment of Winslow Jones & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, for whom he put 
in machinery all over the South and West. In 1856, he gave up his trade, and bought 
a partially improved farm in this township, on which he has since resided. He was 
married, in 1850, to Amy Pharis, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, by whom he 
had three children— Emma, Mary A. and William E. The latter graduated from 
Purdue University in 1883. Mrs. White died March 4, 1859. She was a member of 
the Christian Church, of which Mr. White is also a member. He is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM WILKINSON (deceased) was born in Warren County, Ind., and 
was of Scotch ancestry. In 1844, he came to Benton County, where he married Miss 
Nancy P. Johnston, a native of Vigo County, Ind., of Irish and Welsh descent. 
About 1846 or 1847, he entered and bought 121) acres of land in this county, part in 
Oak Grove, and part in Grant Township. On that portion in Grant Township, he 
erected a cabin and improved a farm, which he subsequently sold. He continued to 
buy, and improve land until he had improved some half dozen farms in the county. 
With the exception of eighteen montlisspentinlowa, he resided in Benton County un- 
til his death, August 1, 1867. He was not a church member, but held to the Baptist 
faith. Of Mr. Wilkinson's children, only two are living — Thomas M., born in Oak 
Grove Township February 28, 1852, and John W., born in Grant Township September 
20, 1855. Both were employed on their father's farm, until they attained their majori- 
ty.' Thomas M. Wilkinson farmed on shares for several years. In 1881, he bought a 
farm in this township, but he lives on rented land in Grant Township. December 
34, 1876, he married Harriet A. Jackson, a native of this township. They have had 
two children, Cecilia L. and Chesney W. He is a member of Benton Grange, No. 
857. John W. Wilkinson, after his twenty-first year, farmed the houK; farm on 
shares until after his mother's death, January 29, 1881. Pie now owns the old home- 
stead, having bought his brother's interest. He was married, March 13, 1881, to 
Clara J. Jones, a native of Warren County, Ind. They have one son, William C. 
Mrs. Wilkinson is a member of the Christian Church. ' Mr. Wilkinson is a member 
of Benton Grange, No. 857. The two brothers are Democrats. 

JOEL C. WILMOTH was bornjin Seneca County, Ohio, June 30, 1845, and is 
the youngest of two children now living, born to Solomon and Margaret (Henry) 
Wilmoth, natives of Virginia and of English descent. In 1832. Solomon moved to 
Seneca County, Ohio, where he afterward married. In 1846, he removed to Wyan- 
dot County, Ohio, near Upper Sandusky, and bought 160 acres of wild land, which 
he farmed until his death in May, 1850. He was at one time Sheriff of Wyandot 
County, Ohio. Joel C. Wilmoth received a common school education. April, 1861, 
he came to Oxford, this county, and the following December enlisted in Company 
D, Sixtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In 1863, he was detailed on signal duty, 
and was transferred to the signal corps after the fall of Vicksburg. He was mu3- 



OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 371 

tered out in December, 18(U. He participated in all tlie battles of the Vicksburg 
campaign, and at Missionary Ridge, Resaca. Kenesaw Mountain and the Atlanta 
campaign, besides many lesser engagements. He engaged in tin; hardwan' business 
at Brookston. White Co., Ind., until lS()(i, when lie sold out and went on a tour 
throngh Kansas, Colorado, New Me.xieo and Arizona. From I8(i7 to 1S70, lie was a 
hardware salesman at Danville, 111. He then returned to Oxford and opened a 
hardware store. He carries .shelf and heavy iiurdware, I)!U'bed wire, agricultural 
implements and macliinerv. in value between A.!. ()()() and :?().()()(). His annual aver- 
age sales are from $l-.i.O()(»" to $15,000. He has Ix'cn a Trustee of Oxford, and in 1876 
he was (;andidate for Siieritt. In Xovemb.-r, 1870, he married Hattie Parkins, in 
Champaign, III. Mrs. Hattie Wilmoth died Xoveml)erll, 1878. She was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Kpiscopal Church. June :]0, 187"). Mr. Wilmoth married Han- 
nah M. Wright, a native of Salem. N. J. They have had one son, Joel (J. Mrs. 
Wilmoth is a member of the Methodist Episeopal ("hurch. Mr. Wilmoth is a mem- 
ber of Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F. , and politicallv is a Democrat. 

ROBERT WOOD was born in Yorkshire, England, December 7. 1831, and is 
the fourth of eight children born to Thomas and Mary (Vandervart) Wood, natives 
of England. Thomas Wood owned a farm in his native country, and was also occu- 
pied in milling and hotel-keeping until 1844, when he ])rought his family to the 
United States and settled in Dearborn County, Ind.. on a farm. In 1855, he" bought 
a farm in Irocjuois County, III., on which he died in the fall of 180:}. He was a 
member of I. O. O. F. in England, but did not renew his membership in this coun- 
try. Robert Wood served a four years' apprenticeship to the harness-maker's trade, 
and worked as a journejMiian in Lawrenceburg and Oxford. In 1855, he opened a 
shop at Oxford, in company with Frederick Ilamerly. Mr. Ilamerly subsequently 
retired, since when Mr. Wood has conducted the business alone, with success. He 
has twice been Trustee of this township, and is a Trustee of Oxford. He was mar- 
ried, November '20, 18.58, to Matikla Hickman, a native of Owen County, Ind. 
They have had four chiMren, three of whom are living. Mr. Wood is a member of 
Oxford Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a Democrat. One of Mr. Wood's sons. William 
R. Wood, is now practicing law at La Fayette, Ind., having been admitted to the 
bar in 1883. He graduated with honors at Ann Arbor University, and is rising in 
his profession. 

CONRAD H. ZEIS was born in Hesse-Cassel. Germany, November 3, 1843, and 
is the second of tive children born to John and Elizabeth (Ludwig) Zeis, natives of 
Germany. John Zeis was a book-keeper, and died in April, 1882. Mrs. Elizal)eth 
Zeis died in 1877. The}' were members of the Dutch Reformed Church. Conrad 
H. Zeis received an excellent education in his native country, and, emigrating to 
the United States in 1858, came to Greencastle, Ind. He served a three years' ap- 
prenticeship to the baker's and confectioner's trade, and then worked as a journey- 
man at La Fayette. Ind.. until 1804. He then started a bakery and confectionery, 
which he sold in 1808 and came to Oxford. He hauled his entire stock on a one- 
horse wagon. He opened a grocery store and bakery, and his trade has .so increased 
that he is noAvthemost extensive trader in his line in the county. He carries a well- 
selected stock of gi'oceries, provisions, confections and notions, in value about 
$10,000. His bakery has a capacity of over 1,000 loaves per day. He at present turns 
out 500 or 600 loaves a day, besides other articles in the])akery line. His average an- 
nual sales are from $80,0i)0 to $40,000. His business premi.ses are 120 feet long and 
two stories high. Both floors and the cellar are tilled with goods. His custom ex- 
tends over a radius of twenty miles. .Mr. Z<'is was married, October 25, 1806, to 
Barbara Smith, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have five children. He and 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of Friend- 
ship Lodge, No. 22, I. O. O. F., at La Fayette. Politically, he is a Republican. 
Mr. Zeis owns a fruit and stock farm near Oxford, and is extensively engaged in 
raising blooded hogs and Jersey cattle ; also in gardening. 



372 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



GRANT TOWNSHIP. 

S. H. ARMS, grain and commission merchant, is a native of Fountain County, 
Ind., born December 6, 1833, a son of Orren and Cynthia (Hubbard) Arms, and of 
English descent. The parents of S. H. Arms were born in Vermont and Massachu- 
setts respectivelv. The father came to Indiana and settled in Fountain County 
when twenty-one years of age, where the mother died in 1843. The father is living 
at Attica, aged eighty-two years. In IBoG, S. H. Arms removed to Kansas, engaged 
in fanning and trading, and returned to this State in 1861. He was married, Janu- 
ary 17, 1867, to Miss Diana, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Kell ; their union 
was graced by two children — Gertrude and Ira O. After marriage, Mr. Arms moved 
to tlus township, on land purchased two years previously, and remained until 1879, 
when became to Boswell, where he has |lO,000 invested, and engaged in the grain 
commission business successfully, and has continued the same. He is a Republican, 
and cast his first Presidential vote for Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Arms is a member of the 
M. E. Church, and one of the solid business men of Boswell. 

LUKE BEAZELL, son of Joseph and Sarah (Sphor) Beazell, is a native of 
Westmoreland County, Penn., born October 16, 1829, and of Irish-German descent. 
His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where his father died February, 1881, and 
his mother yet resides, aged seventy-four. The education of Luke Beazell was lim- 
ited to the early schools, and he worked for his father until after his majority. In May, 
1855, he moved to Wells County, Ind., and remained two .years, thereafter coming to 
this county, where he rented Daniel Burdett's farm, and there lived tive years, after 
which he purchased a farm near Oxford, and farmed until 1874, when he changed to 
his present residence. Here he purchased 312 acres, which, by adding, now number 
392 acres, and which is one of the best improved farms in the locality. December 
24, 1856, he was wedded to Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of Edward and Emeline 
Ferguson, a native of Ohio. Their union was followed by six children — William, 
Emma, James, Elizabeth, Sarah and Joseph. Mr. Beazell was a Whig ; cast his 
first Presidential vote for Gen. Scott, and is now an earnest Republican, and an 
honored citizen. Mr. and and Mrs. Beazell are members of the United Brethren 
Church. 

W. S. BROWN is a native of Champaign County, Ohio, was born February 13, 
1829, and is a son of William and Martha Rhodes (Brown), the former a native of 
New York, the latter of Maryland, and of German-English descent. His father 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was present at Hull's surrender. In 1833, he 
moved to Pine Township, Warren County, Ind., but died at Attica, Fountain 
County March 24, 1868 ; his mother died on the homestead in Warren County, Oc- 
tober, 1870. The education of W. S. Brown was of the ordinary log school variety. 
He was married April 1, 1857, to Mrs. Mary J. Brown, daughter of William and 
Ann Myers, a native of Cincinnati, which union was followed by six children — 
Fannie E., Walter S., Benjamin C, Jennie G. and two deceased in infancy. In the 
spring of 1862, Mr. Brown moved to his present location, where he purchased 120 
acresfwhich are now well improved. He is a Republican, but cast his first vote 
for Gen. Scott. Mr. Brown, as also his wife, is a member of the U. B. Church. 

JACOB CASSEL, farmer, is a native of Warren County, Ohio, born July 3, 
1813, a son of Job and Mary (Hoffman) Cassel, and of German-English descent. 
Grandfather Hoffman was a soldier in the American Revolution, in which struggle 
he'was killed. Jacob's father was a native of Virginia, his mother of South Caro- 
lina. In the early time, they emigrated from South Carolina to Kentucky, and about 
eiffhty years ago to Warren County, Ohio, and when Jacob was thirteen years old, 
moved to Fountain County, Ind., where they died— the father aI)out 1847, the mother 
about 1852. Our subject bore his share of the farm labor until his marriage, December 
17 1840, to Miss Mary A. M., daughter of Thomas and Mary Young, and a native of 
Kentucky. Four children dignified their union— Harry C, Franklin C, Melissa A. 
and Jefferson M. In 1844, Mr. Cassel came to this township, and has now over 600 
acres. In 1857, he built a residence costing |8,000. He has been Township Trustee 
and County Commissioner. Mr. Cassel had three sons in the late war. He has suf- 
fered many losses— at one time $13,000 by the death of cattle, and |6,000 by the 
burnino- of his house. He and wife are members of the Church of Christ. 

J B. CHRISTLEY, M. D., was born in Butler County, Penn., July 15, 1882, 
and is the third of the five children of Michael and Rachel (Beckwith) Christley, 



GRANT TOWNSHIl'— BENTON COUNTY. 373 

the former, a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1866, the latter, a native of Connecti- 
cut, died in 1839. Dr. Christley attended school at New Wilmington, and after- 
ward Alle^dieny CoHoufe, at Mcadvlllc, Peun. Thereafter, he read medicine for 
three years with Dr. J. B. Livini^ston, at Centerville, Penii.. and atiemlcd tiie 
Michigan University at Ann Arbor. In ISfiO, lie began practice in Buller County. 
Peun." In 1861. lie moved to Warren County, Ind., and commenced practice, and in 
1873 came to Boswell. where he now resides and continues practice. In IStio, he 
purchased a farm in Prairie Townsliip. and on Jidy 6 of that year married .Mary E., 
daughter of Solomon and Margaret Borders ; she is a native of New liichmond, 
Fountain County, and lias liorne seven cliildren — Alplia A., Clara L., Editli M. (de- 
ceased), EvcrettM., Lloyd. Carl E. and Joseph G. Dr. Christley is a Hc])ublican, 
and one of the leading physicians and citizens of the county, and he and Mrs. 
Christley are members of the Methodist Epl.scopal Church. 

iSAMUEL P. I)AVIS, boot and shoe; dealer, was born In Chester County, Penn., 
February 3, 1820, and is a son of E. H. and Elizabeth (Pawling) Davis, and of Ger- 
man descent. Ilis grandfather was a soldier of tlie Revolutoin. His f;iili<T was a 
native of Chester, aiid liis mother of Union County. Penn. ; in 1837, they ciine to tliis 
countv, of which E. H. Davis was tlie first Sheriff, and served from" 184(1 to 1844, 
when "he moveil to Warren County, and died February 29, 1859, a^ed seventy. Mrs. 
Davis died in Benton County. December, 1837. Samuel P. Davis attended school 
in Pennsylvania and Indiana" and afterward became a farmer and stock-raiser. He 
was married, April 4, 1846, to Mi.ss Frances A. Perry, born March 29, 1829. at Day- 
ton, Olilo. by wlilch union succeeded eight children— John V. (deceased). Perry H., 
Hannah E., Samuel P.. Frances A., Benjamin E., Catherine R. and Joseph H. 
After marriage, Mr. Davis rented for one ja-ar. tlien he purchased land in Pine 
Township, Warren County, where he now owns 550 acres, with a small farm in this 
county, on which he resules. In 1853, Mr. Davis went to California, where he 
farrmed and engaged in mercantile business for two years. In March, 1881. he came 
to Boswell, wliere he has a lialf-interest in a boot and shoe business, the firm name 
being Davis & Deer. Mr. Davis is an earnest Republican, and he and wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

BENJA:\nN F. DEER, boot and shoe dealer, is a native of Gallatin County, 
Ky.. and a son Simeon and Mary E. (Close) Deer; he was born March 24. 1829, arid 
is" of German-Irish descent. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and 
served the entire period. His parents were natives of Virginia; both moved to Ken- 
tucky at an early day, were married, and lived there until 1833; then they moved to 
Montgomery County, Ind., where his father died March 15, 1S78; his mother died in 
Fountain County, December, 1880. Our subject remained with his father until his 
majority, and afterward, for a time, worked by the month, anywhere and at any 
thing. He was married, August 19, 1851, to Miss Cynthia Ann, daughter of 
Abedncgo and Mehitable Stevens, a native of Fountain County. Ind To this 
union were born sl.\ children— an infant, Simeon S. N., Martin R., Mary L., Judith 
E. and John D. Of these, the first three are deceased. Mrs. Deer died September 
24, 18H0, aged forty-seven years, and September 13. 1881, Mr. Deer married Mrs. 
Mahala Elder, daughter of Walter and Rebecca Harris. Mr. Deer came to Boswell 
March 10, 1883; he has 513 acres, with a half interest in a boot and shoe store. 
He is a Republican, and, with his wife, a member of the Predestinarian Baptist 
Church. 

AMOS K. DILTZ, Ditch Commissioner and farmer, is a native of Champaign 
County, Ohio, born March 15, 1829, a son of Wesley and Cynthia (Kcnnard) Dlltz, 
the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Kentucky, and of German-English descent. 
Mr. Diltz died In 18H2, and Mrs. Dlltz In 18H1. Our subject attended, for a time, 
the Mechanlcslmrg (Ohio) .Vcademy, of which Mr. William D. lllnkle, the mathe- 
matician, was Principal. Mr. Diltz taught school for three years. He was married, 
October 15, 18()8. to Miss Ada A., daughicr of Parnhain and Ada Boswell. a native of 
Tippecanoe County. This union has been crowned with si.x cliildren- Ella O. 
(deceased), Parnham B., Bruce K., Lloyd E., William H. and Earl D. In 1^74, Mr. 
Diltz moved to this township, engaged In farming and stock-raising until 1882, 
wlwn he came to Boswell. He cast his tlrst I'residentiid vote for James Buchanan, 
since which time he has been a stanch Repiii)lican. In May, 18()4, he enlisted in Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Thirty-fourlii Ohio Volunteers, .served until the close of 
the "war, and received an honorable discharge as Orderly Sergeant. Mr. Diltz is a 
member of tliq Masonic fraternity. In 1W2, he was appointed Ditch Commissioner, 
and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JOHN I)OU(4HERTV, retired farmer, w.is born in Ross County. Ohio. Decern 
ber 21, 18|6; is the second of the eight children of James and M.iry (Wood) 
Dougherty, and of Irish-American descent. Grandfather Dougherty emigrated 
from Ireland to Pennsylvania, where his son James was born, who, with his father. 



374 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

moved to Ross County, Ohio. In 1838, having obtained but little education, our 
subject moved to Clinton Count3^ 111., where he farmed eight years; he moved 
thence to Medina Township, Warren Co., Ind. ; remained five years, and came to 
this township, wliere he has 010 acres of superior, attractive land, and well- 
improved, his residence having cost $4,000. Mr Dougherty was married, August 24, 
1838, to Miss Ruth, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Mather, a native of Ross County, 
Ohio. This union was blessed by three children— James M., Sarah F. and Martha; 
the first died in the United States service during the late war, March 7, 1862, at 
Somerset, Ky. Mrs. Dougherty died October 22, 1846, and January 25, 1856, Mr. 
Dougherty was married to Mrs. Rebecca Dolohan (formerly Foster), who died 
August 22, 1881. Mr. Dougherty is a Republican, a member of the M. E. Church, 
and a strong Prohibitionist. He resides on his farm, is worth $50,000, and is a 
representative farmer of Indiana. 

CHARLES L. FOSTER, manufacturer of and dealer in boots and shoes, is a 
native of Pennsylvania, born August 30, 1845, a son of Henry and Barbara (Miller) 
Foster, and of German descent. The father of Charles was a native of Germany, 
who emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Lee 
County, Iowa, where his wife died in 1855; he now resides at Des Moines, and is 
nearly seventy years of age. Charles received some schooling in Iowa, and served 
two years to learn shoe-making. After serving his time at this trade he worked in 
several places, and finally removed to Springfield, 111., where, January 13, 1865, he 
enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, and was 
discharged January 13, 1866, in November of which year he conimenced the boot 
and shoe business at Battle Ground, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. In 1870, he moved to 
Oxford, and thence to Boswcll, where he is the pioneer in his line, and has been 
.successful, having a stock of $6,<t00. Mr. Foster is a Mason, a member of the 
I. O. O. F., and a Democrat. He is one of the prominent business men of Benton 
County. 

JOHN GILLESPIE, dealer in groceries and provisions, was born in Ross 
County, Ohio, November 15, 1824; is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Moody) Gilles- 
pie, and of Irish descent. Our subject's grandfather was a native of Virginia and 
a soldier of the Revolution, through which he served the entire time. His father 
was also a native of Virginia, a soldier of the war in 1812, and was in the battle of 
Tippecanoe. In 1854, his parents moved to this township, where they died— the 
father in 1863, the mother in 1861. John attended school in Chillicothe, Ohio, and 
worked with his father until after his majority. He was married, February 11, 
1849, to Miss Martha, daughter of Jacob and Mary Myers, a native of Lancaster 
County, Penn. By this union were born four children — Amanda E., William H., 
James L. and Albert J. (deceased). In 1873, Mr. Gillespie commenced the grocery 
business in Boswell, and after one year sold to John Spies, and resumed farming. 
In 1879, he returned to the grocery trade at Boswell. February 15, 1865, he enlisted 
in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, and was dis- 
charged August 17 of that year. He is a radical Republican, and belongs to Garfield 
Post, No. 32, G. A. R. j\Irs. Gillespie belongs to the M. E. Church. 

WILLIAM J. HARRIS, farmer and stock dealer, is a native of this township, 
and was born August 29, 1857. He is a son of James M. and Julia A. Harris, the 
former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Illinois. His father came to this town- 
ship when young in years, remained until 1883, then moved to Kansas. He was 
Township Trustee and Commissioner, is an active Republican politician, and a 
sterling gentleman. After some preliminary schooling, our subject attended the 
Northwestern Christian University of Indianapolis for one term. When ninete_en 
years old, he began farming on land given to him l)y his father, and May 31, 1877, 
he was married to Miss Fannie E., daughter of William and Jane Brown, and a 
native of Warren County, Ind. The issue of this union was one child, Delbert J. 
Since his marriage, Mr. Harris has engaged in farming and stock dealing, in both of 
whicli he has been successful, now having a well-improved farm. He is a Repub- 
lican, and gave his first Presidential vote for Hayes. Mr. Harris' property is esti- 
mated at $6,000; he is an enterprising man. Mrs. Harris is a member of the 
Christian Church. 

WILLIAM HUBBARD, farmer, is a native of Vermillion County, Ind., and 
is the ninth of the eleven children of Noah and Cynthia (Clark) Hubbard, both na- 
tives of North Sheffield, Mass., and members of the Mormon Church. His father set- 
tled in Vermillion County. Ind., in 1821, and died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on his way 
to Salt Lake City. His mother died in this State in 1868. William Hubbard was 
born September"20, 1822. and is of English descent. He was married, October 3, 
1844, to Miss Judith, daughter of Abednego and Mehitable Stevens, a native of 
Butler County, Ohio. From this union there sprang five children — Abner G., 
Mehitable (deceased), David C, Margaret A. and Cynthia E. Mrs. Hubbard died in 



GRANT TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. . 375 

1862, and in August, 1863, Mr. Hubbard married Mrs. Elizabeth Chenej', from wliich 
union spranu; two children — Anna and Ada, the former being deceased. In youth, 
Mr. Hubbard attended one term at VValiasii College, and taught afterward for four 
years, having commenced the struggle of life without education and with but $8 in 
money ; but he had ambition and industry. In 1844, he settled in this township, 
where he owns 240 acres of well-improved land. He is a Democrat and a success- 
ful farmer. 

DAVID HURST, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of "Warren County, Ohio, 
born January 15, 1823, a son of David and ^lary (French) Hurst, and of English- 
German descent. His grandfathers were soldiers of the American Revolution, and 
his fatlier was a hero of the war of 1812. The parents of our subject were natives of 
New Jersey, and in the fall of 1835 settled in Warren County, Ind., where the father 
died January 17, 1850; the mother died in Benton County February 7, 1870. December 
15. 1844, Mr. Hurst married Miss Sarah, daughter of Eiiand Leah Prichett, who died 
February 7, 1855, leaving six children — Leah, Mary C, Rebecca J., Lydia E., George 
W. and' John A. June 21, 1855, Mr. Hurst married Miss Margaret, daughter of 
William and Susan Smiley. This union was productive of nine children— AVilliam 
D., James N., Sarah L., Thomas G., Cliarles B., John F., Perry C, Lewis B. and 
Smiley C. In the spring of 1856, Mr. Hurst purchased the farm on which he now 
lives — a half section of land— and has given to each of his children $1,6 iQ. He 
cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Taylor, and is now a Republican. Mr. 
Hurst is eminentlj- a self-made man, a pioneer of the county and a respected citizen. 

LEWIS JONES, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Brown County, Ohio, 
born July 13, 1828, a son of John Jind Mary (Pilzer) Jones, and of German-Welsh 
descent. " The parents of Lewis were natives of Kentucky and Ohio respectively, 
who came to this countj', remained awhile at Conner's Grove, and moved to Sec- 
tion 4, Range 8, soon after, where the father died in 1871, and the mother twenty 
years earlier. Lewis Jones was married, April 26, 1^57, to Margaret K. , daughter 
of Benjamin and Abigail Brown, a native of Ohio, who died June 12, 1862, leaving 
two children — Salinda and Dorwin. Mr. Jones next married. January 13, 1863, 
Mrs. Rebecca Dunshce, daughter of Andrew and Esther Ilickson, to which union 
followed four children— Margaret E.. Ada A., Harvey T. and Alta B. Mr. Jones 
has resided on his present place since March, 1861. He first purchased 190 acres, to 
which he has added until it aggregates 960 acres of improved land. He also han- 
dles 150 head of cattle annually. >tr. Dougherty is a Republican, and gave his 
first Presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. He is a public-spirited citizen and prom- 
inent farmer. 

W. T. KPjYS, dealer in hardware and agricultural implements, was born March 
14, 1837, in Warren County, Ind.; is a son of Samuel and Marj' (Champ) Keys, the 
former a native of Virginia, the latter of Ohio, and is of Irish American descent. 
His father was a soldier in the war of 1H12, and died in Pine Township, Warren 
County, in 1S45, as did also his wife. W. T. Kej's lived with an elder brother until 
his eighteenth year, when he worked for various persons. He was rnarried. Sep- 
tember 29. 1863, to Miss Saraii Evans, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of David 
Evans. This union was bles.sed with eight ciiildren— William, Isalona. Charles D., 
Sjdvia O.. Anna L., Roy O., Raman and Faman ; of these, William and Charles D. 
are decea.sed. After marriage, Mr. Keys jiurchascd a farm in Prairie Township, 
Warren County, which he managed vmtil 1S72, when he came to Boswell and engaged 
in the livery business, and in 1881 in the hiirdwarc business, which he still manages. 
He has one of the finest residences in Boswell, and is worth !f9,0(K». He enlisted, 
August, lHfi2, in Company I, Seventy-second Indiana Vobmteers. but, owing to 
6icknes.s, served but three months. Mr. Keys is a Repui)lican, and Mrs. Keys is a 
member of the Methodist Ei>iscoj)al Churcli. 

JAMES KIRTLF^Y, farmer and grain-dealer, was born in Putnam County, Va. ; 
is a son of Thomas and Jeannette (Morris) Kirlley; was born September 12, 1K35, 
and is of Scotch-Irish descent. Grandfatiier Kirtley was a soldier in the war of 
1812. Tlie parents of our subject were natives of Virginia. In 1S45, his father 
moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and settled near La Fayette; in 1858. he removed 
to Champaign County, 111., where he yet lives, aged seventy-two; his mother died 
in 1H43. James Kirtley was married, Stjptember 12. IHtU, to ]\Ii,ss Catherine, daugh- 
ter of William T. and Sarali Murdock. a native of Tippecanoe County. Four chil- 
dren crowned this union — William T., P<'rry C, Floyd R., and Edgar I), (deceased 
March 15, 1H79), with one adopted child. .M.ittie G. After his marriage. Mr. Kirtley 
acted as Clerk for one year at Culver's Station, whence he removed to this township, 
and purchased land, on which he remaiiKMl until 1872. when he engaged in general 
merchandising at Chase, wiii<'ii he continiieil until IHH2. Mr. Kirti<'y has l)een suc- 
cessful as a farmer, grain-dealer and merchant, and owns32H acres in one tract. He 
is a Republican, and cast his first Presiilential vole for Mr. Lincoln. In 1864, he 



376 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

served seven years as Township Trustee, and in 1873 was appointed Postmaster of 
Chase, at which he served ten j^ears. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the 
United Brethren Church, as is also Mrs. Kirtley. He assisted in organizing Com- 
pany H, Fortieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was the first railroad agent at 
Chase; his property is valued at $20,000. 

WILLIAM T. KIIITLEY, railway agent and telegraph operator, was born at 
Culver's Station, Tippecanoe Co., Ind., July 5, 1863. His parents were James and 
Catherine (Murdock) Kirtley, and he is of Scotch-Irish descent. William attended 
his tirst school at what was known as " Kiger's Schoolhouse," one mile north of 
Chase. In October, 1880, he went to Scircleville, to study telegraphy under E. M. 
Dudding, and the next year received the position of railway agent and telegraph 
operator at Chase, from the Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company, which posi- 
tion he yet holds. He was married, February 12, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth J., daugh- 
ter of Luke and Elizabeth Beazell, a native of Oak Grove Township, in this county. 
Mr. Kirtley is a Republican, a very promising young man, and a most respected citi- 
zen. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. 

JACOB LAMB, retired farmer, was born in Wayne County, Ind., October 12, 
1829. Is a son of Barnabas and Ruth (Bentley) Lamb, and of Scotch-English 
descent. The Lambs were Quakers, and in opposition to the resort to war, while 
the Bentleys were without such scruples, and of eight sons, seven were soldiers of 
the Revolutionary war. The parents of our subject were natives of North Carolina 
and Virginia respectively. They came to Wayne County, Ind. , in 1817, and thence, in 
1853, to Fountain County; the father died in 1857, the mother one year earlier. 
When Jacob was twenty years old, he went to California, engaged in mining, and 
remained one year. June 2, 1852, he married Miss Rachel A., daughter of Samuel 
and Hulda Smith, a native of Clinton County, Ohio, who died January 1, 1856, 
leaving two children— Thomas S. and Samuel C. Mr. Lamb was afterward married, 
December 20, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Ephraim and Martha Bunnell, a 
native of Pennsylvania. In 1883, Mr. Lamb moved to Boswell. He is a stanch 
Republican, and in August, 1862, enlisted in Company D, Eighty-sixth Indiana Vol- 
unteers, and was honorably discharged February 3, 1864, on account of a wound 
received at Chickamauga Octol)er 18, 1863. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
the G. A. R. 

JOHN S. LAWSON, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Sweden June 8, 
1835; and is a son of Lon and Lena (Johnson)* Lawson. His father died in 1844. In 
1853, he and his mother emigrated to America; came by a canal boat from Toledo to 
La Fayette, on which trip his mother died, and was buried at Logansport, where he 
landed October 4, 1853. He now began farm labor, and worked at one place seven 
years, at the rate of $10 per month. He was married, March 11, 1861, to Miss 
Christina Johnson, of Sweden, a daughter of Jonas and Mary Johnson. This union 
was followed bv five children— Ella J., Minnie E., Charles F., John W. and Oscar 
V. After marriage, Mr. Lawson rented land, on which he farmed. In 1865, he 
came to this township, and formed a partnership in farming and stock-raising with 
Hiram W. Chase, now a prominent lawyer of La Fayette, which partnership still 
continues. Mr. Lawson is now owner of about 500 acres of land, and handles about 
100 head of cattle annually. He is a Democrat, and gave his first Presidential vote 
for James Buchanan. In "1878, he was elected Township Trustee, served two terms, 
and is a representative citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson are members of the United 
Brethren Church. 

SILAS H. McILVAINE is a native of this township, born July 5, 1854, and is 
a son of Samuel and Margaret (McConnell) Mcllvaine, the former a native of 
Champaign County, Ohio, the latter of Highland County. Ohio. Samuel Mcllvaine 
came to what is now Grant Township. In 1848. he entered 40 acres in this county, 
and served as County Assessor from 1851 to 1853 ; he was also elected County Com- 
missioner in 1860. On September 6, 1861, he enlisted in the Tenth Regiment In- 
diana Volunteers. His principal engagement was at Mill Spring, but he was 
injured by a fall in Nickajack Cave, Tennessee, September 5, 1863, and died 
September 8. He was buried in the South. Mr. Mcllvaine had been a Whig, 
but became a Republican, and was strongly patriotic, no one being more devoted to 
the cause of liis country. He was an active member of the Christian Church, and a 
public-spirited, exemplary citizen. Mrs. Mcllvaine is living in Oxford, aged fifty- 
five. The education of our subject was obtained in this county, after which he be- 
came a teacher, taught many terms, and was one of the first of instructors. He was 
married, March 15, 1883, to Miss Mary Worthington, daughter of Richard and Melvi- 
na Worthington, a native of Kalamazoo, Mich. In 1883, Mr. Mcllvaine purchased 
the family farm. He is a stanch Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for 
Mr. Hayes. Mr. and Mrs. Mcllvaine belong to the Christian Church, of which he is 
an Elder. Mr. Mcllvaine is a promising young man and a worthy citizen. 



GRANT TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 377 

WILLIAM McILVAINE is a iialivc of ("luiinpaign County, Ohio, born July 12, 
1826, a son of Silas and Mary (Iliiodcs) Mcllvaine, and of Scotch-German descent. 
The parents of oursubject moved to Fountain Count}', Ind., and settled on the Shaw- 
nee I rairie, where his father died in is;i") ; his mother died in Benton Count}' in 1873, 
agedseventy-three. In ix<)7, Mr. Mellvainepurchased 120 acres of ills ])reseiit farm of 
200 acres, whi(;li is well cultivated and improved, lie was married January 20, ls.");j, to 
Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of Cyrus Stanley — a union favored with eleven cliil - 
dren— Rachel E., CliarlesX.. an infant. Cyrus W.. Franii. Samuel \V., Mary B.. Sal- 
lie, E l.jar L.. Perry aid Carrie. Mr. .Mcllvaine wa-< a Whig, and cast iiis first Pres- 
idential vote for Gen. Taylor. He is now a Republican, an excellent man, and a re- 
spected citizen. ^Ir. and Mrs. ^Icllvaine are members of tiie Christian Church. 

JAMES A. Mcknight, county Auditor-elect, is a native of Warren County, 
Ohio, born March S, 1S;U. and is a .son of Linton and Margaret (Mar([ucss) Mc- 
Knight. both natives of Virgiiua. Linton McKnight moved to Warren County, Ohio, 
where he married and resided until 1.S41 ; thence to XiMiia. and in ISfjO to Richland 
Township, Fountain County, Ind. His father was an active Republican, and an ear- 
nest supporter of the late war. He died August 1H.1S79. His mother died May 22,1867. 
In addition to the conunon schools, James attended the high school and an academy at 
Xenia. He worked for his father until his majority, when he farmed on rented ground 
until August 3. 1862, at which time he enlisted in Company F, Seventy-second Indiana 
Volunteers. He was in battle at Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Selma, and in other en- 
gagements, and was honoral)ly discharged July 6. 1S65, whereupon he resumed farm- 
ing, and May I, 1867, came to this township and purchased a farm. In July, 1868, he 
inaugurated a nierchandi.se business, in partnership with Moses T. Hamer, at Peters- 
burg. In 1869, he was elected Justice of the Peace. In 1870, he succeeded in having a 
post office at Boswell, and was made Postmaster, and in 1872 he removed his store 
thereto. Mr. McKnight was married, October 24. 186U, 1o Dorcas Ann, daughter of 
Benjamin and Tabitha Smith. She is a native of Warren County, Ind., and has 
borne four children — Elmer L., Charles B., John W. and William A. In 1882, he 
was elected by the Reioul)licans County Auditor. Mr. McKnight is a Freemason, 
and a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife are members of tlie M. E. Church. 

WILLIAM H. McKNIGHT, merchant and Township Trustee, is a son of Lin- 
ton and Margaret (Manjuess) McKnight, and was l)()rn September 6, 1840. When 
about nine years of age, he moved with his parents to Fountain County, Ind., where 
some of his early school days were passed. He remained at home with his father 
until the trump of war was heard, when he enlisted June 14, 1861, in Company A. Fif- 
teenth Indiana Volunteers. After three years' service, he was honorably discharged, 
June 24, 1864, and resumed farming. He was married. October 27, 1870, to Miss 
Mary J. Applegate, daughter of James H. and Susan Applegate, and a native of 
Fountain County, Ind. From this union descended four children — Eva M.. Emma 
L., Maggie E. and Ollie : of these, the first two are deceased. Mr. McKnight came 
to and settled in Grant Township in 1872. and in December. 1874. to Boswell, where 
he engaged in general merchandising with his brother, James H., a business he still 
continues. Mr. McKnight is a thorough Republican. In April, 1882, he was 
elected Township Trustee, by a majority of 10:i. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and of the G. A. R. 

WILLIAM MARVIN, a farmer and ex-County Treasurer, was born in Fount- 
ain County, Ind., August 7, 18:51; is the elder of the two children of Runa and Cath- 
erine (AUenduff) Marvin, and of Engli-<h-Gi'rinaii descent. The father of our 
subject died when the latter was two years old, after which his mother married John 
Roberts, for whom he worked until nineteen yi'arsold, and afterward by the month. 
October 9. IS^S. h- married Mis-; Lovia N., daughter of (Charles and Elizabeth John- 
son, a native of .Montgomery County, Ind. This wedding was productive of six 
children — John J., Charles R., Mary F., Jesse E., Elizabeth C. and an infant, of 
whom John J. and Jesse E. alone survive. After his marriai^e, Mr. Marvin farmed in 
summer and taught in winter for seven years, and in 1^71 purchased the farm on 
which he resides, comprising 160 acres of well-cultivated land. Politically. Mr. 
Marvin is an Independent. He has served as County Commissioner and County 
Treasurer— as the first on the Republican, as the last on the Independent ticket. 
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin are members of the Methodist Ei)iscopal ("hurch. 

J. N. PI]R[(tO, farmer and stock diialiT. is a native of this county, born June 
11. 1839. one of the family of I. IL and Sarah A. (.McBurney) Perigo, and of Irish- 
Welsh descent. His fatiier came to this county in 1837, and now resides on the 
Perigo homestead. He iiauled grain to Chicago when that city was but a village, 
and once owned 1,100 acres. He was born in Sussex County, N. J., in 1811. ()ur 
subject obtained but spar.><e education, and worked for his father until he was mar- 
ried, October 26, 1865, to Miss Sarah E.. daughter of James and Mary Smith, a na- 
tive of this county. Their union was fruitful in three children — Clara F., .Maggie 



378 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

E. and Oliver N. After marriage, Mr. Perigo moved to some land of his father, in 
Hickory Grove Township, where he remained fourteen years, and then moved to 
this township. He has 600 acres of good land, and handles about 100 head of cattle 
annually, and has besides a fine residence; he is worth about $30,000. He is a 
Democrat, a member of the I. O. O. F., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a 
temperance man. 

W. R. PHARES is a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, born September 16, 
1853, and is the second of the seven children of Samuel and Jane (Gould) Phares, 
the former a native of Ohio, the latter of New York. In 1855, his father came to 
this county and settled two and a half miles west of Oxford, where he now resides. 
Our subject attended the high school at Oxford, and worked for his father on the 
farm until he was twenty-one, then clerked in a hardware store. In September, 
1880, he came to Bo.swell and engaged in the boot and shoe trade, in which he was 
successful, and which he .sold in 1883. In 1881, on the 1 1th of Novomber, he mar- 
ried Miss Isabel, daughter of Dr. Theodore and Martha Stembel, a native of this 
county. Mr. Phares is a Democrat and one of the prominent citizens of the coun- 
ty. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. 

JON'ATHAN RHODE, farmer and stock-raiser, was born December 19, 1818, 
in Warren County, Ind. His parents were Caleb and Elizabeth (McCord) Rhode, 
the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Indiana, who lived in Warren County till 
their deaths, the father January 23, 1882, the latter June U, 1880. Jonathan worked 
for his father until his majority. In 1872, on the 14th of March, he married Miss 
Cordelia, daughter of Robert and Levina Cottingham, a native of Ohio. The fru- 
ition of this union was one child— Alma E. Mr. Rhode moved to this township 
after his marriage, and purchased eighty acres, which he improved and where he 
lived until 1883, when he moved to his present location, where he owns 161 acres 
under good cultivation, and one of the best farms in the county. Mr. Rhode is a 
Republican, an esteemed citizen and one of the prominent fanners of BentOQ 
County Ele and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. 

JOHN ROBERTS was born in Hardy (now Grant) County, Va., November 2, 
1811, and is a son of Dorcas Roberts, who was a native of Virginia, where she died 
in 1877, aged ninety-seven years. Mr. Roberts is of Welsh descent. "The grand- 
father of our subject was a Revolutionary war soldier, for which services he received 
a pension. The life of John Roberts, in Virginia, was confined to labor by the 
month, and October 19, 1834, he emigrated with an elder brother on horseback to 
Indiana. Just before reaching Indianapolis, the company into which they had 
fallen learned that it was John's birthday, and so he had to treat the party. Though 
the " drinks " cost but 8 cents each, it took nearly all the money he had. He settled 
in Fountain County, and worked by the month until his marriage, September 20, 
1885, to Mrs. Catherine Marvin, a widow with two children, daughter of Frederick 
AUenduff, which union was graced by twelve children — Isaac, Frederick A., Eliza- 
beth, John, Jordan, Nancy A., Samuel M., Thomas J., Mary C, Eliza J., Charles 
B. and Phebe C. In 18,50, Mr. Roberts purchased 160 acres in this township, and 
two years later moved thereon. In farming and stock-raising he has been success- 
ful, and at one time owned nearly 900 acres. He is a Republican. Came to Indiana 
on account of slavery, and gave his first vote for President to Gen. Harrison. He 
has been Township Trustee and is much esteemed. 

SAMUEL M. ROBERTS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of John and 
Catherine (xAUenduff) Roberts, born March 27, 1846, in Fountain County, Ind. When 
Samuel was six years of age, he came with his parents to this township, and 
acquired a common-school education; he assisted his father in the work of 
the farm until he was married, December 28, 1869, to Miss Susanna, daughter of 
James and Mary Smith, a native of this township. This union was followed by 
one child, Ella V. After his marriage, Mr. Roberts settled on eighty acres of his 
present farm, which now comprises 155 acres, all well improved. lie is a stanch 
Republican, and gave his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Roberts 
is one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of Benton County, and also 
one of the most esteemed citizens. 

S. P. SMITH, grain merchant, was born in Riclimond, Ind., March 22, 1849, is 
the fifth of the eleven children of David A. and Martha J. (Parker) Smith, and of 
Scotch-German descent. The parents of S. P. Smith were natives of Ohio and 
North Carolina respectively, who moved to Richmond and engaged in milling, 
thence, after eleven years, to near La Fayette, thence to Rainsville, where Mr. 
Smith abandoned milling. He afterward moved to Vermillion County, 111., where 
he purchased a large tract of land and now resides. Mrs. Smith died March 
21, 1871. Our subject remained with his father until 1870, in which year, 
on the 9th of January, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of J. W. and Nancy 
M. I Hash, who died March 21, 1875, having borne two children— Clinton E. 



GRANT TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 379 

and Louis B. (deceased). Mr. Smith whs next married, October 17, 1877, to Miss 
Lydia A., daui^iiter of Ilenrj' and Ann Myers, by wliicli union were produced two 
children — Anna B. and Frederick P. In 'l88'2, Mr. Smith, in partnership with G. 
W. Swadbey, bejj:an tiie milling: l)usiness; but the mill burned Februarj- 11, 1883 He 
is now in the j^rain trade, an(l has ' een very successful. Mr. Smiih is a radical 
Republican, and in April, istil. enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty- 
fifth Illinois Volunteers, and was honorai)ly discharged October, 1S04. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. K. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the 
M. E. Church. 

WILLIAM SMITH, the oldest living settler of Benton County, is a native of 
Ohio, born January 14, 1809, a son of James and (Catherine Smith, and of Irish 
descent. He came to this county in the year 1833, worked for an uncle by the 
month, and on December 14 of that year married Miss Hannah Smith, dautrhter of 
William and Sarah Smith, a native of Ohio, who died April M, 1878, having borne 
nine children — Stei)heij, James, William, Phili]), Oliver, Sarali, Catherine, an in- 
fant and Leah: of these, two are deceased. After marriage, i\Ir. Smith .settled on 
the farm he now owns, having be^^un with a quarter-section and reached 500 acres, 
some of which lie gave to his chddren, but reserving 300 acnjs, with improvements 
and good brick residence, worth $:i,000. Mr. Smith remembers how abundant were 
the Indians and wild game when he came to this territory, and recalls man^' interest- 
ing incidents of the early times. He is a life-long Democrat, and has served two 
terms as County Commissioner. He is one of the most moral of men and most 
exemplary of citizens. Mrs. Smith was a member of the M. E. Church. 

OLIV^ER H. SMITH, dealer in clothing and gents' furnishing goods, is a native 
of Grant Township and a son of William and Hannah (Smith) Smith; he was 
born February M, 1847, and is of Irish-American descent. Mr. Smith's education 
was not the most elaborate, bat he had acquired a good practical education, and 
labored for his father, on his farm, until his majority. In 1872, he came to Bus- 
well, and. in com])any with I). E. Taylor, began a general store, being the second 
firm in the town— J. W. Hash & Son being the first — known as Taylor & Smith. 
Mr. Smith continued the business, after purchasing iiis partner's interest, two years, 
when he sold the same to H. C. Harris, and, in 18SI, in coaipany with his brother, 
he began the clothing business, theirs being the only store of that line in the town, 
in which they have been successful. In 1876, Mr. Smith was married to Miss 8. J., 
daughter of .John and Sarah Dawson, a native; of Illinois. Their union has been 
productive of three children — Perry, Nellie and John W. .Mr. Smith is a Democrat, 
and cast his first Presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He is an Odd Fellow, and 
he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JOHN SPIES, grocer and furniture dealer, was l)orn in Reading, Penn., 
August 7, 1839; is a son of John and Sarah (Hickman) Spies, and of Scotch-German 
descent. His grandfather Hickman was a Scotciiman. took part in the Revolution- 
ary war. and died at Hamburg. Pcnn.. in 1814, agi;d one hundred and nint;. The 
father of our subject died in 1881, the mother in 184(). Wiien seventeen years of 
age, John Spies emigrated to Illinois, and in 18")H moved to Warren County, Ind., 
and worked at farming until the war. whereupon, July, 18(12. he enlisted in Com- 
pany F. Seventy-second Indiana Volunteers, and was in the battles of Hoover's Gap, 
Chickamauga, l^armington and the Atlanta campaign, in which he was captured and 
sent to prison at Macon, (Ja., thence to Andersonville, Savannah and Florida. He 
escaped, however, and. November 7, 18(54, rejoined his regiment at Gravell}' Springs. 
After the war. lie was discharged July (>, 18(m, and engaged in but(;hering at Williams- 
port, and afterward in the grocery i)usiness, with .M. T. Hainer. In 1867. he 
engaged in merchandise business in this township, and in 1873 commenced his pres- 
ent business. He was married, October 15, 1871, to Miss Anna Banes, to which 
union succeeded three children — Charles F., Ora and Laura. Mr. Spies is a Free- 
ma.son and a Repuldican. 

J(JH\ M. SrAXLF^Y was born in this township October 8, 1845, and is a .son of 
Cyrus and Amanda (McCV)nnell) Stanley, tiie former a native of Ohio, the latter of 
Indiana, who settled in tliis township in IMJ."), where the father died, March 25, 1873; 
the mother is yet living on the homestead. John M. Stanley attended what was known 
as the " Perigo" School, and obtained an ordiiiiiry education. January 13. 1875, he 
married Miss Josie, daughter of 1). K. and Mary Slife, a native of Indiana, to which 
marriage succeeded two children— P^dith ,M. and (Jertrude. In 1871, Mr. St.mley 
built on his portion of the homestead, and now luis 120 acres under good cultivation. 
He is an ardent Repulilican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Al)rahani Lincoln. 
Mrs. Stanley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



380 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



HICKORY GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

SAMUEL ALEXANDER, sou of Samuel and Mary Alexander, was born Sep- 
tember 25, 1835, in Butler County, Ohio. His parents moved to Indiana in 1836, and 
settled near Crawfordsville, where Samuel and his father worked together until the 
latter's death in 1843. In 1848, they moved to Tippecanoe County, and thence to War- 
ren County, where Samuel had purchased eighty acres, to which he added until he 
owned 480 acres, and went into stock-raising; his mother remained with him until her 
death in 1857. In 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth Har^reaves, daughter of John and 
Betty liargreaves, a native of England, from which union sprang ten children, three 
of whom are living— James H., Tilla Lutis and Opal Vio. In 1872, Mr. Alexander 
sold his farm and came to tliis township, where, in partnership with Mr. Fowler, he 
purchased 2,000 acres, and they have since added 2,000 more, having 4,000 acres in 
common. They raise only sufficient grain for their stock, most of which is raised by 
renters, and purchased therefrom. Their sales of stock average $40,000 annually. 
Except the allowance to Mr. Alexander for his labor of supervision, the profits are 
divided. Mr. Alexander is a Republican, and a public-spirited citizen and benevo- 
lent gentleman. Mrs. Alexander is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and is likewise a charitable and estimable ladJ^ 

DENNIS BARRAGREE, a son of Thomas and Margaret Barragree. was born 
July, 1843, in County Limerick, Ireland. His father was a prosperous farmer for 
the country, but was only a renter. After attending the high school and an acad- 
emy, Dennis departed fro"m Dublin for the United States February 19, 1863, during 
the' Fenian troubles, to escape imprisonment, if no worse. He journej^ed to War- 
ren County, Ind.. after leaving New York, and worked at farming, also on the 
Wabash Railroad. Soon after his parents arrived, whereupon he engaged in farm- 
ing. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Rosaline, daughter of Thomas and Cathe- 
rine (McCabe) Deneny, wiiich alliance was blessed with six children— Katie, Mar- 
garet, Thomas, Mary, John and Jane. In 1873, Mr. Barragree rented a farm in Ver- 
million County, 111., which he managed profitabl}' for three years, when he moved 
to this county on eighty acres, on which he has also done well. He was elected 
Township Assessor in 1878 and Township Trustee in 1882. Mr. Berragree is a 
Democrat, a member of the Catholic Church, and strong in his allegiance to his 
adopted country. 

JAMES M. G. BEARD, M. D., is a son of William and Eleanor (McMillan) 
Beard, and was born in New Boston, May 27, 1844. He was educated at Boscawen 
Academy, N. H. ; studied civil engineering, and afterward medicine under Drs. Jo- 
seph Jones and T. B. Campbell ; he also studied at the University of Michigan and 
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Kansas City, Mo., where he graduated 
in March, 1875, taking the faculty prize. He settled in Oakwood, Kan., in 1870, 
and at Ambia, Ind., in 1875. He is a memlier of the Benton County Medical Soci- 
etv. In 1861, he published an almanac called the " New England Calendar," and in 
1862 one for Hillsboro and Merrimack Counties, N. H. In Julj^, 1871, he married 
Miss Roseltha Small, of Winfield, Kan., a union which was blessed by three chil- 
dren—Walter S., Eleanor E. and John G. Dr. Beard has a large practice in this 
and Warren Counties, and in Iroquois and Vermillion Counties, 111., and is an es- 
teemed physician ; he is also a tran of much mechanical talent, having constructed 
several excellent and valuable electric batteries. 

SOLOMON BROE, Sk.. is a native of Lower Canada, and was born June 2, 
1822. His parents. Peter and Mary Broe, were also natives of Canada, and his 
grandparents natives of France, who emigrated to Canada in 1712. Solomon worked 
for his father until he was nineteen j^ears old, when he was married to Felicite Pon- 
ton, a union productive of five children— Solomon, Mary, Julia, Harriet and Law- 
rence. Mrs. Broe died in 1857, and in 1858 he married Lenora Logue. This union 
likewise produced five children— George, Fred, Alda, Louisa and Napoleon. In 
1852, Mr. Broe purchased and settled on eighty acres of land in Kankakee Co., 111., 
which he did not long keep, but bought a second eighty acres, on which he lived 
eleven years. In 1873, he went to Chicago, where he engaged in teaming, and in 
1876 came to this county, where he purchased his present home, then wholly unim- 
proved, but now in excellent condition, with neat hedges, commodious frame dwell- 
ing etc., a pleasant witness of his well-directed labor. Mr. Broe is a member of the 
Catholic Church. 



HICKORY GROVR TOWNSHIP— BRNTON COUNTY. 381 

JOHN W. COLE, son of John and Eli/ab<th Cole, was born September 5, 
1848, in Verniillion County, Ind. His parents were natives of New Jersey, who 
came to this State in its early days. Tlie educational a(lvanta,<i:es of our subject 
were much constrained. He worked for iiis clothing and board until he was six- 
teen, and afterward by the month, giving most of his wages to his parents. He was 
later a teamster, and worked in a'grain warehou.se, for which company he moved to 
Danville, 111., and thence to Hoopeston, where he was married to Miss Sarah E. 
Voss. In 1H73. Mr. Cole moved to this county, settled on the present site of Am- 
bia, and engaged in the grain business, to which he added merchandise. In 1874, 
he failed, and the ne.\t j-ear went into business witli A. C. (Goodwin, but after one 
year sold his interest, abandoned the business, studied law, was admitted to the bar, 
and has now a rea.sonably fair and a good local practice. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have 
a family of five — Ira, Mary, Eflie, Robert and Nannie. Mr. Cole is a Republican, 
and is an active man in county politics; he is also a Knight of Honor, a member of 
the United Brethren Church and an earnest church and Sunday school worker. 

C. S. GOLDEN wasborn in Geltysbmg, Penn., Deceinberll, 1840, and is a son 
of Isaac and Elizabeth Golden ; the former died in 1881, the latter in 1869. Our 
subject worked for his father until ISIJO, when he moved to Washington to learn the 
tradeof baking, at which he worked more than three years, when he enlisted in 
March, 1865, in the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Regiment, after which he resumed 
baking at Gettysburg. He then learned carpentering and worked at building barns, 
after which he settled at Hoopeston, 111., where he bought a lumberyard, and after- 
ward an elevator in Aml)ia. Ind. ; this he exchanged for li»:2 acres in Iroquois Count}', 
111., where he engaged in farming, and afterward bought a drug store, and served 
as Postmaster one year. This store he sold to J. W. Scott. In 1880, he began the 
clothing business in Ambia, to which be added a general stock, and has done a good 
business. Mr. Golden has made many changes, and has also made money thereby. 
He was married. May 1, 1872, to Miss Amanda Dunklebergcr, a marriage fruitful in 
four children — Alvin Leo, Jennie May, Thomas Jetferson and Edgar Poe. Mr. Gol- 
den is a Democrat, a Knight of Honor, and he and wife belong to the United Breth- 
ren Church. 

ALFRED GOODRICK, son of John and Sarah (Canady) Goodrick, was born 
June 6, 1841, in Rush County. Ind.. where he worked for his father until 1861, when 
he enlisted in the Thirty-thiVd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served through the 
war. At Thompson's Station, 1,117 men were ca])tured and sent to Libby Pri.son, 
exchanged in twenty days, and assigned to guard duty on the Nashville ct Chatta- 
nooga Railroad. In 1868, he re-enlisted, and was in all the battles of the Atlanta 
campaign, in the last of wliich he was wounded l)y a minie ball, which split his cheek 
from mouth to ear, and after recovery he resumed duty at Gen. Rousseau's head- 
quarters. He was discharged August, 1863 ; went to Kansas for a time. In 1871, he 
returned and purchased 1'30 acres in "Warren County. Mr. Goodrick was married, 
March 21, 1873, to Miss p]mma Morphew, bj^ which imion the}' have two children — 
Munroe and George. In February, 1882, he .•^old said farm and engaged in the gro- 
cer}^ trade in Ambia, having erected a spacious store building and established a tine 
business. Mr. Goodrick is a Republican, and a member of the Knii^hts of Honor. 

JOHN C. GREENBURG, son of Frederick William and Charlotte Greenl)urg, 
is a native of Prussia, born in 1842, March 20. His father was a general merchant. 
John obtained a fair education, as most German boys can obtain, and after serving 
as clerk for some time, came to America in IMtil, and then to a brother iii Tippe- 
canoe County, Ind., where he worked until July, 1862, when he enlisted in 
the Seventy-second Regiment Indiana Volunteer 'infantry, served as musician 
through the war, and was promoted to chief musician. He was discharged in July, 
1865. In 1866, he married Miss Mary "Wallace, who died after six montlis, and in 
1871 he married ^Mi.ssJane Barber, daughter of Alvin and Jtdia Barber, which union 
resulted in five children— Plstelle, Alleii, Lucretia, Viola and Carl. After improv- 
ing sixty acres of wild land, and selling the same for if 35 per acre, he took up eighty 
acresof unbroken i)rairie, sixty of which he afterward sold for $2,200. He again set- 
tled on eighty acres of wild land, which he imjuoved and sold very advantageijusly. 
Finally, he ptirchased his ])resent eightj--acre home. Mr. (Treenburg is a member of 
the ^lasonic and (J. A. R. fraternities, a Repul)lican. and an honorable citizen. His 
familv also came to thiscountry in lH(i,"). 

JOHN S. HERRIMAX was born M.irch 13. 1842, in Warren County, Ind., and 
is a .son of John B. and Nancy A. Herriman, both natives of (Uno, who came to In- 
diana in the early time, wlien settlers were very few, and moved to Iroquois County, 
111., in 1H52, when; John had b>it little chance for school-going ; he therefore gave 
his time to his father tmtii IMO'J, when he enlisted in the Seventy-sixth IHinois Vol- 
unteers. Soon after his enlistment he took measles. Ilie sequel of wliich compelled 
him to return. In 186H, he married Miss Martha Smith, to which union have been 



382 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

born four children — Mary Ada, Annie L., Charles and William. After marriage, Mr. 
Herriman resided on his fatlier's farm for five years, when he purchased eighty, and 
added forty acres ; this he improved with good buildings and in other ways, and 
sold. In the springof 1888, he came to this township, and occupied his present farm 
of 160 acres. While doing a general farming business, he has given much attention 
to stock. He is a Republican, and while in Illinois was Tax Collector, Township 
Commissioner for seven years, and Justice of the Peace when he left that State. 

JOHN" F. McCORMtCK is a native of Worcester County, Mass., born Decem- 
ber 5, 1853, and a son of Michael and Margaret McCormlck, both natives of Ireland, 
who came to America in 1848. Michael McCormick was a farmer, and John worked 
with his father, with but a sparse education, until he reached the age of twenty- 
four years. The family emigrated to Peoria County, 111., in 1857 : thence to Stark 
County in 1870, and to Vermillion County in 1878, where they now reside. Janu- 
ary 31, 1878, John F. McCormick married Miss Annie, daughter of Patrick and 
Annie Weston, a union followed by one child — William M. After his marriage, 
Mr. McCormick farmed successfully upon rented lantl for three years, when he 
moved to Ambia and went into the general merchandise business with C. S. Golden. 
In one year he sold his interest to O. P. Manny, and purchased Mr. Kelly's interest 
of the firm of Allen & Kelly, and now has a very prosperous business. Mr. Mc- 
Cormick is independent in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. 

A. F. MALO is a native of Canada, born November 8, 1849, a son of Samuel 
and Mary Malo, both natives of France, who emigrated to Canada in the long ago. 
In 1851. Mr. Samuel Malo settled in Chicago, where he worked at his trade of 
blacksmith, to which handicraft he trained his boys after the fourteenth \'ear. Our 
svibject worked for his father until of age, and afterward as asteamfitter in Chicago. 
In i875, he moved to Ambia, Benton County, Ind., where he is engaged in black- 
smithing. In 1882, he began manufacturing buggies, and in 1883 gophers for T. J. 
Lewis, all with much satisfaction. Mr. Malo has also been doing general work, 
and has been generally successful. In 1869, he was married to Miss Mar}' Mc- 
Knight, to which alliance descended five children — Huzeb Charles, Samuel Lean- 
der, Furdano Thomas, John and William Francis. Mr. Malo is a Mason, an Odd 
Fellow, a Knight of Honor and a Republican. 

JOHN H. MYERS was born in Hanover, Germany, May 5, 1849. His family 
emigrated to this country when he was a child, and settled at St. Charles, Mo. On 
the death of his father, Matthew Myers, he was adopted by a teacher, who took 
him to Wisconsin and thence to Chicago, from which point, at the age of fifteen, he 
commenced his life alone, working on a farm ; in a freight ofiice at Riverton, 111. ; 
in a restaurant at Illiopolis ; in a grocery store, as clerk ; and in 1873 as proprietor 
of a restaurant, which he sold and removed to Danville, 111., where he engaged in a 
grocery and bakery. In 1877, he moved to Ambia and settled in the hardware busi- 
ness. He has now greatly increased his stock, and necessarily his storeroom is a 
good evidence of his success. He was married, in 1872, to Mary A. Cline, which 
'marriage furnished one child — Ora Pearl. Mrs. Myers' parents were natives of 
Pennsylvania ; her great-grandfather was a soldier of the American Revolution, her 
grandfather of the war of 1812, and her only brother, Peter, gave his life during the 
tate rebellion. Mr. Myers is a Republican, was Township Clerk while in Illinois, 
and is a member of the Lutheran Church. 

HENRY J. PARKER, son of John and Elizabeth Parker, was born July 2, 
1818, in Tioga County, N. Y. He worked for his father during his minority, and 
in 1837 the family settled in Lawrence County, Ohio, where, in 1839, he married 
Miss Susanna S., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Walton, by which alliance 
they have nine living children — Eliza C. McCoy, Samuel A., Henry A., William W., 
George F., Hiram C, Louisiana Bell, J^mes C. and Franklin. Mrs. Parker's father 
was Surveyor of Lawrence County for thirty-two successive years. In 1840, Mr. 
Parker emigrated to Indiana and settled at Williamsport, Warren County, where 
he followed coopering and became County Recorder. In 1855, he removed to Iro- 
quois County, 111., bought and improved some land and remained until 1873, when 
he settled at Ambia, then containing but seven buildings, and he being the first 
seller of goods. After four years, he sold his stock and rented his building, and 
for several years has been express agent at Ambia for the Lake Erie & Western 
Railroad. Mr. Parker was for eight years Commissioner of Highways in Illinois. 
He is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

WASHINGTON M. PUGH was born in Bedford County, Tenn., January 26, 
1812. His parents were William and Sarah Pugh. William Pugh emigrated from 
South Carolina to Indiana many j^ears ago, and settled near Vincennes, where he 
built a mill. In 1845, he moved West, destined for Oregon, but died before reaching 
there. Washington worked for his father until he was married, in April, 1832, to 
Miss Nancy Crawford; they have had nine children, four living— James C, Sarah 



HICKORY GROVF. TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 38S 

A., •Harvey H. and Isabel. After liis inarriai^e, Mr. Puj^h moved on and farmed 
some land of Mrs. Puijli, to whicli he added forty aeres. In IH^.i, tliey moved to 
Illinois, and in 1878 eame to what is now Aml)ia, of whieh phiee they are among the 
first settlers. Mr. and ^Irs. Pu,^-li are worthv members of the Christian Church. 

HENRY' REED was born in England, October 25, 1834, and is a son of David 
and Ann Reed; the former died in England, the latter lives in Illinois. After his 
boyhood, Henry worked bv the year. In IS."")!, his mother, with part of her family, 
came to America and settled in Connecticut, wliere Henry worked as a farmer. lie 
then went to Virginia, and was for two years an overseer of slaves, after which he 
moved to Iowa, where he worked as a teamster. He then moved to Illinois, where 
he farmed on rented land successf nil}'. In 18(i9, he purchased ICO acres of unimproved 
land. In 1876, he came to this county and township, and bought 120 acres, on which 
he remained three j'ears, and in 1882 purchased the 120 acres now comprising liis home, 
in this township, which is under good cultivation, with comfortable frame house, 
promising orchard, etc. Mr. Reed was married in the year 187() to Mrs. Lottie Abbott, 
daughter of John and Sarah Doty, by which marriage they have two children — 
Ella May and David D. Mr. Reed is politically a Republican, and while in Illinois 
was Township Commissioner. 

HUGH C. SIDDEXS is a native of Kentucky, born January 28, 1824, and a 
son of James and Sarah Siddens. In 1829, tlie family emigrated to Putnam County, 
Ind., where Hugh worked during his youth on the farm. In 1842, he married Miss 
Matilda Rains, from which union resulted twelve children, nine of whom survive 
— Sarah Cadel, James, William, Armilda James, Lucy Brown, Catherine Pierson, 
Franklin, Daniel and Emma Browning. The parents of Hugh remained with him 
until their deatiis, his father dying in 18(54, and his mother in 1805. Mr. Siddens 
had one son. William, who served four years during the late war. In 18ti4, Mr. 
Siddens settled in this township, where he has since made his home. When he 
came there he found but four families and one post office in the county. Seventy- 
five of the two hundred acres he had purchased were improved, but stock being at 
large, it required much watching to save the crop. When he settled here there was 
no railroad in the county, but now the Lake Erie & Western passes his door. Mr. 
and Mrs. Siddens have, by hard work and the assistance of their children, secured a 
comfortable home, with improved farm and good buildings. Mr. Siddens is serving- 
his ninth year as Magistrate of this township. He is a Democrat, and an enter- 
prising citizen. 

JAMES SIDDENS is a native of Putnam Countv, Ind.; was born April 15, 
1845, and is a son of Hugh C. and Matilda Siddens. In 18(il, he enlisted in the 
Twenty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but was discharged after a few 
months by reason of sickness. As soon as he became able, he worked at farm work 
by the month, and in the 3'car 18H5 was married to JSIiss Sarah C. Browning, by 
which union they had four (children — Ida, Eva, Hattie and Lola. After marriage, 
Mr. Siddens farmed on rented land until 1881, when he purciiased his home in this 
township, then eighty acrefe of unbroken prairie, but now under fair cultivation and 
having a good dwelling-house upon it. He is a general farmer, and rai.ses some 
cattle and hogs. Mr. Siddens was Trustee of this township, first elected in 1876 by 
twenty-nine majority, and in 1878 by sixty nuijority— a remarkable result by a 
Democrat in a Republican township. He is, as the above fact demonstrates, a 
highly respected citizen. 

CHARLES L. WHITE was born April 28, 1851, in Bath, Me. His father, 
Benjamin Loring White, resides in Massachusetts, and is a lineal descendant of the 
first white child born in New England. His motlier died in !8.")J>. Charles attended 
the high school, and was prepared for college, after wiiich he studied the German 
and Spanish languages, went one term to Conner's College, Boston, and became, a 
book-keeper in Bath, afterward engaging in the coal trade. Later, he traveled as 
far as Cuba, stopping in W^asiiington, D. C., Jind returned to Maine, when he went 
to the northern part of the State as paymaster for a luml)er <;ompany; he was also 
surveyor and inspector of lumber. He served as book-keeper at Toledo and 
Chicago, and as salesman, likewi.se; when traveling to Amiiia, Ind., he purchased a 
grain elevator and lumber-yard, in which he has i)een since engaged e.\tensivel3\ liis 
annual .sales of grain reaching 200,000 l)usiiels. ;ind of lumber 1.000,000 feet. Re- 
cently he has added to his business an agricultural implement department. In 
February, 1877, he married Mi.ss Abbie Parks, of Batii. Me. One child has crowned 
their union, Sara Marion, Mr. White is politically a Repul)lican, and a most active, 
enterprising business man. He and wife are forward in Sal)bath school and other 
good works. 



384 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



PARISH GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM BENNETT is a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind. ; he came to 
Parish Grove Township, Benton County, in 1875, and in connection with R. W. 
Sample and Nelson Lutz bought two sections of land, from which they have since 
sold 320 acres, leaving a farm of 960 acres still owned by the firm, but operated by 
Mr. Bennett. He gives his attention principally to stock-raising, having at present 
about 130 high-grade Hereford cows, besides a large number of horses and hogs; 
hitherto he has been raising English draft horses, but at present owns a fine Clydes- 
dale horse which cost him $2,000. He has one of the most extensive stock farms in 
the county. Before his removal to this county, he owned a farm in Tippecanoe Coun- 
ty, Ind. Mr. Bennett was Trustee of Parish Grove Township for four years; is a 
Republican and a member of Silver §tar Lodge, A. O. U. W. He was married, De- 
cember 20, 1865, to Angle Stewart, a native of Montgomerj' County, Ind., and six 
children have been born to them, all of whom are living. Mr. Bennett was born 
January 1, 1841, and is one of five children born to Strother and Mary (Carr) Ben- 
nett, the latter probably of Irish and the former of German descent, and both na- 
tives of Virginia. The former, when a young man, removed to Pickaway County, 
Ohio, where he remained several years, when he went to Illinois and remained one 
year; he next came to Tippecanoe County, where he died in March 1850. 

CAPT. JAMES DUNN is a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and was born 
April 27, 1839. His father, John Dunn, was a merchant in his native country, and 
married Julia Murphy. In 1841, John crossed the Atlantic, and for four years 
found employment in and around Chicago, as a brick and stone mason. In 1845, 
his family came from Ireland, and they settled in Lockport, 111., where Mr. Dunn, 
Sr., died November 28, 1854. James Dunn made his home with his father's family 
until his mother's death in August, 1863. Previous to this time, he had been known 
as the champion shot of the Desplaines Valley. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Com- 
pany C, Ninetieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and w^as chosen First Sergeant. June 
15, 1864, he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and promoted to the Captaincy of 
his company in September, 1864, and was mustered out June 6, 1865. Capt. Dunn 
was a participant in the battles of Holly Springs, Missionary liidge, Resaca, Look- 
out and Kenesaw Mountains, Atlanta, in Sherman's march to the sea, the capture 
of Fort McAllister, through the Caroliuas, and the engagements of Bentonville, and 
Averysboro. He was in 27 battles and 240 skirmishes. During the memorable 
march to the sea, he was in command of the foragers in Hazen's division, of the 
Fifteenth Army Corps, and of the 84 men who composed the company only 15 were 
mustered out, and he was the only one not wounded. After the war, he went to 
Will County, 111., and in connection with a brother managed their farm until 1872, 
when he came to Benton County, Ind., and was the first to settle on what is known 
as the Dunn settlement, in ParLsh Grove Township. He owns a fine farm of 300 
acres, well improved and cultivated. He breeds fine stock, and besides forty head 
of high-grade cattle owns one full-blooded Durham, and an extra quality of horses 
and hogs. Capt. Dunn is a Democrat, and one of the prominent men of the county. 
He was married, January 9, 1868, to Miss Lucy Robbins, who was born in October, 
1851; is a native of Will County, 111., and daughter of William and Margaret (Tracy) 
Robbins. Their union has been blessed with six children — William H., born Janu- 
ary 30, 1869; Maggie, January 29, 1871; John F., February 10, 1874; Escy, Febru- 
ary 25, 1877; James, July 11, 1879. and George E., February 15, 1882. Mrs. Dunn is 
of Irish descent, and is a graduate of Notre Dame Seminary, South Bend, Ind. 
Capt. Dunn and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and he is an 
honorary member of G. A. R. 

JOHN DUNN is a native of the Emerald Isle, and was born November 27, 1837. 
When seven years old, he became a resident of Lockport, 111., making his home with 
his parents until their respective deaths. During his youthful days, the greater por- 
tion of his time was passed in hunting, and, like his brother, James, he became 
a noted marksman. On the breaking out of the rebellion, he secured a contract 
from the Government to furnish baled hay for the cavalry service, continuing this 
occupation until the close of the war, when he engaged in farming near Lockport, 
111. In 1874, he removed to Parish Grove Township, Benton Co., Ind., where he 
has .since resided, engaged exten.sively in stock-raising. He owns a well-improved 
farm of 320 acres; he is a Democrat. Mr. Dunn was mai'ried. May 9, 1867, to Mary 



PARISH GROVE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 385 

A. Robbins; he and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and the 
parents of three children — Julia. Maiiuella nnd Clara. 

DAVID R. FINLEY was born .July Id. 183J, in Di-laware County, Ohio, and is 
one of .seven children born to Robert and Eli/abetli (Riley) Finley. Robert Finlev 
■was a native of Virginia, and while a j'oung man he removed with his father to Del- 
aware County, Ohio, but in 183t» went to Kane County, 111., where he bought a 
farm and continued to reside until his death in 1>^79, his wife having died four years 
previousl)'. He was a soldier in the American Army during the war of 1H12. David R. 
Finley received a good practical education, and lived with his father's family, work- 
ing upon the farm until he was tvventy-eiglit years of age. He then went to 
Livingston County, 111., where he remained until 1870, when lie came to Parish Grove 
Town^liip, Benton County, Ind., and bought about 219 acres of good land. He now 
has in this county 480 acres, and eighty acres in Illinois. He gives considerable 
attention to stock-raising, and has about fiftj' head of cattle, besides a large number 
of horses and hogs. He enlisted, August 8, ]8r»2, in Company C, One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Iliinois Volunteer Infantry, and served with the regiment until it was 
mustered out at Washington. D. ('., June, ISO,"). He participated in tiie battles of 
Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, the siege of Atlanta, and on Sherman's march to the 
sea, through the Carolinas, the battles of Bentonville and Averysboro. He was in 
thirteen battles and numerous skirmishes. Mr. Finley was married, October 21, 
1870, to Liz/ie N. Throop, a native of Kane County. 111., and eight children have 
blessed this union, .seven of whom are living. Mr. Finlej^ is a Republican, and one 
of the prominent men of Benton County. 

•JAMI'^S A. LOWMON is a native of La Salle County. 111., where he received his 
education. He lived with his father's family until 1873; then came to Benton 
County, Ind., and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Butterfield, five miles 
north of Fowler, where he remained four years. He then transferred this farm to 
LeRoy Templeton, in part payment for a farm of 400 acres in Parish Grove Town- 
ship, upon which he now resides. It is well cultivated and improved. He gives 
considerable attention to stock-raising, having at present about $4,000 worth of cat- 
tle, hogs, etc. Mr. Lowmon is one of the prominent men of the countj', and is a 
Republican. He was married, January 21, 187,"), to Alice Good, a native of Mont- 
gomery County, Ohio, and they have four children — Mamy, Walter, Laura and 
Homer. Mr. Lowmon was born January 1, 1848, and is one of five children 
in the family of Arthur B. and Priscilla Lawmon. The former, a native 
of Virginia, when a boy, removed with his parents to Hamilton County, Ohio, 
where he remained about eight jears, then went to La Salle County, 111., and 
operated a saw mill for a time, after which he turned his attention to farming, in 
which occupation he is still engaged. He is one of the oldest settlers in that region. 

DONALD McEWEN, a native of Chateaugay County, Canada, was born Octo- 
ber 10, 1841. He was reared in his native county, received a good practical educa- 
tion, and was married September 28, 1875, to Miss Agnes McNaughton, who was also 
a Canadian. Mr. McEwen, together with his father, Peter McEwen, emigrated to 
Benton County, Ind., in 1870, and has since resided ni Parish Grove Township, en- 
gaged in farming and raising stock. He owns a well-cultivated farm of 444 acres, 
which yields him 4.0U0 bushels of corn per annum, l)esides a large amount of other 
produce. Mr. McEwen is one in a family of six children, his mother's maiden name 
being Grace McEwen. He is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and the parents of three children — Peter, Isabella and Grace 
M. Peter McEwen (father of Donald) and his wife were natives of Scotland. He 
left his native country in 1838, and came to Canada, where he remained until his 
removal to the United States in 1870. He is living with his sons at the advanced age 
of eighty years. Both he and wife were devoted members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

HENRY' ROBERTSON, only survivor of four men who lived in Benton County 
in 1835, is a native of Bath County, Ky., and was born February 19, 1H13. He is the 
sixth in a family of seventeen children born to John II. and Anna (Burton) Robert- 
son, natives of Virginia, and of English discent. In March, 1^35, Henry Robert- 
son, in comjjany with a brother, purciiased a (luartersection of land on Section 36, 
in Parish Grove Township, for his father, and tlie same season put out a crop, and 
bought an additional KM) acres for himself and brother, adjoining his father's land. 
The fall of 1835, John II. Robertson and family moved to the land selected, and 
lived there fifteen years. The parents then went to Fountain County, where Mrs. 
Robertson died in 18f)3. Mr. Robertson, Sr., tlien made his home with his son 
Henry, until his death in 1874. He was one of tlie early County Commissioners. 
There has been no one so closely identified with the development of Benton County 
as Henry Robertson. In 1838, he was appointed Sheriff by Gov. Wallace, with 
power to organize Jasper County, and after this was completed, he was elected 

23 



386 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Sheriff. In April, 1840, he was appointed organizing Sheriff for Benton County, 
and on retiring from this office was elected as the tirst Surveyor of the County. 
Since that time he has almost continuously served as Surveyor, Commissioner or 
Land Appraiser, and at present is a Commissioner. About 1853, he made the sur- 
vey for what is known as the Richards line of railway, from La Fayette to the Illi- 
nois State line, it being the first road projected through the county. Mr. Robertson 
was formerly a Whig, and is now a Republican, and lias twice been a candidate for 
State Repres"^entative. On one occasion, although the district was largely Demo- 
cratic, he was only defeated by eight votes. He has increased his original 160 
acres, to 2,100 acres, and for over thirty years has been a large stocli-raiser. 
August 19, 1869, he was married to Mrs. Sarah A. (Turbyville) Courtney, 
a daughter of John Turbyville, an early settler of Cincinnati, and widow of 
William Courtney. They have had no children, but adopted four of Mr. Robert- 
son's sister's orphan children, besides three whom they are now caring for. Mr. 
Robertson is highly respected by his fellow citizens. He is a member of the Masonic 
order and a Protestant. Mrs. Robertson is a member of the M. E. Church. 

DAVID WOODLOCK is a native of Ireland, and his father died when David 
was ten years old. He was brought to America to his brothers and sisters, who had 
preceded him, and who were living in New Haven, Conn. For several years, he 
worked with his brother, who was gardener for Mrs. Eli Whitney; he subsequently 
worked in the machine shops at New Haven, and the lock manufactory at Brant- 
ford, Conn, In 1858, he went to New Orleans, where he worked as a forwarder of 
freight until 1861, when, on the breaking-out of the war, he went to La Salle 
County, 111. He there rented and worked his brother's farm until 1867, when he 
came to Parish Grove Township, Benton Co., Ind., and bought 320 acres of land, 
but did not settle upon this land until four years later. He now owns 560 acres of 
laud, well improved and cultivated. He devotes his attention largely to stock- 
raising, and has a great number of cattle and hogs. Mr. Woodlock was married, in 
July, 1850, to Bridget Loughery, a native of Ireland, and they have had nine chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living. The parents are members of the Catholic Church. 
Mr. Woodlock was born about 1829. and was the youngest of a family of eleven 
children of Patrick and Catherine Woodlock, natives of Ireland, and residents of 
that country all their lives. The former traced his ancestry back for nearly three 
centuries to a number of Danes who settled in Ireland. He had a collegiate educa- 
tion, and owned a large estate. 



PINE TOWNSHIP. 



CAREY A. EASTBURN, one of the heaviest land-owners and best farmers of 
Pine Township, is a native of the Buckeye State, was born in Highland County in 
1828, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Haigh) Eastburn. His early educa- 
tion, was considerably neglected, as his time was emploj^ed largely in assisting his 
parents in their farm duties; but after he arrived at years of maturity, he gave him- 
self a thorough schooling, which has proven a lasting benefit to him. In 1833, his 
parents settled in Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he was reared to manhood, and 
in 1850 he married Jane Johnson, daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Bowyer) John- 
son. The same year of his marriage, Mr. Eastburn became a resident of Benton 
County, and he is at present engaged in superintending his large stock farm of 
1,200 acres. He has never aspired to any high political office, but, through the per- 
suasions of his friends, allowed himself to be elected Trustee of his township, serv- 
ing as such two years. He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, 
and the parents of ten children, eight of whom are yet living. 

LEVI HAWKINS, son of Benjamin Hawkins, whose biography appears in the 
biographical department of Fowler, was born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1840, 
received but a common school education, and at the age of fifteen years removed to 
Benton County, which has since been his home. In 1861, with many brave boys of 
his neighborhood, he enlisted for the war, and was assigned to duty in the Tenth 
Indiana Volunteers, in which, for about three years, he rendered efficient service. 
Being wounded severely at the battle of Chickamauga, he was discharged in 1864, 
returned home, and has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising in Pine 
Township, where he owns a fine tract of land, comprising 220 acres. He is a stanch 
Republican in politics, and was married, in 1869, to Elizabeth, daughter of John 
and Elizabeth (Owens) Broadie, by whom he is the father of three children. 

ROBERT HAWKINS, one of those sturdy old pioneers who braved the hard- 
ships and privations of the then far West, and who aided in laying the foundation of 



PINE TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 387 

the prosperity which the present generation now enjoys, is a native of Butler Coun- 
ty, Oliio. and is a son of Levi and and Mary (Evens) llawkins. Ho was l)orn in the 
year 1H15, secured a nood practical education, and in 18l'8 came with his i)ari'nts to 
the Iloosier State, settling eii,dit miles south of La Fayette, in Tii)j)Ccanoc County, 
where he resided until 1841, then removed to Benton County, and at first was em- 
ployed herding cattle; he afterward purchased a farm in Pine Township and en- 
gaged in agricultural ])ursuits. and now owns one of the finest farms in tlie town- 
ship, consisting of 400 acres, which is well imi)roved and supplied Avith living water 
all the year. He was married to Sarah A. Carter, daugiiter of Robert and Anna 
Carter, in 1843, and by her l)ecame the father of six children, only three of whom 
are yet living. Mrs. Hawkins, a loving wife and mother and li member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1882, aged si.xty years, beloved and respected 
by all who knew her. 

JAMES W. HAWKINS, a son of Robert Hawkins, whose biography precedes 
this, was born in Benton County in 1844. received a,good common schooling, and 
with the exception of a few years while in the service of his country, has been en- 
gaged in farming. In 18()2,'he became a member of the Seventv-.second Indiana 
Volunteer Mounted Infantry and served three years; participated in a number of 
severe campaigns and battles, and was wounded at Chickamauga, and in 186") re- 
turned home, where he recommenced farming. He married Miss Mary ^I. Switzer, 
daughter of Peter and Katie Switzer, in 1871, and l)y her is the fatheV of two sons 
and two daughters. Mr. Hawkins is one of the intluential Republicans of western 
Benton County, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

JOHN R. HAWKINS, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Benton County, 
Ind., in 1852, and is a son of Robert and Sarah A. (Carter) Hawkins. After re- 
ceiving a good education, he embarked in farming, and now possesses a well-im- 
provecl farm of 533 acres. Mr. Hawkins is one of the progressive citizens of his 
township, and favors tlie advancement of all laudable public enterprises. In poli- 
tics, he is a warm adherent to the principles of the Republican party, and has ever 
been identified with its best interests. To his marriage with Miss Sarah oMcKinnis. 
which occurred in 1881, one child has been born. Mrs. Hawkins is a daugiiter of 
Philip and Rachel (Wolfer) McKinnis, one of the prominent families of Warren 
Count}'. 

JOHN HAWKINS, brother of Benjamin Hawkins, of Fowler, and Robert 
Hawkins, of Pine Township, and son of Levi and ]\Iary (Evens) Hawkins, was born 
in Butler County, Ohio, in 1825, and when three years old moved w'llh his parents 
to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he was reared to manhood. Receiving but lim- 
ited educational advantages, he chose farming as his employment through life, and 
in 1850 was married to Miss Margaret Sheetz, daughter of John and Isabel (Parker) 
Sheetz. Two years after this event, he removeci to Benton County, where he has 
since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Hawkins is a liepublican 
in politics, and he and Avife are members of the ^^lethodist Episcopal Church, and 
the parents of a family of five children. They own a fine bodj' of land, consisting 
of 520 acres, and are among the most respectell residents of the tf)wnship. 

W. G. W. NORWOOD, a self-made man. and one of the prominent farmers 
of western Benton County, is a native of Blount County, Tenn.. where he was 
born in 1815. At the age of four j'cars, he came with his parents, George and ^lary 
Ann (Rooker) Norwood, to Wayne County. Ind., and three years later to Indianap- 
olis, where our subject received a good education. In 183(i. he was united in mar- 
riage with Rachel Kelley, daughter of AVilliam atul Elizabeth Kellev. and in 1860 
removed to Putnam County. Ind., where he engaged in farming and following 
gi-ain-tlireshing. While engaged in the latter occupation, he met with a distressing 
accident. In oiling the gearing near the feeder, one foot treacherously sli|)ped and 
was crowded into the cylinder, which was revolving with frightful velocity, and 
was so mangled as to necessitate amjiutation. In 1H71, Mr. Norwood removed to 
Benton County, where he owns 585 acres of well-im])roved farming and grazing 
land. He is a Republican, and, jnevious to his removal to Benton tountv, .served 
the township in wliicli he resided ;i number of years as Trustee. His wife is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and" they have left to them three living 
children in a family of nine. 

CHARLES E. OPP, farmer and stock-raiser, is a son of John and Catharine 
(Emerson) Opp, and was liorn in Tijjpccanoe County, Ind., in 1850. After receiving 
a good business education, he selected fanning a.s his vocation, and in 1875 wjig 
united in marriage with Miss Vincttie Combs, daughter of James and Sarah (Green) 
Combs. The same year of his marriage, he removed to Benton County, and is now 
engaged in managiiig a farm of 400 acres belonging' to his father. He is one of the 
progressive citizens in Pine Township, is a Republican in politics, and to his union 



388 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

"with Miss Combs two children have been born. Mrs. Opp is a member of the M. 
E. Church. 

DR. JAMES M. RODMAN, son of James and Mary (Guisinger) Rodman, is a 
native of Shelby County, 111., and was born in 1843. Together with his parents, he 
removed to Indiana in 1847, where he resided until 1861, and in that year enlisted 
in the First Indiana Heavy Artillery. He served through the manj' dangers of war 
unharmed, and was discharged at New Orleans in 1863, after which he returned to 
his home in tlie Iloosicr State, and began the study of medicine. He began the 
practice of this profession in 1866, and the same year married Miss Sarah F., daugh- 
ter of W. G. W. and Rachel (Kelley) Norwood. In 1871, he removed to Benton 
County, where he owns eightj" acres of land, and his time is occupied in farming, 
practicing medicine and preaching. He is a member of the Masonic order, I. O. O. 
F., and G. A. R., and, besides being honored with local offices of trust, was elected 
to represent the counties of Benton and Newton in the State Legislature in 1878, 
serving in the regular and special sessions of that term. Dr. Rodman is a member 
of the Christian Church, and he and wife are parents of seven children, five of 
whom are now living. 

WARREN B. SHEETZ, Trustee of Pine Township, is a native of Tippecanoe 
County, Ind. ; was born in 1837, and is a son of Fredrick and Eliza (Taylor) Sheetz, 
who were among the pioneers of Tippecanoe County. Warren B. Sheetz received 
a liberal education, and was engaged in farming until 1861, when he enlisted in the 
cause of his country in Company D, Tenth Indiana Volunteers. After being in the 
service eight mouths, he was promoted Captain of his company, and served as such 
until his discharge at Indianapolis, September 18, 1864. Capt. Sheetz was an effi- 
cient and faithful officer, and was a participant in some of the hardest campaigns of 
the war. Since the war, he has been engaged chiefly in agricultural pursuits, and 
at present owns a fine stock f aim of 210 acres in Pine Township. He is a Republican, 
member of Benton Post, No. 25, G. A. R., and was married in 1870 to Harriet H. 
Johnson. Mrs. Sheetz is a daughter of William and Margaret (Finch) Johnson, 
and to her marriage with Capt. Sheetz five children have been born, three of whom 
are now living. 

JACOB SICKLER, one of the prosperous and enterprising farmers of Benton 
County, is a native of Gloucester County, N. J., born in 1835, and is a son of Jacob 
and Rhoda (Hunt) Sickler. After attending the district schools of his neighbor- 
hood, he completed his education by a three years" course at high .school and college, 
shortly after which he engaged for five years in milling in Warren County, Ind. In 
1861, he moved to Tippecanoe County, where he followed farming three years, then 
removed to Benton County, purchasing a farm of 160 acres in Pine Township, for 
which he paid $1,760. For the first year's produce derived from this farm, he was 
paid $1,600, or $160 less than what he paid for the entire farm. Mr. Sickles has 
been by good management enabled to increase his original farm to almost 1,000 
acres of good land, on which he has erected some very substantial buildings. He 
is an ex-Trustee of Pine Township, having been elected in 1878, and is the father 
of three children, two — a son and a daughter — yet living. He has given his chil- 
dren splendid schooling advantages. In 1882, his son graduated from Purdue Uni- 
versity with honors, while his daughter is also attending the same school, and taking 
a thorough course in music at Indianapolis, from some of the most accomplished 
musicians in the West. Mr. Sickler was married in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth Hunt, 
daughter of Isaiah and Rebecca (Sleeper) Hunt, and the Sickler familj* is among 
the best known of Benton County. 

JOHN W. TIMMONS is, a representative of one of the pioneer families of 
Benton County. He is one of the prosperous farmers of Pine Town.ship, owning 
300 acres of its best lands, situated on Sections 31 and 32, and this farm, since it was 
first entered from the Government by his uncle, Basset Timmons. in 1828, has 
always been in the possession of some member of the fanidy. John W. Timmons, 
is a native of Benton County, born in 1844, and is a member of the family born to 
Benjamin and Sarah Jane (Anderson) Timmons. His youthful education was lim- 
ited to the common schools of that early day, and the greater portion of his life has 
been passed in farming and merchandising, in the latter occupation being located in 
Oxford. His marriage with Marrietta, daughter of Zachariah and Sarah Jane 
(Davis) Gephart, was solemnized in 1881, and one child has blessed their union. 
Mr. Timmons is Democratic in politics, and is the present Assessor of Pine Town- 
ship, having been elected in 1882. 

ROBISON TIMMONS, one of the earliest settlers in Benton County, is de- 
scended from an old and honored family, his parents being Joshua and Sarah 
(Rowen) Timmons. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1828, and two 
years later was l)rought by his parents to Tippecanoe CountJ^ Ind., where he was 
reared to manhood. In 1845, he located permanently in Pine Township, Benton 



YORK TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 389 

County, and this has since been his home. By industry, he has been successful in 
the acquisition of a plentiful supply of this world's goods, and besides a tine farm 
of KiO acres, improved with a tine two-stor\' dwelling;, he owns a general store in 
the village of Aydelott. wliich is sitviated on his farm. He was married, in 1851, to 
Angeline Foster, a daugiiter of Jolin and Ruth (Coen) Foster, and a family of eight 
children have been born to them. Mr. Tinimons is a Republican, with strong tem- 
perance proclivities, and has served as Justi(;e of tiie Peace and iu various local 
positions of honor and trust. He and wife are meml)ers of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and are among the best citizens of Pine Township. He was appointed 
Postmaster of Aydelott in 1874, and also served, during the late war, as Provost 
Marshal. 

WILLIAi^r S. TURVEY, son of William M. and America (Cupp) Turvey, was 
born in Bracken Count)-, K)'., in 1828. lie received a good education in youth, and 
in 1849 removed to Tippecanoe County. Ind., wlu-re two years later he was married 
to Mi.ss Nancy C, daughter of William and Delilah (Curr)') Bowyer. He .selected 
farming as his vocation in life; in 18.>j eame to Pine Town.sliij\ Benton County, 
engaged actively in agricultural pursuits, and is the possessor of -a good farm of KJO 
acres. He is a Democrat, and for a number of years has served his township iu the 
capacity of Peace Justice. He was also elected Trustee of Pine Township, but 
owing to the fact of being Justice at that time, was not eligible to another office. 
He and wife are among the well-known and respected citizens of their neighbor- 
hood, are members of the Christian Church, and the parents of seven children, all 
living but one. Mr. Turvey met with a painful accident on the I^lst of May, 1883, 
while working around his buzz saw, which resulted in the complete severing of his 
left hand at the wrist. His mother is j'et living, hale and hearty, at the advanced 
age of seventy-eight years. 

JAMES G. VAN NATTA. farmer and stock-raiser, was born iu Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., in 1835. His life has been chiefl}' occupied in farming, and for the 
past nine 3'ears, having moved to Benton Count}' in 1874, lie has resided iu Pine 
Township, where he owns 220 acres of good farming and grazing land. He takes 
considerable pride in the rearing of blooded stock, especiall)- Hereford cattle. Mr. 
Van Natta is a son of John S. and Sarah (Haigh) Van Natta, and his wife, Martha 
J., to whom he was married in 1859, is a daughter of John and Elizabeth Obeuchain. 
He is a Republican in politics, an enterprising and esteemed citizen, and he and 
wife are the parents of seven children. 



YORK TOWNSHIP. 



CAPT. W. J. B.VRT is the only son of John and Maria (Baryhman) Bart, and 
was born in Adams County, Penn., March 27, 1832. March 20, 1856, he was wed- 
ded to Mary M. Biehl, and afterward settled near Littlestown, Penn,, where he re- 
mained until the late war, and October 10, 18(52, he enlisted in Company E, One 
Hundred and Si.xty-fiftli Penn.sylvania Volunteers, in which company he was pro- 
moted to be First Lieutenant, a position he occupied until mustered out October, 
1863, at Gettysburg, Penn. He afterward entered the recruiting service as Captain, 
in which he continued until August 29, 1H65, wlien he was mustered out at Clarks- 
burg, W. Va. In October, l!-(65, he removed to Huntington, Ind., and. in 1873, to 
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Bart have been favored wiih a family of nine children 
— Catherine (deceased), Jane (deceased), Ellen, Alberta (deceased),' Annie (deceased), 
Margaret (deceased), William H., Ida and Harvey E. 

L. M. BAYLPjSS is n son of Cyrus and Caroline Bayless, having been born in 
Tippecanoe County, Ind., Januarj- 15, 1H45. His parents were natives of (^hio. his 
father being a son of Piatt Bayle.ss, a native of Virginia and early settler of Hamil- 
ton C^ounty, Ohio, whence, in 1H33. he removed to Tippecanoe County, tiiis State, 
at which locality he died, leaving eight children— John, Sarah A.. Lot. Alfred, 
Martha J., Piatt, Samuel anrl Cyrus, the father of our subject, who was liorn in 
Butler County. Ohio, August 11, 1821. He was married in Tippecanoe County, 
Ind., in 1843, to Miss Caroline Cory, and there he vet lives. His faniilv numbers 
five— Lot M., Harriet F., Pratt S., Martha S. and ('arrie F. Our sui)ject. Lot M., 
was married in Tippecanoe County .liinuaiy 16, 1867, to Martha M. Warwick, born 
in Clark County. Ohio, December 24. isil. To this union were given tlin-e chil- 
dren— William"S. [{crlie I. and Gertrude (i. In 1870, .Mr. Bayless moved to New- 
ton (bounty, in this Slate, and one ye.ir thereafter to this county, where he pur- 
chased ana occupied the farm he now resides upon. 



390 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

JOHN COCKERLTNE was born in Yorkshire, England, March 30, 1832, a son 
of John and Mary Cockerline, also natives of Yorkshire. The father of our subject 
was a son of William and Esther Cockerline. of Enii:land, where they died, each 
aged eighty-five years. They had five children— William, Thomas. John, Elizabeth 
and Esther. John Cockerline, Sr., married Marj- Jackson, of Yorkshire birth, in 
the year 1800. In 1831, Mr. Cockerline emigrated to Canada, where Mrs. Cocker- 
line died Januar}' 3, 1869, and he November IT, 1875. Their family comprised eight 
in number— Annie, Esther, William, John, IMary, Elizabeth, Charles and Thomas. 
Our subject was married in Canada September 4, 18(56, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
of Robert and Elizabeth Whyte, and in 1868 removed to Benton County, lud., and 
settled on the farm where he now is. Mrs. Cockerline died May 3, 1870, leaving 
one child— Minnie E. Mr. Cockerline was next married, September 28, 1865, to 
Jennie, daughter of Alexander and Jane Graham, born at Montreal, Canada, April 
7, 1840. By this was also born one child— John A. (deceased). Mrs. Cockerline is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

HORATIO DOOLITTLE is a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and born Oc- 
tober 29, 1844. His parents, Reuben and Caroline Doolittle, were natives of New 
York and Ohio, respectively, the former l)orn in 1809, the latter in 1818. They were 
married in Ohio, and in 1854 removed to Will County, 111., thence to Porter County, 
Ind., and fiuall}^ to Kent County, Mich., where they are yet living. They had four 
children— Horatio, Benjamin F., an infant daughter (deceased) and Ida M. The 
subject of this sketch, Horatio Doolittle, removed to Will County, 111., with his 
parents, and there, February 25, 1868, was married to Miss Olive V. Rand, a native 
of Vermont, born May 9, 1838. This union was blessed with four children— Clarence 
H. (deceased), Stella M., Cora B. and Walter. In 1869, Mr. Doolittle came to and 
made his home in this county. 

JAMES E. FLEMING is a native of Ireland, where he first saw the light May 
3, 1838, and is one of nine children making the family of John and Mary Fleming, 
both natives of Ireland. John Fleming was born December 25, 18ii9, married, in 
Ireland, to one Mary Edmonds, and in 1856 emigrated to America. He went to 
La Porte County, Ind., and afterward to this county, where he still resides. Mrs. 
Fleming died in 1870, leaving the following family: John, James E., Sampson, 
Robert, Mary A., Thomas, William, Sarah and Hemy. Our subject, James E. 
Fleming, was married, in Iroquois County, III, March 5, 1863, to Rachel Hough- 
land, born in said county June 4, 1848, who died May 4, 1867. Mr. Fleming was 
subsequently married, October 12, 1871, to Martha M. Davison. He is the parent 
of six children— Mary A., Charles, Susan, John F., Richard and an infant son de- 
ceased. 

JOSEPH GRETTER is a native of Germany, and was born February 9, 1828. 
He is a son of Sebastian and Margaret Gretter, who were likewise natives of Ger- 
many, the former born May 1, 1792, the latter in 1794. They were married in 1817, 
and died, she April 3, and he July 9, 1862. Their family comprised the following : 
Magdaleua, Henry, Anthony, Sebastian, Jo.seph and Catharine. Joseph Gretter 
emigrated to the tJnited States, and reached New York February 9, 1854, thence he 
went to Columbus, Ohio, and the following October to Indianapolis, Ind., and 
thence to La Fayette, where he was married, September 9, 1856, to Miss Susanna 
Heierlin,'^ the result of which union was eleven children^Elizabeth, Catherine, 
Helen, Mary, Susanna. Henry, Sophia, Joseph, John, Alice and Annie. Mr. Gret- 
ter is a much-respected citizen. 

WILLIAM KEEFE, of the firm of Keefe & Co., is a native of County Tip- 
perar}', Ireland, born May 2. 1844. His parents were Patrick and Sarah Keefe, and 
he is the third of their fourteen children. In 1864, he journeyed to Plymouth, 
England; thence to Africa; thence to Australia, where he mined for a short time; 
thence to San Francisco, where he also mined for a period, and, in September, 1876, 
came to Benton County, Ind., and located at Raub, at which point he has since 
been engaged in mercantile business. On the 13th of May, 1881, he was married to 
Mary Fitzgerald, the fruition of which luiion was one child— Sarah A. On the 1st 
of January, 1877, he was appointed Postmaster, a position which he has since held 
satisfactorily to all. Mr. and Mrs. Keefe are members of the Catholic Church. 

THOMAS KEEFE, merchant, is a native of the County Tipperary, in Ireland, 
and was born September 4, 1849. He is a son of Patrick and Sarah (Cunningham) 
Keefe, who were likewise natives of Ireland, and the parents of fourteen children 
— Bridget, William, Emma, Patrick, Hohanna, Thomas, Sarah, John, Catherine, 
Stephen, Timothy, Maria, Annie and James. Our subject, Thomas Keefe, at the 
age of sixteen years, began the grocer}^ trade at Dublin, and in 1871 emigrated to 
America and settled in Kentland, in this Slate. On the 5th of September, 1876, he 
married Delia Fife, and later in the same year removed to Raub, in this State, and 
began the mercantile business, which he has since continued. Mr. and Mrs. Keefe 
have been blessed with two children — William P. and John H. 



YORK TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 391 

D. M. KIRKPATRICK is a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, and was born 
October 10, 1S14. His parents were Thomas and Phebe Kirkpatrick, natives of New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania respectively, who were married in Washington County, 
Penn., and in the early' time removed to Trumbidl County, Ohio; thence they re- 
moved to Beaver County, Penn., where both died. Their family embraced thirteen 
children— Polly. Betsey, Amanda, Andrew. Sarah, B.ildwin, Thomas, Phebe, Daniel 
M., Eleanor. llenrj', Deidamia and Alvina. Our subject, I). M. Kirkpatrick, was 
married in Mercer C'ounty, Pemi., .S('pteml)er 1'2, 1S4'2, to ]SIarv Church, born in Os- 
wego County, N. Y., March 30, \Xl~). In the year of his marriage, he moved to 
Iroquois County, 111., and thence to Benton County, Ind., where he is owner of 318 
acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick are parents of six children — Chalmers, 
Welthy, Wallace, Truman, Willis and Corwin. 

'W. J. LOWES is a native of Fr.mklin County, Ind., and was born January 10, 
1837. His parents were Josiah and Rebecca Lowes, the former a native of Ohio, 
and the latter of Indiana. They were the parents of five children — William J,, 
Mary J., Elizabeth A., George and Rebecca A. Our subject, W. J. Lowes, is the 
eldest of his father's family. He was married, Januar}' 28, 1864. to Mary Seeley, 
and in the spring of 1883 removed to this county, and purchased the farm on which 
he has since been living, comprising 120 acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Lowes 
have been favored with five children, named as follows, Emma E., Anna B., Ma- 
tilda, Pearl and Rebecca. Mr. Lowes is much esteemed among his neighbors. 

SOCRATES McCLURG was born near Covington, Fountain County, Ind., 
August 23, 1834, and is a son of Hamilton and Rebecca (Brier) McClurg, natives of 
Westmoreland County, Penn. Hamilton ^IcClurg was born December 11, 1800, and 
Mrs. Rebecca ^IcClurg Septeml)cr. 1808; thej' were married in 1828. removed to 
Fountain County, and in 183.5 to Dcliihi, Carroll County, where Mrs. McClurg died 
February 10, 1844. ^Ir. McClurg subsequently removed to Camden, same county, 
where he died June 9, 18.")9. Their family consisted of Nancy J., Socrates, Rettie, 
James and Cj'rus. Onr subject remained at home until is.l4,'when he went to Min- 
nesota; thence he returned for a time, and in ]8.")(j went to Sioux City, Iowa; thence, 
in 18.07, to Niobrara, Neb.; thence, in 1859, to Denver, Colo., where he was engaged 
in mininjj until 1862, and thence to Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. In 1866, he 
came to Logansport, this State, and in 1867 to this township, where he purchased land 
and remained. June 27, 1867, he was married to Annie llouser (who died March 2, 
1880), and February 13, 1883, to Ruth A. Conner. .Air. McClurg is the parent of five 
children — Hamilton, Don, Carl, Bruce (deceased) and Lillie B. 

JOHN McEWEN is a native of Canada East, and born May 5, 1837. He is a 
son of Peter and Grace McEwen, who were natives of Scotland, and emigrated to 
Canada in the long ago. They were parents to six children— John, Daniel, Jean- 
nette, Christina, Duncan and William. Our subject, John McEwen, emigrated to 
Kendall County, 111., in 1857; where, October 15, 1860, he married ^liss Martha Ham- 
ilton, a union fruitful to the number of eight children — William P., Nettie M., 
Frederick L., Grace ^I., Charlie II., John A., Walter S. and infant son (deceased). 
In 1868, Mr. McEwen removed to this coimty, and purchased his present home and 
farm. He is comfortably located and is a worth}' citizen. 

IRA PERKINS is a native of Putnam County, Ind., and was born August 10. 
1841. His parents were William and Maria Perkins, who were natives of Delaware. 
William Perkins was born May 20, 1815, and Mrs. Perkins, February 4, 1815. They 
were married in Delaware, and thence moved to Putnam County, Ind., where they 
now reside. The family was composed of nine children — Mary A.. Ira, George, 
Wesley. Lydia, Haimah, William, Elam and Oren. Our subject, Ira Perkins, en- 
listed July 18, 1862, in the Eighteenth Indiana Artillery, and was discharged July 2, 

1865, at Indianapolis. After returning to Putnam County, he married April 19, 

1866, Miss Sarah A. Gib.son, and the same year moved to this county, where they 
purchased and settled on the identical farm on which he now lives. Mrs. Perkins 
died September 4, 1.S77. On the 16th of .May, 1878, he was married to Emma M. 
LoN'er, from which alliance sprang a family of six children — Dora B., Mary J., Ma- 
ria E., Carrie A., Samuel (deceased) and Emery. 

GEORCJK PERKINS is a native of Putnam County, Ind.. having been born 
September 16, 1843. His parents were William and Maria Perkins, who were na- 
tives of Delaware, and moved to Putnam County, in the long ago, where they are 
now living. Their famil}' comprises nine children — Mary A., Ira, George, Wesley, 
Lydia, Hannah, William, Ellen and Oren. It was on Januarv 10, 1867, that George 
Perkins was wedded to Klizabcth .'^liivens, who waslikewise born in Putnam County, 
Ind., on September 12, 1H46, a daughter of Hiram and Nancy Slavcns. both natives 
of Kentucky. In Februar}', 1S67, Sir. Perkins moved to this county, and settled on 
the farm he now occupies. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins are the j)arents of three children 
— Martha I., William H. and Orville II. Mr. Perkins is a excellent citizen. 



392 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

JOSEPH PERKINS was born in Putnam County, Ind., May 23, 1840, and is a 
son of Caleb and Orpha Perkins, both natives of Delaware. Caleb Perkins is a son 
of Joseph Perkins, who settled in Delaware many years ago, and there died. He 
was twice married, the father of eighteen children, and lived to be ninety years old. 
Caleb Perkins was born August 19, 1809, and married in Delaware, one Orpha Lloyd, 
born in 1812. In 1886, he removed to Clermont County, Ohio, and two years later, 
to Putnam County, Ind., where he now lives. He is the father of eight children — 
infant daughter (deceased), Emeline, Joseph, Susan, Edmund, Harriet, Orpha and 
Margaret. Joseph Perkins, our subject, was wedded in Putnam County, November 
6, 1804, to Elizabeth V. Matkin, also born in Putnam County, January 20, 1843. To 
this marriage succeeded five children— Ida M. (born August 24, 1863), Eva O. (born 
April 30, 1865), William (born August 24, 1870, deceased September 1, 1870), Bertha 
G. (born April 8, 1873, deceased July 17, 1877) and Jessie L. (born September 29, 
1878). In 1865, Mr. Perkins removed to this township, of which he has been Asses- 
sor. He has also been County Commissioner. 

WILLIAM SHONKWILER was born in Putnam County, Ind., January 28, 1841, 
and is a son of Daniel and Ruth Shonkwiler. The grandfather of our subject emi- 
grated many years ago from Germany to Scioto County, Ohio, and in 1833 removed 
to Putnam County, Ind., and there came to his life's end, aged eighty years. He 
was a soldier in the war of 1812, was twice married, and was the parent of twelve 
children — Jacob, Nancy, Simon, Julia, David, Mary, Daniel, Adam, Nathaniel, 
Christian, Franklin and George. Daniel Shonkwiler was born in Scioto County, 
Ohio, September, 1815, and married in Putnam County Ruth Spergin, of Kentucky, 
who died February, 1878. He subsequently married Mrs. Amanda Thompson. His 
children were John F., William, Jacob, James F., Mary, Daniel and Malinda. Will- 
iam Shonkwiler, our subject, was married in Putnam County, Ind., November 20, 
1863, to Mary A., daughter of William and Maria Perkins, of said county, born June 
2, 1839. In 1865, Mr. Shonkwiler removed to Benton County, Ind. He is the par- 
ent of nine children— Emma, Elmer, Lydia, Estella, Wesley (deceased), William, 
Mary, George W. and Annie. 

ABIGAIL SUMNER (widow of Edward C. Sumner, deceased) was born in 
Hampshire County, W. Va., January 22, 1812. She is a daughter of Christopher 
and Theresa Cooper, who were natives of Virginia, and parents of five children — 
Delilah, Sarah, Leah, John, and Abigail, our subject, who was wedded to Mr. Sum- 
ner in Pike County, Ohio, September 4, 1832. lie was a native of Vermont, born 
January 31, 1811; his parents were Henry and Mary Sumner. In 1833, Mr. 
Sumner moved to Fountain County, Ind.. and in 1849 to Benton County, where he 
settled on the farm on which Mrs. Sumner now lives. He died August 2, 1882, and 
was a large land-owner, possessing at the period of his decease about 20,000 acres 
of land. Mr. and Mrs. Sumner have had a family of five children — Louisa, Jane, 
Jesse, Jerome and Minerva. 

HENRY H. TUBBS is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., and was born June 
23, 1834. His parents were Peter and Theodosia Tubbs. Henry H. Tubbs was 
wedded, February 12, 1857, in Jefferson County, Wis., to Badora Seley. and in 1859 
he removed to Knox County, Mo., thence to Kane County, 111., and thence to Mc- 
Henry County, 111., where Mrs. Tubbs died in 1861. Mr. Tubbs was next married 
to Mary A. Dunn, and in 1871 he removed to this county, where he has since 
remained. Mr. Tubbs has been the parent of ten children in all. By his first wife 
— Nathan H., Lois C. and Theodore B.; by his second wife— William E., Badora 
A., Victoria B., Elby A., Clara M., James E. and John R. 

ROBERT WILKINSON is a native of Belfast, Ireland, and was born April 19, 
1823. He is one of the children of George and Sarah Wilkinson, who were also 
natives of Ireland. The former was born at Mount Milie in 1780, married at Bel- 
fast, and emigrated to Canada, where he and wife died. They had a family of 
eleven children— Mary E., Jane, Thomas, John, Samuel, Robert, Sarah, George, 
Deborah, and two infants who died unnamed. Our subject, Robert Wilkinson, in 
youth learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he followed a number of years. 
While in Canada, May 7, 1845, he married Miss Ann, daughter of Robert L. and 
Ann Drake, and in 1868 moved to Kentland, Ind., and the following spring to York 
Township, Benton County. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have had a family of eight chil- 
dren—Sarah A., George, Robert M., Amelia H. B., Mary A., John A., Thomas W. 
and Charles E. 

C. D. WILBON is a native of Oswego County, N. Y., where he was born April 
15, 1839. His father, William P. Wilson, was a son of Samuel Wilson, of Scotch 
origin, who in an early day settled in Chenango County, N. Y., and lived there 
until his death. He was by occupation a miller, and reared a large family, of whom 
six were sons— Thomas, Harry, Merritt, James. Benjamin, and William, the father 
of our subject, who married in Oswego County, N. Y., a Miss Lovina Shipman, and 



RICHLAND TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 393 

in 1847 removed to Bureau Count}-, 111., and thence to La Salle County, where he 
died in 1851, leaving a family of Jane, Emily, Charlea I)., Parnielia and Sophronia. 
C. D. Wilson, our subject, was married in La Salle County, 111., November 5, 1858, 
to Sarah, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Wilson. In 187'3, Mr. Wilson removed to 
this county, and made a home. By tlie above stated marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- 
son became the parents of eleven children — William P., Henry E., Lovina E., War- 
ren A., Charles O., Bertie L., Delia, Alfred, Ira, Nettie M. and Stella M. 



RICHLAND TOWNSHIP. 



PETER ANDRES, farmer, is a native of France, and a son of Jacob and Mar- 
garet Andres, also natives of Franca, where they are quiet in death. Peter Andres, 
at about the age of seyenteen, in the year 1854, emigrated to the United States, and 
labored by the month for about twelve years. While in New Jersey, he was wedded 
to Miss Susanna Brass, daughter of Jacob Brass, shoe-maker and farmer. After 
marriage, Mr. Andres rented land for a year, when lie purchased forty-three acres; 
this he sold, and removed to Ohio, Avhere he rented one ja-ar, after which he came 
to this countv and purchased forty acres; this, too, he sold, and bought eighty 
acres, which constitutes his present home, and is a very good farm. Mr. and Mrs. 
Andres have seven children — Susanna, Annie, Peter, John, Flora, Antoine and 
Joseph. 

JOSEPH ANSTETT is a native of France, whence he came to America at the 
age of fifteen j'ears. His parents, Bruno and Margaret M. Anstett, were also 
natives of France; his father was a farmer, and made barrels and staves for the 
Government. Joseph learned the trade of weaving, but did not follow the same. 
For ten j-ears he conducted a saw mill in Louisville, Ky., also one on White River, 
Ind., and in the spring of 1868 located on his present farm of 120 acres, to which, 
by industry and tact, he has added until he has 240 acres of a.s fine land as can be 
seen in the township, with good buildings and other improvements. While in Louis- 
ville, he was married to Miss Mary E. Fisher, a native of France, which union has 
been crowned with six children — Catherine, Christopher, Emma, Melvina, Ophelia 
and Frank X. 

P. A. BLACK is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Black, the former a native of 
Virginia, the latter of New York, who were pioneers of Miami County, Ind., 
whence, in March, 1836, they had a son stolen by the Indians. Our subject remained 
with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. In 1861, he was married to 
Josephine Voorhis, a native of Ohio. After his marriage, he farmed on rented 
land for four years, and then purchased eighty acres of his present home, and has 
since added forty acres, making a good farm, on which he raises 2,000 bushels of 
corn per year usually. Mr. and Mrs. Black have seven living children — Dora, 
Schuyler C., T. V., Frederick, Carrie, Gertrude and Walter. Dora is a graduate of 
the Institution for the Deaf. 

B. R. BOICE, physician and surgeon, is a native of Pennsylvania, which 
State he left for Ohio with his parents when a child. His father was John 
and his mother Mary Boice, botii natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a 
merchant, and a pioneer in his locality, where he kept a store and cleared a 
farm. Our subject engaged in the study of medicine with one Dr. Arter, 
of Salineville, Ohio, and afterward attended lectures at Cleveland, where he 
graduated about 1860. Pie began practice at Salineville, Ohio, and after a 
year removed to Goshen, where he practiced until 1H75. He then moved to 
Champaign, 111., where he set up a drug store in connection with his practice, 
which was soon I)urned. Dr. Boice then located at Earl Park, engaging in 
practice and drug .selling, where he is the ohlest practitioner. His marriage took 
place in Columbiana County, Ohio, the liridc being Miss Mary J. Cro.xton, to which 
union succeeded three children — Martha I., «\Iary Eleanor aud Abram C. 

AnuAM C. BoK K, son of B. R. Boice, is likewise a ph3'sician and surgeon, 
who studied under his father, and graduated from the Rush Medical College of 
Chicago in 18H0, since which time he has i)ra(ticed with liis father, thi-y being the 
only physicians located at Earl Park. Dr. Boice was married in October, 18S1, at 
. Logansport, Ind., to Miss Olive M. Ross, daughter of Hon. N. O. Ross, attorney and 
solicitor for the Pan Handli' Railroad. 

WILLIAM BURNS, f.-irnur, is a native of the State of Ohio, and a son of 
William and Catherine Burns, b(jth natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the United 



394 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

States about the year 1850. William passed his boyhood in labor on the home farm, 
and after reaching manhood was married in La Fayette, Ind., to Miss Mary G. Mc- 
Cormick, daughter of Owen McCormick, whose business was farming. By this 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burns have four children — John, Charles O., William J. and 
Margaret. After his marriage, Mr. Burns purchased eighty acres of land in Newton 
County, Ind.; he also owns one house and four lots in the town of Kentland. 

RICHARD CARTON, farmer, is a native of Illinois, and a son of James and 
Ellen Carton, natives of Ireland, and pioneers of Ottawa County, HI., where they 
located in 1852, and subsequently died. Richard Carton was married, at Vincennes, 
Ind., to Miss Mattie Parker, daughter of James Parker, a pioneer of this county, 
where Mrs. Mattie Carton was born. Mr. Carton located on his present home, where 
he owned 160 acres, in 1873, and to which he afterward added eighty acres, the place 
now comprising 210 acres of excellent land. Mr. and Mrs. Carton have been blessed 
with four children — Nellie, Mary, James and Ralph (twins). 

ANTHONY DEHNER, farmer and County Commissioner, is a native of Ger- 
many and son of John and Mary A. (Konnane) Dehner, both natives of Germany, 
who emigrated to America in 1884, and located at Dayton for two years, and thence 
moved to Carroll County, Ind., where they cleared land known as the "Dehner 
settlement," where the elder Mr. Dehner died. Anthony was engaged in the still- 
ing and saw-milling business for twelve years in Carroll Count3% where he was mar- 
ried, in 1847, to Miss Jane Wolf, daughter of Anthony Wolf, of German descent. 
Mr. Dehner then began keeping hotel, and managed it four years ; this property 
he afterward exchanged for 2,640 acres in this county, to which he removed in 1860, 
and improved in various ways, the farm being now an excellent one. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dehner have four living children — Joseph, Anthony, Emma and John, all of whom 
have received careful educations. Mr. Dehner was elected Trustee of York Town- 
ship (afterward divided into York and Richland Townships), and afterward served 
Richland several terms. In 1879, he was elected County Commissioner for four 
years and re-elected in 1882. 

JOSEPH DEHNER, farmer, stock-dealer and Assessor, to which office he was 
elected in 1878, was born in Carroll County, Ind., in 1853, and remained with his 
parents, for whom he worked on the farm, until his majority, when he engaged in 
merchandising for one year at Earl Park, then for one year at Raub Station, and 
afterward to farming, on account of ill health. Mr. Dehner was married in this 
county to Miss Margaret Homey, a native of Dubois, Ind. This marriage was 
blessed with five children — Carroll, Mary, Emma, Helen and Genevieve. 

JOHN DONOHOUE, farmer and small stock-dealer, is a son of Laurence and 
Ellen Donohoue, and a native of Ireland, who came to America when twenty-five 
years of age. His parents were also natives of Ireland, emigrated to our country 
and died in Ohio. John Donohoue was wedded in the State of Ohio to Miss 
Bridget Gaynor, daughter of Matthew Gaynor, and a native of Ireland. Mr. Dono- 
houe moved to Indiana in 1861, and purchased fifty acres near Raub Station, in this 
county ; this he sold, and purchased and moved to his present residence, then 137, 
now 280 acres, all gained by honest toil and earnest industry, and making a valuable 
farm. Mr. and Mrs. Donohoue have nine children — Catherine, Laurence, Ellen, 
Michael, John, Rosie, Mary, Matthew and Annie. 

JOHN FLINN, farmer, is a native of Tippecanoe Coiinty, Ind., and is a son of 
J. and Nora Flinn, both natives of Ireland. Our subject is the son of a farmer, and 
was in youth boimd to one John Carran, of Tippecanoe County, in which county 
he was afterward wedded to Miss Josie Sherry, a native of Tippecanoe County, and 
daughter of James Sherry. After his marriage, Mr. Flinn farmed for some time in 
his native county, and about six years ago came to this county and settled on his 
present homestead. His average yield of corn is from 5,000 to 6,000 bushels ; he 
has usually from twelve to fourteen horses, also from four to six colts. Mr. and 
Mrs. Flinn have been blessed with two children — Grace C. and Nellie. 

GEORGE W. HENRY, of the firm of Raub, Earl & Henry, grain, lumber, 
hardware, hay and coal dealers, is a native of Flerkimer County, N. Y., and one of 
the five children of George W. and Susan C. (Brown) Henry, the former a native of 
New Hampshire, the latter of Pennsjdvanla. George W. Henry, Sr., has the honor 
of having built the first railway-car used in the United States, also forty miles of 
the Alleghany & Portage Railroad, and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. After- 
ward, he lost his sight, and preached and published many religious works. He 
died in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1876, aged seventy-six years. Our subject 
learned the trade of book-binding, and assisted his father in the publishing business 
until 1861, when he located at La Fayette and engaged in the wholesale dry goods 
trade with Purdue, Brown & Co. for three years; later, at Indianapolis, for two 
years, when he came to this county and engaged in farming for ten years. Mr. 
Henry was married, in Clinton County, N. Y., to Miss Sarah A. Taylor, daughter of 
R. N. and Amanda Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Henry have one child — Florence A. 



RICHLAND TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 395 

J. A. HIXSON was born in Attica, Fountain County. Ind.. and is the fifth of 
nine children of Andrew and Esther (lirady) Ilixson, of German descent. Our sub- 
ject is of the firm of Hixson. Earl it Raub, which handles ujjward of 1,000 head of 
cattle annually. They deal lari^ely in thorouirhtired stock— short-horns, Herefords, 
etc., for supplying the Western ranches. They have some of the finest stock in the 
State, some thoroughbreds which co.st |1,0()0 in England; they also raise from 400 
to 500 hogs, and from 10,000 to lo.OOO l)ushels of corn per year. Mr. Ili.xson was 
educated in the schools of Warren Count}', and in \HV.t was married to Miss Eliza 
A. Sherry, a native of Warren County, and daujrhter of Jacob Sherr}^ of Ohio. To 
their union followed two children — Iva and ElTa. Mr. Ilixson was engaged in 
farming in Warren County until 1868, at which date he moved t6 his present home. 
He has a superblv developed farm, supplied with ever}' comfort. 

FRANK MESSMANN, farmer, is a native of Germany. His parents were 
Frank and Agnes Messnu\un, likewise natives of Germany, where liis mother is 
buried. His t'stther emigrated to America November 7, 18o9, and died in Cincinnati 
in 18G6. Frank Messmann followed the .sea four years before coming to America, and 
landed at New Orleans June 19, 185(5; he afterward followed the sea for twelve 
years; and also, later, had a second-hand store in Cincinnati. April 19, 1874, he 
came to this county, and has since resided on his farm. In 1883, he had the ill 
fortune to break both arms, and dislocate the elbow and shoulder of the right arm, 
by falling from a hay-rack. While in Cincinnati, he was wedded to Marv A. Steflfens, 
a'native of Holland, of German parents, who came to Cincinnati, where they died. 
Mr. and Mrs. Messmann have had six children— Rose (deceased). Mary, Helena, 
Frank, Anthony and Joseph. Mr. Messmann has 160 acres of fine prairie land, and 
is comfortably circumstanced. 

R. D. MILLER, farmer and stock-dealer, is a son of C. I. and Eliatha (Harris) 
Miller, natives of Kentucky. His father was a blacksmith and farmer, and fol- 
lowed his trade to his life's end in 1879; his mother died Januarj' 6, 1882. Our sub- 
ject's boyhood was passed at the home of his parents. In 1862, he went to Minne- 
sota, and in 1863 to Montana, where he was engaged at mining for four years. 
Green C. Smith, at that time Governor of the territory, was a schoolmate of our 
subject. Mr. Miller, after returning to Kentucky, came to Indiana, and settled in 
Goodland, where he remained until 1876, when he purchased 240 acres, and one 
year thereafter occupied the same as a home. He has a fine farm, handles from 
thirty to forty head of cattle, and from forty to fifty hogs each year; he also raises 
from* 5,000 to 6,000 bushels of corn in the same period. In 1878 and 1879, he real- 
ized over 2,900 bushels of wheat from his land. Mr. Miller, while in Kentucky, 
was wedded to Miss Susan J. l^arrett. daughter of James Barrett, a native of Mis- 
souri. To this marriage were born six children — Laura F., Miranda M., Calitha A., 
Susan R., Edmund L. C. (deceased) and C. Irvin. 

ADAMS D. RAUB. merchant and live-stock dealer, is a native of Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., born in 1840, and a son of John and Caroline (Earl) Rauli, both na- 
tives of Ohio, who came about 1884 to this State and located near La Fayette. At 
the age of nine years, our subject went to La Fayette with Adams Earl, with whom 
he has Ijeen engaged in business of various kinds. He was in the grain business in 
1860, at Wea Station, and in 1863 located in Hickory Grove Township, where Fow- 
ler now stands ; he had also an interest with Mr. Earl in land, owning about 10,000 
acres. When the Cincinnati, La Fayette & Chicago Railroad was built, they lo- 
cated at Earl Park, and operated an elevator, under the firm name of Raub & Earl, 
with a canacity of nearly 1,000,000 bushels. He was also interested with Mr. Earl 
and Mr. Follansbee in general merchandise business, averaging an annual trade of 
160,000, and al.so with Mr. Earl in breeding Hereford and shorthorn cattle, having 
about 125 thoroughl)reds; they can furnish the ranch tr.ide of tlie West with the 
above-named stock. In 1874", Mr. Raub was wedded to Mrs. Nannie D. Jones, 
daughter of Mr. Hardesty, and a native of (^Jreencastle. This marriage has given 
being to one cliild— Rutli D. One sister of Mrs. Raub married Daniel Voorhes, and 
another J. P. Luse. 

LYS.\NDER SHIPMAN, farmer and stock raiser, was a native of Chenango 
County, N. Y., and a son of David and Levina Shipinan, also natives of New YorK, 
whose business was farming. After an ordinary education, and after reaching 
manhood, he was wedded, in the State of New York, to Mi.ss Elizabetli Smith, who 
died al)out twenty years after her marriage. Mr. Shipman was next wedded, in 
1872, to Miss Lydia Smith, a sister of his former wife, both daughters of Curtis and 
Lydia A. (Loomis) Smith, and natives of New York. Mr. Siiiiinum was father of 
four children— Curtis I)., Ida E., Hattie S. and Guy L. Mr. Shipman farmed for a 
nunilfcr of years on land he bail lea.sed, and afterward purcha.sed 160 acres of their 
home farm," in 1H69. He died July 19, 1S75. 

PERliY WASHBURN is a native of Ohio. His father, Eleazer Washburn, 
was a native of Ma-ssachuselts, and claimed to l)e a descendant from the Mayfiower 



396 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

party. He emigrated to Noblesville, Ind., in 1834, and afterward moved to Texas, 
where he died. Perry remained with his "parents on the home farm until he was 
twenty-one years old, and was thereafter employed by A. D. Graf, of Ohio, who 
was constructing railroads between Indianapolis and the Wabash River ; also, later, 
with Boody, Ross & Co., of New York, builders of the Wabash Valley Railroad. 
At the age of twenty four, Mr. Washburn married Miss Mary E. Clayton, daughter 
of Ephraim Claj^ton, hotel-keeper at Bunker Hill, Ind., and then moved to Marshall 
County, where he purchased land and engaged in farming for four years ; this he 
sold and bought a farm on the Tippecanoe River, seven miles above Winamac. 
Thence he went to Kentland, and managed a stock ranch for A. J. Kent twelve 
years. Finally, he purchased a half section of land in this township, which farm 
yields him $2,500 a year. 

JOHN M. WILSON, farmer and small stock-raiser, is a native of Scotland, as 
were also his parents, William and Margaret Wilson, who came to America in 1867, 
and now reside in La Salle County, 111. " John M. Wilson emigrated to this country 
in 1864. In 1870, he was married to Miss Marion Henderson, a native of Scotland, 
daughter of Robert and Jane Henderson, also natives of Scotland, who came to the 
United States in 1874 or 1875, and are now living in Newton County, Ind. After 
renting land for several years, Mr. Wilson moved to his present home of 160 acres, 
which he had previously owned, in 1870, and has added thereto until he has now 
270 acres, in good condition and well improved, with good house, underdraining, 
and many comforts; he handles from fifteen to twenty head of cattle, and from 
thirty to fifty head of hogs yearly; he also averages from 4,000 to 5,000 bushels of 
corn each year. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have six children — Willie, Jane, Maggie, 
Mina, Robert L. and Lillie A. 

PAUL WINDLER, farmer, is a native of Germany, and son of Frank and 
Elizabeth Windier, also natives of Germany, where they lie buried. Paul Windier 
emigrated to America when twenty-one years of age, and came to this county, 
where he afterward married Miss Mary J. In, a native of Ohio, which union was 
blessed with ten children — James, Joseph, John, Frances, Elizabeth. Mary, Matilda, 
Thomas, Rosie and Edward. Mr. Windier has 200 acres of excellent land, on which 
he raises upward of 1,500 bushels of corn each year. He is a worthy and growing 
farmer, and has a very comfortable home. 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



ISAAC AMFIELD, one of the progressive men of Union Township, was born 
in Guilford County, N. C, February 25, 1839, and is the youngest of three children 
born to Julian and Hannah R. (Idding) Amfield. Isaac lived with his parents until 
he was twenty-three years of age, and removed with them to Indiana. He began 
teaching when eighteen years old, and followed this until 1866, when he came to 
Richland Township, Benton Co., Ind., and bought a farm of seventy acres, which 
he owned until 1877, when he purchased the farm of 160 acres in Union Township 
where he now lives. It is highly cultivated, and he is giving some attention to stock- 
raising. Mr. Amfield has the honor of having named the township of Richland. 
He was married, January 1, 1862, to Mary J. Simonton, a native of Huntington, 
Ind. Five children have blessed their union, four of whom are living. Mr. Amfield 
is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Julian 
Amfield, father of Isaac, was a native of North Carolina, followed the turner's 
trade, making spinning wheels, chairs, etc., until he removed to Miami County, 
Ind., in 1849, and bought a farm which he owned nineteen years, when he moved to 
Peru, Miami County, and purchased an interest in a woolen mill, which he owned 
until his death, January, 1875. He and wife were members of the Baptist Church, 
and he held various olfices of local trust. 

H. O. BINGHAM was born May 31, 1836, in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and 
was the second of the eleven children of William H. and Malvma {B\y) Bingham, 
the former of French, the latter of Scotch descent. William H. Bingham was a 
native of Canada. At an early age, he learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- 
lowed in connection with farming. At the age of two years, he removed with his 
father's family to Pennsylvania, where they remained a short time and removed to 
New York. In 1842, he removed to Kendall County, 111., where he remained until 
his death, in September, 1858. Both he and wife were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. The subject of this sketch lived with his father's family until 
he attained his majority; also removed with the family to Kendall County, III., 



UNION TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 397 

wbLTo he romainod until 1875. when lie came to Union Township, Benton Co., Ind., 
and purchased lOO acres of laud, on which he still resides. September 3, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company C. Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and served until it was mustered 
out at Springfield, in November, 18(54. lie served under Grant until he took charge 
of the Army of the Potomac, when he was jilaced under Thomas. He was present 
at the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, the battle of Shiloh and other en- 
gagements. Mr. and Mrs. Bingham belong to the United Brethren Church. He is 
a meml)er of Benton Post, G. A. B., and was married. October 15, 1867, to Laura 
C Starkweather, a native of Illinois. Five children have resulted from this union, 
three of whom are living. Mr. Bingham is a Republican, and one of the promi- 
nent men of the county. 

K()BF:UT CHAMPLEY, farmer, and one of the oldest settlers of the county, 
was born in Hull. England, July 7. 1817, and is the only child born to George and 
Charlotte (Lawson) Champley. George Champley was a native of Hull, England, 
and at an early age learned book-binding, which he followed most of his life. In 1818, 
he and family emigrated to Montreal, C'auada, where he worked as a journeyman one 
■winter ; he then went to New York, began business for himself, and continued 
twenty years, during which time he spent three j'ears in Mexico. After returning, 
he removed to Warren County, Ohio, and opened a store ; this he continued two years, 
after which he went to Xenia, Ohio, resumed book-binding, and five years later re- 
moved to Center Township. Benton County, Ind. Mr. Champley was a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, and died January 15, 1871. Robert Champley removed 
with his parents to Montreal, Canada, at the age of ten months, and remained at 
home until his father's death. He worked at book-l)inding for several years, but 
during his residence in Ohio and Indiana he has followed farnnng. In 1851, he came 
to Benton County, and bought 32(J acres in Center Township, which he kept until 
18(56, when he purchased sixty acres, on whicli he still resides. Mr. Champley is a 
Democrat. He was married, June 12, 1842, to Jane Goodsell, a native of Yorkshire, 
England, by whom he was the father of twelve children, seven of whom are living. 

JOHN COCHRANE was born July 20, 1839, in Dunlap, Avr.shire, Scotland, 
and is the eldest of four children born to John and ]\Iarj' ( Wi'lie) Cochrane, both na- 
tives of Scotland. John has been mostly engaged in farming, and lived with his 
parents until he attained his majority, and removed with them to Illinois. After this, 
in connection with his brother, he rented farms for two years, when they bought eighty 
acres in La Salle County, 111., which they owned about nine years. He then came 
to Union Township, Benton County, Ind., and purchased a farm of 240 acres, upon 
which he resides, and enjoj's now the pleasant surroundings his hard work has ac- 
complished. He gives considerable attention to stock-raising, and has several head 
of thoroughbred Durhams. Both he and wife are members of he Presbyterian 
Church and he is a Republican. Mr. Cochrane was married in 1865, to Mary E. Rich- 
ards, a native of Maine, and to them have been born eight children, four of whom 
are living. John Cochrane, Sr., followed farming and stock-raising. He removed 
with his family in 1853, to St. Clair County, III., remained one year, and went to 
La Salle County, where he lived until his death in Februarj^ 1867. He was a mem- 
ber of the A., F. & A. M., while in Scotland. 

THO.AIAS G. DANIELS, farmer, was born June 10, 1847, in Clinton County, 
Ohio, and is one of ten children born to William and Delilah (Cox) Daniels, the lat- 
ter being of German descent. William Daniels was a native of New Jersc)'. At an 
early age he was bound toservice until he attained his majority, after which he went 
to Clinton County, Ohio, where he purchased a farm and remained until 1854, when 
he moved to Bureau County, 111., where he lived until his death, in August, 1881. 
Thomas G. Daniels made his home with his parents until he became of age, and 
moved with them to Illinois when about six years of age. He rented and worked 
on farms in Bureau County until 1872, when he came to Union Township, Benton 
Co., Ind., where he bought a farm of 1(50 acres, to which his wife has added 80, 
making a farm of 240 acres of welliinproved land. Mr. Daniels was ma.rried Feb- 
ruary 6, 1877, to Frances Bugltee, a nativt; of New Hampshire, and teacher in that 
State and in Indiana. To their marriage have been born two children — William T. 
and Jennie F. Mr. Daniels is a Democrat, and his wife is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

BENJAMIN DAVIDSON was born in Columbiana Countv, Ohio, October 12, 
1846. and is one of seven children born to George and Sarah (Pancake) Davidson, 
both of German descent. George Davidson wjis a native of Cohnnbiana County, 
Ohio, and a cabinetmaker by trade, but followed it few years when he turned liis 
attention to fanning, and now owns large tracts of land in Pennsylvania and Ohio, 
lienjamin Davidson lived with his father's family until seventeen years of age. 
After the war, lie remained at honw a short time, then went to Pennsylvania; en- 
gaged in the oil business for about two years, and afterward worked on a .Mississippi 



398 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

River steamboat for a year; the succeeding year, he worked at farming in Illinois. 
He then came to Union Township, broke prairie for a few seasons and has since 
made his home in Benton County. He lias a good farm of 100 acres, and gives the 
greater part of his attention to stock, shipping from 1,000 to 4,000 head of hogs, 
besides cattle, every year. He enlisted, February 22, 18(J3, in the Twenty-sixth Ohio 
Battery, and served until mustered out at Vicksburg, November 15, 1865. He also 
participated in the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Champion Hills and other en- 
gagements. He is a member of Goodland Lodge, No. 445, A., F. & A. M., a charter 
member of Goodland Post, G. A. R. Mr. Davidson was married, December 16, 1873, 
to Frances Lucas, a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind. Three children blessed this 
union. Mr. Davidson is a Republican, and has served as Township Assessor six 
years. 

DeWITT C. DENNISTON, one of the prominent farmers of Benton County, 
was born January 19, 1847, in Orange County, N. Y., and is the youngest of four 
children born to George and Eva A. (Embler) Denniston, of Irish and German de- 
scent respectively. George Denniston was a native of New York, born in July, 
1802. He lived on his farm for several years, after which he lived in the town of 
Newburgh, N. Y., where he had an interest in two grist mills, a store, and near by 
a farm of 235 acres. He was a member of the Board of County Supervisors for sev- 
eral years, and died Novem])er 7, 1879; he and wife were members of the Presbyte- 
rian Church. DeWitt C. Denniston received a practical education, and lived with 
his father's family until twenty years of age, when he went to La Salle County, 111., 
and worked on a farm for a few years. In 1872, he came to Union Township and 
purchased 300 acres, which he has made one of the best farms in the county. Mr. 
Denniston was married May 6, 1875, to Lillie E. Aulsebrook, a native of St. Louis. 
Mo. They are the parents of three children — George A., Elizabeth and Sarah M. 
Mr. Denniston is a Democrat and one of the progressive men of the township. 

JOHN C. FLINT. The father of our subject— Zachariah Flint— was a native 
of New York, born March 13, 1807. In 1842, he moved with his family to Green- 
ville, N. J., where he remained about fourteen }'ears, when he went to Will County, 
111. ; remained until 1870, then came to Union Township, where he bought a farm of 
eighty acres; he died December 10, 1877. John C. Flint was born May 20, 1838, in 
Montgomery County, N. Y., and is one of the seven children of Zachariah andMar- 
garetta (Rowc) Flint, both of German descent. He has been engaged in farming all 
his life. After his return from the war he rented and worked farms in Kankakee 
County, 111., for two years, when he came to Union Township, Benton County, Ind., 
and bought the eighty acres on which he resides. He enlisted, August 16, 1861, in 
Company K, Forty-second Illinois Voluntary Infantry, and served until mustered 
out at Port Lavaca, Texas, December 16, 1865. He participated in the sieges of 
Island No. 10, Corinth, Nashville, Atlanta and Chattanooga; also at Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Columbia, Nashville, Spring Hill and the Tullahoma campaign. Mr. 
Flint was married, March 18, 1867, to Miss R. A. Rowe, a native of Illinois, and they 
are the parents of six chikb'en, five of whom are living. Mr. Flint is a Republican 
and he and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. 

EBER C. FORBES was born March 23, 1850, in Will County, 111., and is the 
youngest of three sons born to James and Elizabeth (Merwin) Forbes. James 
Forbes was a native of New York, and farming was his vocation. When a young 
man, he moved with his father to Wilmington, Will Co., 111., and there bought a 
farm, which he owned at his death. May 20, 1864. Eber C. Forbes, at the age of 
fourteen, was left an orphan, and was obliged to support himself. He, in connec- 
tion with his brother, worked the home farm for three years, after which he worked 
by the month for two or three years, and then spent some time in the Western 
States, working for a stage company. He returned to Will County, 111., and, with 
his brother, bought land, and remained three years. In 1874, he came to Union 
Township, and the next year rented the farm on which he still resides. Mr. Forbes 
was married, February 24, 1875, to Alice J. McElvane, a native of Kankakee County, 
111., and four children — three of whom, Lillie E., Daisy M. and Walter A., are 
living — have blessed this union. Mr. Forbes is a Republican, and one of the enter- 
prising farmers of the township. 

DAVID H. FULLETON was born April 4, 1835, in Clinton County, Ohio, and 
is one of six children born to James and Mary (Kyle) Fulleton, both of Scotch- 
Irish descent. James Fulleton was a native of Pennsylvania. In his youth, he 
went to Ohio, where he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed for a few 
years, and afterward engaged in farming. About 1845, he returned to his old home 
in Pennsylvania, where he remained two years, then removed to Michigan, where 
he remained five years, and thence to La Salle County, 111. Two years before his 
death, in 1876, he went to Iroquois County, 111. Both he and wife were members of 
the M. E. Church. David H. Fulleton, at an early age, learned the blacksmith's 



UNION TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 399 

trade, but never followed it as a business. He lived witb bis parenls until bis ma- 
jority, and, in IMO, came to Union Townsbip, Benton Co., Ind., and boupbt 400 
acres of land, from wbicb be bas sold KiO, and bus yet 240 acres well improved. 
Two years previous to bis removal to Indiana, be carried ontbe business of making 
corn plows at Utica. 111., and for tbree years operated a coal mine in La Salle 
Countv. Mr. Fulleton was married, July 2i), 1S.")H, to Mary A. Solomon, a native of 
West kent, England, and by ber is tbe fatber of eigbt cbildren, seven of wbom are 
living. Mr. Fulleton is a Hepubliean, and one of tbe substantial men of the county, 
lie and wife are members of tbe Uniteil liretbren Cbureb. 

JAMES GILMOKE, one of tbe enterprising farmers of the township, was born 
November 20, 1841, in Ireland, and is one of five cbildren born to Samuel and Mar- 

faret (Curry) Gilmore, both of Scotch descent. Samuel Gilmore was n native of 
reland, and followed farming through life, having owned a farm of thirty-four 
acres, and valued at $2,000. He diedDecenilier ;^1, IHO.'). James Gilmore received 
a practical education, and lived with bis father's family until eighteen years of age, 
when he went to Orleans County, Vt., and remained tliere alxnit two years. He next 
went to La Salle County, 111., and rented and worked farms for seven years, after 
which he went to Livingston County, and remained there two years. In 1874, he 
came to Union Townsbip, Benton Co., Ind., where he purchased a farm of eighty 
acres, to which he has added sixty acres, making a well-improved farm of 140 acres. 
Mr. Gilmore was united in marriage with Mary J. Stevenson, a native of Ayrshire, 
Scotland, March 31, 1S63, and three cbildren— Samuel J., John W. and Minnie A. — 
have blessed this union, all of wbom are living. 

AMOS IIAGENBUCH was born March 27, 1848. in Delaware County, Ind., and 
was one of thirteen children ])orn to Enoch and Christina (Greenawalt) Hagenbuch, 
both of German descent. Enoch Hagenbuch was a native of Schuylkill County, 
Penn., and traced his ancestry to one Andrew IIagenl)ueh, a native of Wurtemberg, 
Germany, born in 1711, who came to this country in 1737, and settled in Pennsyl- 
vania. He was a tanner, and had three children, one of whom, Miciuiel, was the 
grandfather of the above. He was born in 1738, and had seven children, four sons 
— Christian, Henry, Jacob and Andrew. Jacob, tbe father of Enoch, was born 
June 13, 1777, and died January 8, 1842. He was married, August 24, 1799, to Mag- 
dalena Wolf, who died Deceml)er 22, 1817; they had ten children. Enoch, tbe 
father of our subject, being the .seventh, was born November 8, 1814, and is still 
living. By a second marriage, in 1818, to ^Magdalene Knappcr, he had four chil- 
dren. Enoch Hagen])ucb followed farming all his life. He removed to Ohio, and 
thence to Pennsylvania in a short time, but soon after went to Delaware County, 
Ind. In 1852, he removed to La Salle County, III., where he bought a large farm, 
and is now living a retired life at Utica. Amos Hagenbuch lived with his parents 
until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1875. he came to Benton County. Ind. 
After three years, he returned to La Salle (bounty, and remained until 1880, then 
came to Union Township, Benton County, to tiie farm wiiich he had previously 
bought. He now owns 480 acres of well-improved land, witii fine buildings. He is 
a member of Waltham Lodge, No. 384. A. F. & A. M. He was married. February 
20, 1873, to Louisa M. Douvia, a native of France, born February 15, 1849. They 
have four cbildren— AH)ert H., Amos E., Allen W. and George W. Mr. Hagenbuch 
is a Republican, one of the extensive farmers of the township and county, and the 
heaviest taxpayer in L'nion Townsbip. 

ISAAC HESS is one of five cbildren born to Jonathan and Nancy (Klinefelter) 
Hess, and was born May 25, 1844, in Jjcbanon County. Penn. Jonathan Hess was a 
native of Pennsylvania, a carpenter and architect, aiid worked on several buildings 
in Philadelphia, among which was Independence Hall. In 1848, he moved with his 
family to La Salle County, 111., where he lived until his death in November, 1852. 
He serTed in the Penn.sylvania Militia, and be and wife are members of the Church 
of God. Isaac Hess received a common school education, learned the carpenter's 
trade, but has followed it little. He lived witb bis parents until twenty-two years of 
age, and moved witb tiiem to Illinois, where lie rented and worked farms for about 
three years, and thence came to Union -Township. Benton County. Ind., which has 
since been bis home. Mr. Hess was married. February 1. ISOH, to Maggie Fowlie. a 
native of Scotland, and three cbildren— Nancy A., Alice A. and Loy E.— have 
blessed this union. Mr. He.ss is a Kepultlican and one of tbe progressive men of the 
township. He owns eighty acres of finely imi)roved land, and is extensively engaged 
in stock-raising. 

JOHN KAAR. tile manufacturer, is a native of the same State as his father- 
New Jersey— and is the eldest of two children born to George and Eliza (Siiarp) 
Kaar. The occupation of George Kaar was farming. He became aresident of Wdl 
County, 111., in 18.')3. He and wife are now living a retired life at Princeton, and 
are members of the Lutheran Church. Joiin Kaar, born February 9, 184."). secured 



400 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

a practical education, moved West with his parents when eight years old, and since 
the age of twenty-four has been doing for himself. After his marriage with Emma 
J. Le Fevre, March 2, 1869, he rented his father's farm until 1874, when he removed 
to Benton County, Ind., purchasing a good farm in Union Township, on which he 
still resides. In 1881, he erected a tile factory, 18x150 feet, which. the next year he 
enlarged to 34x185 feet, with a shed 41 feet square. This he operated until No- 
vember, 1882, when it was destroyed by fire. The spring of 1883, he erected one of 
the largest factories in Benton County, if not in the State. It has an engine-room 
20x50 feet, with four furnaces capable of producing $2,000 worth of tile per month, 
and is admirably arranged with steam pipes for winter work. Mr. Kaar is a Demo- 
crat. He and wife are the parents of five children. 

J. PERRY LEMASTERS is a native of Indiana, born December 7, 1850, in 
Adams County, and is one of the eight children of Cornelius B. and Lucy (Rice) 
Lemasters. Cornelius B. Lemasters was a native of Carroll County, Ohio, born 
March 12, 1821, and was a farmer. While a boy, he moved with his parents to 
Adams County, Ind., where he remained until 1864. In that year he came to New- 
ton County and purchased eighty acres near Goodland, which he owned until 1874. 
This he sold, and rented until 1878, when he came to 122 acres previously purchased 
in Union Township, from which he has sold fifty-six acres. He was Sheriff of 
Adams County one term and Deputy several years. J. Perry Lemasters lived with 
his parents until he was sixteen. After leaving home, he attended school at Battle 
Ground one term, clerked in a hotel at Logansport one summer and was then em- 
ployed in a hotel in Goodland about two years, since when he has rented and 
worked farms in Union Township, and has for five years rented a farm in Section 
27, owned by D. C. Denniston. He is a member of Fowler Lodge, No. 460. I. O. O. 
F., and a Democrat. Mr. Lemasters was married, January 15, 1874, to Bell May, 
of New York, with a result of three children. Mrs. Lemasters died August 14, 
1881. Mr. Lemasters married his present wife. Ida Ladd, a native of Benton Coun- 
ty, in September, 1882. 

JAMES MEAD, farmer and old settler, was born in Morris County, N. J., No- 
vember 3, 1830, and is one of eight children born to Garrett and Nancy (Post) 
Mead. He learned house carpentering, which he followed five or six years, then 
went to farming. In 1856, he removed to Chicago, where he remained six months, 
thence to Ottawa, 111., where he remained eleven years, when he came to Union 
Township, Benton County, Ind., then a wild prairie. He rented a farm for two 
years, when he bought 160 acres, which he still owns, and in addition rents 160 
acres. He managed a corn sheller for about ten years, having shelled over 500,000 
bushels of corn during that time, by which he lost two fingers of his right hand. 
He has held the oflSce of Road Superintendent. April 6, 1859, he married Samantha 
Hadley, a native of Ohio. Eight children have blessed this union, seven of whom 
are living. Mr. Mead is a Republican and a member of Benton Lodge, No. 521, A., 
F. & A. M. Garrett Mead, father of James, was a native of Bloomingdale, Morris 
Co., N. J., and while young learned the fuller trade, which he followed several 
years, after which he turned his attention to farming, and continued the same until 
his death. May 10, 1871. Both he and wife were members of -the Presbyterian 
Church. 

WILBER F. MEADE R, one of the old settlers and enterprising farmers of 
Union Township, was born August 11, 1834, at Industry, Me., and is one of the six 
children of Shubal L. and Abigail (Fallett) Meader. His father was also a native 
of Maine, and could trace his ancestry to an early period in the history of our coun- 
try. He followed farming the greater part of his life, but while in his native State 
worked a portion of the time in a saw mill. In 1844, he emigrated to Indiana, and 
settled in Dearborn County, where he remained six years, when he removed to 
Kankakee County, 111., and for three years kept a toll-bridge at Momence, where 
he died in the spring of 1860. He had held various offices of local trust, and he and 
wife were members of the M. E. Church. Wilber F. Meader learned the stone- 
cutter's trade, but followed it only two or three j^ears. since when he has been 
engaged in farming. At the age of ten, he came with his parents to Dearborn 
County, Ind., and afterward removed with them to Kankakee County, 111., where 
he remained until 1873, when he came to Union Township, Benton Co., Ind., and 
bought eighty acres of wild land, and converted it to a high state of cultivation; he 
has also erected substantial buildings, and has one of the best farms in the town- 
ship. Mr. Meader is a charter member of Benton Lodge, No. 521, A., F. & A. M. 
He was married in September, 1859, to Rose C. Gibbins, to which union one child 
has been born— Albert F., who died July 5, 1863. Mr. Meader is a Republican. 

NEAL DOW MICHAEL, farmer, was born in Montgomery County, Ind., Feb- 
ruary 28, 1854, and is the eldest of twelve children born to 'Thomas and Sarah 
(Swan) Michael, of German and Irish descent respectively. Thomas Michael was a 



UNION TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 401 

native of Montgomery County, Ind.. who followed farming all hi8 life; he owned a 
farm in his native county, which he sold in the spring of 1861, and the next year 
moved with his family to Center Township. Benton County; remained four years, 
and then came to Union Township. Mr. Michael owned this place two years, when 
he located where he died, which place is now owned by his heirs. He was an enthu- 
siastic temperance man, and for several years a member of the I. O. Q. T. Neal 
D. Michael received a limited education, which he has since improved by his owa 
efforts. He remained at home until his father's death, when he became the head of 
the family, and has since managed the farm, where he now lives with one sister and 
two brothers. Mr. Michael is a Republican, and is one of the progressive young 
men who have grown up in the township. 

JOSEPH MONTY, a native of Lower Canada, was born June 17, 1836, and is 
one of seven children born to Joseph and Isabel (.McQuaid) Monty, of French and 
Scotch descent respectively. Joseph Monty, Sr., was a native of Canada, where he 
followed farming all his life, and was a member of the Catholic Church. Joseph 
Monty, Jr., has made farmins^ his life vocation. In 1854, he moved to Illinois and 
remained workini;; on the farm by the month and renting farms until 1860, when he 
went West, and for one year enga.iijed in drivinj; team from Kansas City to New 
Mexico and Colorado. lie returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1868, then 
came to Union Township, Benton Co., Ind., and purchased 160 acres of land where 
he still resides, and has most highly cultivated; he has erected fine buildings, and 
has one of the best farms in the county. August 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company 
F, Sixty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until discharged from the 
hospital at Quincy, 111., May 2, 1865. He participated in the battles of Corinth and 
the Atlanta campaign, and was wounded before Atlanta July 2i, 1864, from which 
he has never fully recovered. He is a member of Goodland Lodge, No. 445, A., F. 
& A. M., and also of Goodland Post, G. A. R. Mr. Monty was married January 
29. 1874, to Hilda Bloom, a native of Kankakee County, 111. He is a Republican, 
and one of the leading farmers of the county. 

JOHN W. NUTT was born May 5. 1816, in Loudoun County, Va., and is the 
only child of Joseph and Mary (Wolfcale) Nutt, of Scotch and German descent 
respectively. At the age of nineteen, his parents died, leaving about $1,000 for his 
support. For two years he worked on the farm of his uncle, and during this time 
bought a farm of eighty acres, and soon after married and settled. He made this 
his home for eighteen years, adding to it. meanwhile, 100 acres. In 1858, he sold it, 
rented another farm in the same county for four years, and in 1862 came to Union 
Township, Benton Co., Ind., and bought 520 acres of wild prairie, from which he 
sold 160 acres, leaving 360 acres of well-improved land, upon which he still resides. 
He was Trustee of Union Township six years, and lias the honor of having named 
the township. Mr. Nutt was married in September, 1839, to Sarah J. McCollough, 
a native of Montgomer}' County, Ind .'to which union twelve children were born, 
nine of whom are living. Mr.'Nutt is a Republican, and a pioneer of Benton 
County. His father, Joseph Nutt, was a native of Bucks County, Penn., and fol- 
lowed farming all his life. While a boy, he moved with his parents to Loudoun 
County, Va., where he remained until 1830; he then came to Montgomery Countj^, 
Ind., where he rented land until his death in September, 1835. Mr. Nutt served in 
the American Army during the whole of the war of 1812, andhe and wife were mem- 
bers of the Society of Friends. 

WILLIAM B. NUTT was born February 18, 1844, in Montgomery County, 
Ind., and is one of twelve children l)orn to John W. and Sarah (McCollough) Nutt, 
who were of German and Scotch descent respectively ; he received an ordinary ed- 
ucation, and resided with his parents and worked on the farm until he was twenty- 
five years old. In 1861, he came with tlie family to Union Township, Benton Co., 
Ind., to the |)lace now owned by Saniuel N. Nutt. For about two years he worked 
on land rented from his father, "but in 1^<70 bouglit a farm of 160 acres, on which he 
lives, and devotes the greater part of his attention to stock-raising. Both Mr. 
Nutt and wife are members of the Christain CImrch. He was married, December 
24, 1875, to Malvina Lipscomb, a native of Virginia. Three children— Oliver I., 
Roy O. and Anna F. — have blessed this union. Mr Nutt is a Republican, and one 
of the oldest settlers and most prominent men of the township. 

WILLIAM WAVE was born July 25. 1M02. near Troy, N. Y., and is one of the 
eleven children of John and .Mary (Rulf) Itowe, both of German descent. His 
fatlier was, a native of New York, and learned the hatter's trade at Albany, which 
he followed until he retired, after which hi' went to live with a son in New Y'ork, 
and there died in his seventy-seventii year. William Rowe educated liimself, and 
learned coopering, which he follr)wed a few years ; he then gave attention to farm- 
ing, which he has since followed. In 1836. he moved to Will County. 111., and 
bought a farm, which he owned until about 1868. This he sold, and came to Union 

84 



402 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

To-wnship, Benton Co., Ind., where he purchased 480 acres, from which he sold 160, 
and gave to his sons eighty acres each ; he now owns 156 acres of improved land, 
on which he resides ; he is a member of the United Brethren Church, and was mar- 
ried, November 16, 1827, to Mary A. Teneyck, of New York, and twelve children, 
ten of whom are living, blessed this union. Mrs. Rowe died July 26, 1856. Mr. 
Rowe is a Republican, and a pioneer of the West. Winfield S. Rowe, son of the 
above, was born April 27, 1849, in Rockville, Kankakee Co., 111. ; has followed farm- 
ing the greater part of his life, and lived with his father to the present time, re- 
moving to Indiana in 1869. He has owned the farms now owned by the heirs of E. 
Stevens, John Wilkinson and Frank Clark ; he is a member of Goodland Lodge, 
No. 445, A. F. & A. M., and Goodland Lodge, No. 346, I. 0. O. F. He was mar- 
ried, October 1, 1878, to Florence Mann, and by her is the father of three children 
— Mabel I., Helen W. and Hartley. 

WARREN B. ROWLEY is a native of New York ; was born in Eaton, Steu- 
ben County, March 31, 1845, and is one of eight children born to Philo J. and Abi- 
gail J. (Brown) Rowley. Philo J. Rowley was a native of Schoharie County, N. 
Y., born February 5, 1810, and after spending some time in farming in his native 
State and in Illinois, came to Union Township, this county, and in connection with 
his son, purchased a farm of 220 acres, on which he lived until his death, December 
4, 1880 ; he and wife are members of the Baptist Church'. Warren B. Rowley re- 
ceived good educational advantages in youth, and for a time taught school, but has 
since made his chief business farming ; he emigrated with his parents from New 
York to Chicago, and came to Union Township in March, 1872, and still resides on 
the farm purchased by himself and father; he gives some attention to stock-raising, 
and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Rowley was married, 
January 8, 1871, to Mary A. Farrel, a native of Albany, N. Y., and four children — 
Clara A., Addie E., Nellie E. and Frank I.— have been born to them. Mrs. Row- 
ley died March 10, 1880. Mr. Rowley was next married, July 2, 1882, to Nettie A. 
Bruce, a native of Jasper County. 

EPHRAIM SAYERS was born March 20, 1835, in Marion County, Ohio, and 
is one of thirteen children born to William and Charlotte (Martin) Sayers. William 
Sayers was a native of Virginia, and moved with his parents to Pennsylvania, 
where he followed farming in connection with wagon-making. After some years, 
during which he married, he removed to Marion County, Ohio, where he bought a 
farm and remained about ten years, after which he went to Fountain Countj\ Ind., 
and remained there and in Montgomery County until the spring of 1857, when he 
came to Union Township, Benton County, Ind., and bought a farm of 880 acres, 
from which he sold 640 acres. In 1866, he went to Kansas, where he died February 
12, 1867. He served in the American Army during the war of 1812. He was a pio- 
neer of this State and of Ohio, and both he and wife were members of the ]M E. 
Church. Ephraim Sayers lived with his father's family until his marriage, an 1 re 
moved with them to Indiana. In 1860, he worked and owned the farm now owned 
by David Reed, until 1869, when he moved to the 340 acres on which he still re- 
sides. Both he and wife are members of the U. B. Church, and he was first 
elected Trustee of Union Township. He was married, October 13, 1859, to Amanda 
Dawson, a native of Warren County, Ind. Ten children have been born to them, 
eight of whom are living. Mr. Sayers is a Republican, and one of the old settlers 
and prominent men of the township and county. 

JAMES D. SMYTH, one of the prominent men of Benton County, was born in 
Ross County, Ohio, December 18, 1842, and is one of six children born to Douglas 
and Rachel (Conner) Smyth. Douglas Smyth was a native of Londonderry County, 
Ireland, and received a good education. At an early age he entered a store as clerk, 
and for fifty years was engaged in the dry goods trade. In 1832, he removed to 
Ross County, Ohio, and went into partnership with Frederick Edwards, in the dry 
goods business, until 1862, when he sold his store, went to a farm in Pickawaj"- 
County, Ohio, and remained four years. After this, having lived again in Ross 
County, he came to Oxford, Benton County, Ind., where he engaged in merchan- 
dising, which he continued until 1869, when he returned to Ross County, and re- 
sided until his death. James D. Smyth has a good, practical education. In, youth, 
he entered his father's store as clerk. In 1869, he bought said store, and, in con- 
nection with John TuUis and Isaac Julian, respectively, continued the business until 
1877. In November, 1880, he opened a boot and shoe store, now occupied by Camp- 
bell & Cobb, which he conducted until February, 1883, when he sold out and came 
to Lochiel, where he opened a general dry goods and grocery store, and has an un- 
usually large stock. This is the finest store in the township, and Mr. Smyth has 
just received his commission as Postmaster at Lochiel, it being the first post office 
in the township. He was married, October 28, 1869, to Melvina E. Boswell, of Ben- 
ton County. Five children have blessed this union. Mr. Smyth is a Republican. 



• UNION TOWNSnH'— BENTON COUNTY. 403 

ABNER T. STEVENS, farmer, was l)orn April 'J. 1834, in Erie County, X. Y.. 
and is one of eight (.•liiMren horn to Ansel and Merrllai (Poster) Stevens. Ansel Ste- 
vens was a native of Vermont, and has been a farmer all his life. At the aire of 
sixteen, he moved with his brother to Erie County. N. Y., where he remaineduntil 
1844, when he went to I)u Pauc Coimty, 111., and has since l)een engajred in agri- 
culture. Abner T. Stevens lived with his parents until about twenty-two years of 
age, and moved with them to Illinois. He there worked on the farm by tiie' month, 
for eight years, remaining with one man the wiiole time, and afterward purcliased 
a f.-irm in Iroriuois County. 111., where he remained live years. In 1S7], lie came to 
Union Township, this county, and bouglit a farm of 160 acres, upon which he still 
resides. Mr. Stevens is a Kepublican, and was nuirried. October 11, 18<!1, to Hosella 
Bovee. a native a Canada, and five children have blessed this union. 

GEORGE E. STREETER, farmer, is a native of McIIenry County, 111.; was 
born November 23, 1848, and is one of the si.\ cliildren of Zeno and ]Mary (Everett) 
Streeter. He received a practical education, and lived at home until he was twen- 
ty-two years of age. In 1S72, he came to Union Township and bought the farm of 
120 acres on which he has since resided. He was married, September 21, lS7(j, to 
Miss ^Minnie Seely, a native of Illinois, and by her is the father of four children- 
Arthur. Edith. Zeno and Raymond. Zeno Streeter, father of George E., was a na- 
tiveof Massachusetts, and of limited education. He was a wheelwright by trade, an 
occupation which he followed several years, after which he turned his attention to 
farming. "While yet a boy, he moved with his parents to New York, where they re- 
maineil a short time, and later he went to Chicago, and remained about eight vears. 
He then purchased a farm in Kankakee County, III., wliich he owned until his 
death, .Tune 14. 1882. Both he and wife were members of the M. E. Church. 

JOHN \V. SWAN was born in ]\Iontgomery County, Ind., May 28, 1828. and is one 
of ten chihlren born to Robert and Elizabeth Swan, of German and Scotch descent 
respectively'. Robert Swan, father of our subject, was a native of South Carolina, 
born in 1799. During his early life, he followed the i)rofession of teaching, but at 
the age of eighteen moved to Tennessee; was there married, and remained about 
five years, wiien he removed to Ohio, and was there two years. About 1H2."), he 
removed to Montgomery County, Ind., where he farmed in the summer and taught 
.school in the winter. In 1838, he went to Iowa, where he is supposed to have l)een 
killed b}' the Indians, as no tidings of him have ever reached his family. He was 
Captain of a militia company in the Black Hawk war. At eighteen, John W. Swan 
began teaching in the district schools, and until IstiS followed teaching in connec- 
tion with farming; since then he has given his entire attention to the latter. In 
1856, he came to Union Township. Benton ('o., Ind.. where he bought 160 acres of 
land, to which he has since added 400 acres, making a farm of r)60 acres of well- 
improved land. Mr. Swan was married, August 17, 1S.")2, to Ann C. McCollough, a 
native of Jefferson Count}'. Si.\ children, four of whom are living, have blessed 
this union. He is a Greenbacker. and he and wife are members of the Disciples' 
Church. 

HENRY TIMMONS was born March 13, 1837, in Ross County, Ohio, and is 
one of nine children born to .Joseph and Nelly (Bailey) Timmons. When two years 
of age, he came to Warren County, Ind., and from the ;xge of thirteen until he was 
twenty-three worked on th'e farm by the month. In 18(51, he came to Union Town- 
ship and settled on eighty acres, previously purclnised by his father, and to this he 
has added 120, making a total of 200 acres of well-improved land. September 11, 
1861, ;Mr. Timmons enlisted in Company G, Tenth Indiana Volunteer InJ, 
fantry, and served until mustered out September 19, 1864, having participated a] 
Mill Springs and other important engagements. He is a member of Green Hil 
Lodge, No. 4r),5, A., F. 6c A. M., and a Reputdican, and was Trustee of I'nion Town- 
ship for si.x years. Mr. Timmons was married November 20. 1S66, to >Iaria Mas.sey, 
a native of 'fippecanoe County, Ind. Eight cliildren have resulted fron> this union, 
five of whom are living. Both himself and wife are memiters of the United Breth- 
ren Church. Joseph Timmons, father pf Ilenrv, was a native of Maryland, and 
removed to Ross County, Ohio, with his father's family, wiien two years of age. 
In early life, he was a surveyor, and in 1S;U moved to Warren County, Ind., but 
remained oidv two years, when he returned to Ross (Jounty, Ohio. In I^<39, lie 
returned to Warren (bounty, Ind., remained until 1852. and thence c;ime to Benton 
County, Ind., and settled in Gilboa Township. After si.x years, he returned to W.ir- 
ren County, where he died in Novemlier, IS67. He wis for vears .lustice of the 
Peace, for (dghteen years an ordaincfl Eider in the Uniteil Brethren (.'hurch. and 
was a thorough Biblical scholar. 

J.VMES E. WATT, a native of "Boniue Scotland," was l)orn in Aberdeenshire 
October 22, 1830, and is one of si.x children born to Alexander and Christina (Elms- 
lie) Watt, both natives of Scotland. Alexander Watt was l)orn in 1792, received a 



404 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: , 

collet^iate education, aud i^raduated from Aberdeen. He was Corporal in a British 
regiment at Waterloo, but after his return from the army was engaged in farming 
in connection with a boot, shoe and harness shop. Mr. and Mrs. Watt were mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, and he died in 1846. James E. Watt received a 
practical education, and has followed farming. He lived with his parents until his 
majority, after which he came to Richland County, Ohio, remained one winter, and 
thence went to South Bend, made brick for a season, and, at the end of the year, 
went to La Salle County, 111., where he worked three years by the month. After 
this, he rented and worked farms for four years, and nine years later came to Union 
Township, this county, soon after going to Kentland and remaining several years. 
In 1880, he came again to Union Township, wiiere he bought a farm of 240 acres, 
and here he resides. Mr. Watt was married, April 13, 1859, to Lydia Hagenbuch, a 
native of Pennsylvania, by whom he is the father of fourteen children, eleven of 
whom are living. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

ABRAHAM W. WILLIAMS, a prominent resident of Union Township, was 
born February 7, 1836, in Licking County, Ohio, and is one of eight children born 
to Pliilip and Nancy J. (Graves) Williams, the former of Welsh and the latter of 
English descent. Philip Williams was a native of Virginia, and learned distilling, 
•which he followed several years, after which he gave attention to farming. He 
died in Licking County, Ohio, in April, 1843. Abraham W. Williams, when sev- 
enteen years of age, left home and went to work by the month. In 1861, he went 
to Wayne County, Iowa, and was there engaged in farming until 1866. After the 
war, he went to Union County, Ohio, where he remained about four years, being 
agent for the C, C, C. & I. R. R., at Union ville. Later he went to Goodland, New- 
ton Co., Ind., and bought property and remained until 1869, when he came to the 
farm of 160 acres owned by him in Union Township, Benton County. Upon this 
he resides, and has erected a good house. Novemlter 14, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany H, Fifth Kansas Cavalry; was mustered in at Fort Leavenworth, and served 
mostly in Arkansas until mustered out December 8, 1869. Mr. Williams and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of Goodland 
Post, G. A. R., and a Republican. He was married, March 15, 1865, to Sarah J. 
Hawu, of Union Countv, Ohio. Six children have blessed this union. 

JOHN WOODBURN, farmer, was born August 8, 1848, in Perry County, Penn., 
and is one of the eleven children of James and Mary (Wait) Woodburn, of Irish and 
English descent respectively. James Woodburn was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
a farmer. In 1853, he emigrated to Miami County, Ind., where he bought a farm 
and lived until about 1873, when he removed to Union Township, Benton County, 
and purchased a farm of forty acres, where he still resides; he and wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John Woodburn received a practical edu- 
cation, and at the age of sixteen left his father's family and came to Benton Coun- 
ty in 1866, where he worked on farms by the month for four years. After this he 
bought a farm in Richland Township, which he soon sold, and afterward purchased 
the one owned by Charles Meader, after which he bought forty acres in Section 27. 
In 1881, he purchased 160 acres, eighty of which he still owns. Mr. Woodburn en- 
listed in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Jan- 
uary 19, 1865, and served until mustered out in September, 1865. He is a Repub- 
lican and a member of Post No. 25, G. A. R. 

WILLIAM YANCEY, farmer, was born May 31, 1830, in Tennessee, and is one 
of twelve children born to Alexander and Elizabeth Yancey, the former of French- 
Irish and the latter of Scotch and Irish descent. Alexander Yancey was a native of 
South Carolina, and learned the millwright trade, following that until he came to 
Indiana. At the age of sixteen, he moved to Tennessee, and remained there until 
1844, when he removed to Hamilton County, Ind., where he remained until 1858, 
and then went to Missouri, where he resides. He served in the Union army during 
the rebellion, from 1863 until 1865, and took part in many important battles. Will- 
iam Yancey followed farming, with the exception of working at the carpenter trade 
at times, all his life. At the age of ten he removed with his father's family to 
Hamilton County, Ind., where he remained until he was twenty-eight years of age, 
when he went to Tippecanoe County, and was there one year. In the spring of 
1859, he came to Benton County, and located a short distance north of Oxford. In 
1871, he removed to Union Township and purchased a farm of 160 acres, upon which 
he still resides. He has the remarkable experience of running a threshing machine 
for twenty-six falls. Mr. Yancey was married, November 19, 1855, to Maria Wone- 
settler, a native of Pennsylvania, and eight children have blessed this union, seven 
of whom are living. 



GILBOA TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 405 



GILBOA TOWNSHIP. 

H. C. BUGBEE is the son of Amos and Sarali (Spaldinir) Biigbee, and was born 
in Plainlicld, N. H., in lH4i. When al)i)Ut twenty-one years of age, he enlisted in 
the Ninth New Hampshire Vohinteer Infantry, and servi-d until 180,"), when he was 
honorably discharged at Washington, I). C. In IHU!, he moved to Bereau County, 
111.; farmed during the summer and taught .school during the winter until 1869, 
when he came to this township and settled on a farm of eighty acres, which he has 
greatly improved. In 1870, he married Julia A., daughter of William and D( lilah 
(Cox) Daniels, and is now the father of five boj-s. In i«8L), he was elected Township 
Trustee by the Republicans, and in 18S2 reelected. Both he and wife are members 
of the Baptist Church. 

ALONZOCOWGILL. son of I.srael and Elizabeth (Donnelly) Cowgill, was born 
in Columbiana County, Ohio, November 20, 1^40. He came to Warren County, 
Ind., in 1846, and in 1H56 to Pine Township, this county. In 1861, he enlisted in 
Company D, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being the second man to enroll in 
that company. At the battle of Chickamauga, Septeml)er 19, 1863, he was shot 
through botli legs, and in 1H64 received his discharge. In i860, he married Miss 
Mary A., daughter of William and Malinda (Pucket) Massej-, and to this marriage 
have been born six children, of whom four are living. Mr. Cowgill was elected Sher- 
iff of Benton County by the Republicans in 1866, and served two terms. He also 
moved to Oxford in 1866 and in 1870, purchased the Tribune, which he conducted 
until July, 1876; in 1H70, also, he was appointed Postmaster at Oxford, which office 
he resigned in 1872, when a candidate as joint Representative for White and Benton 
Counties, for which office he was beaten by Robert Gregory with a majority of only 
sixty votes in both counties. Mr. Cowgill is a Past Grand of Oxford Lodge, No. 
169, I. O. O. F., Past Chief Patriarch of Oak Grove Encampment, No. 137, was for 
many years connected with the Good Templars of Oxford, and he and wife are mem 
bers 01 the Christian Church. In 1881, he settled on forty acres in this township, 
and in 1883 his house and library were destroyed by fire, entailing upon him a loss 
of $1,200. 

PHILLIP V. DOBBINS is a native of White County. Ind., is the son of Will- 
iam and Elizabeth (Leatherman) Dobbins, and was born in 1853. He was reared a 
farmer, received a fair education in youth, and worked industriously until 1874, 
when he married, in his native county, ]\Iiss Sarah Steely, a daughter of Ed- 
ward and Martha (Brink) Steel}', and then move<I to this county, where he is still 
engaged in general farming. He is a Republic.in in politics,is always active for the 
success of his party, and is a thoroughly good citizen. 

JAMES ERASER, son of Donald and Elizal)elh (Mcintosh) Fra.scr. was born 
in the parish of Blair-Athol, Perthshire, Scolland. September 4, 1813. At the age 
of about fifteen, he hired out as a farm hand, receiving about 25 cents per day for 
his labor for nearly twenty-six years— the higlie-;t price paid. In 1854, he came; to 
Canada to superintend a farm for a friend; in 1H56, lie moved to New York, wliere 
he was employed in farming until 1H71, when he came to this coimty and .setthid on 
eighty acres he bad purchased in ISdi); lie has taken i^reat pains in improving his 
place, and has a fine orchard of all kinds of fruit. June 2!), 1846, he married Sarah 
Robison, daughter of Donald and Jane (Cami)bell) Roltison, and ti) this union liave 
been born five children, of whom three are living — Jane C. who was born in Scot- 
land in 1^47; Daniel, a member of the Fowler bar, who was born in Canada in 
1855; and (Miarles William, who is at home, and was Itorn in New York in 1858. 
Mr. and Mrs. Eraser are members of the Methodist Epi.scopal Church, and of the 
Blood-Washed Army, and are highly respected citizens. 

LLX'AS S. GARVIN was born in Kosciusko County, Ind.. October 25. 1M36, 
and is the .son of James and Prudence (Powell) (iarvin. In 1H61, he moved to Mich- 
igan, but returned in ISIiil, aiid in 11^73 came to this township and purchased a fiirm 
of 220 acres, known as the Denton (Jrove Farm, one of the oldest in the county, 
where he is still carrying on general farming and stock-raising. Maj' 29, IHC.O. he 
married Jane Dennj', (laughter of James and Amy (Jackson) Denny, and to this 
union have been born five children — four lioys and one girl. Mr. and Mrs. (iarvin 
are members of the Baptist Church, and during his .sojourn in Michigan Mr. (iiiivin 
was elected Treasurer of Home Township, Montcalm County, which position he 
filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the community. 



406 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

DANIEL HAUK, son of Philip and Sarah (Baldwin) Hank, was born in the 
town of Venice, Butler Co., Ohio, in 1833. In 1839, he was removed by his parents 
to Montgomery County, Ind., where he assisted on the home farm until 1859, when 
he married Miss Missouri Tracy, daughter of Bazil and Elizabeth Trac}', and in 
1860 came to this township, purchased 120 acres of good land, erected substantial 
buildings, and began general farming and stock-raising, which he still follows. In 
politics, he is a Democrat, and takes an active part in the public affairs of his town- 
ship. He and wife are members of the Church of God, Mr. H. liaving joined at the 
age of eighteen, and they are the parents of one sou and two daughters. 

WILLIAM HOWARD is a native of England, is the son of George and Anna 
(Cumpton) Howard, and was born November 19, 1837. In 1843, he came to New 
York with his parents, who there died when our subject was Ijut thirteen years old. 
He learned carpentering, and in 1857 moved to Kendallville, Ind., where he followed 
his trade until 1870, when he purchssed 160 acres in this county, and a year later 
moved upon the same; he has since increased his farm to 240 acres, and is engaged, 
in general farming and stock-raising, giving special attention to hogs, of which he 
possesses some choice breeds. He uses steamed food for his stock, saving about 33 per 
cent in consumption. In 1858, he married Sophia Vereland, a daughter of Rufus 
and Jane (Moore) Vereland, and is the father of four boys and one girl. In 1880, 
Mr. Howard had the misfortune to lose his right hand in a corn-sheller, but other- 
wise he enjoys excellent health. He is a Republican, and he and family are among 
the most respected of Gilboa Township. 

E A. HUNT was born in Litchfield County, Conn., August 11, 1828, and is the 
son of Mitchell and Mary (Kingsbury) Hunt. He received a good education in his 
youth, and at the age of si.xteen began to learn tanning and currying, which he 
followed until 1849, when he went to New Haven, worked on a farm until 1857, and 
then moved to Illinois, where he farmed until 1874, when he came to this township, 
where he owns a good farm of 160 acres, and is engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising. His dwelling and other improvements are first-class, and his two 
barns are supplied with Church's patent hay elevator and carrier, for which he is 
the agent in Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton Coimties. In 1855, he married 
Lydia A. Hemingway, a resident of New Haven County, Conn. Both are members 
of the Baptist Church, and are highly respected by their neighbors. The mother of 
Mr. Hunt died in 1835 and his father in 1869. 

ROBERT LITTLE, son of Guy and Jennetta (Dickson) Little, was born in 
Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 10. 1817. When about twelve years of age, he began 
to learn weaving, at which he worked until 1835, when he came to America, landing 
in New York. He passed eight months in Canada, then returned to New York, but 
shortly after moved to Pennsylvania, where, in 1839, he married Jane Brine, a 
native of the North of Ireland. He engaged in weaving and farming until 1855, in 
which year his fatlier died in Canada, when he moved to Illinois, purchased a farm 
and conducted it until 1871 ; he then came to this township, where he owns 160 acres 
of fine land on Section 13, well stocked and furnished with good buildings and all 
kinds of fruit. He had born to him seven children — Jane, born in 1840; Robert, in 
1842; James, in 1843; Guy, in 1845; Mary, in 1847: Anna, in 1849, and AVilliara 
.John in 1852, and all in Pennsylvania excepting Mary, who was born in New 
Jersey. Mr. Little is a successful farmer, and stands high in the esteem of his fellow- 
citizens. 

GEORGE MAJOR, son of Thomas and Catherine (Green) Major, was born in 
Hamilton County, Ohio, September 18, 1819, and there received his earlier education. 
In 1831, his parents removed to Clinton Count3^ Ind., where George assisted on the 
home farm until 1864, wiien he moved to Jasper .County, and thence, in 1878, to this 
county. He here owns 410 acres under a high state of cultivation, Mr. Major being 
one of the most successful agriculturists in the count3^ From 1874 to 1882, he 
served as senator from White, Benton, Jasper and Newton Counties, and he had 
also served three years as Commissioner of Jasper County. In 1888. he was 
appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern Indiana State Prison, 
of which board he is the president. In 1850, he married Julia A. Snoddy, a resident 
of Tippecanoe County, Ind., and by her is the father of seven children. Mr. and 
Mrs. Major are members of the Presbyterian Church, and stand high in the regard 
of their neighbors. 

WILLIAM H. MARQUESS, son of James and Margaretta (Berry) Marquess, 
was born in Fountain County, Ind., October 6, 1841, and was reared a farmer. In 
1875, he came to this township, purchased 273 acres, erected a fine house and farm 
buildings, and became a sut-eessful farmer and largely interested in stock-raising. 
In August, 1802, he enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but 
was discharged on account of ill health in "January, 1863. In August, 1865, he mar- 
ried Marj', daughter of Simon and Nancy (Reed) Brown, and to this union have 



GILBOA TOWNSHIP— BENTON COUNTY. 407 

been born four boys and two girls. Mr. Marquess is a member of Remington 
Lodffe, No. 3.-)l, A. F. & A. M., ami of Benton Post, No. 25, G. A. R. In 1882, he 
received the unanimous vote of his fellow-citizens for the office of Township 
Assessor. 

Q. G. PLUMMER, son of Pliilip and Maria (Waters) Pluminer, was born in 
Knox County. Ohio. April 21. 1S42. In 1S()3, he enlisted in the Thirty-second Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, was in the Atlanta carapaiun, with Sherman on his march to 
the sea, and at the surrender of Johnston in 1805. On his return, he prepared him- 
self for teachin•,^ and in ISOS located in Wliite County, Ind., where he taught until 
1881, and then came to this count}', where he is engaged in the same vocation. In 
1868, he married Phebe A. T. Bouklen, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (McClure) 
Boulden, and to this union have been born four children, of whom two are still liv- 
ing. Mr. Plummer is a meml)er of tiie S. R. S. Wolcott Lodge, No. 2, and his wife 
is a member of the Methodist Eoiscopal Church. 

JAMES S. SHIPMAN, son of James and Mary (Wine) Sliipman, was born in 
Fountain County. Ind.», April 11, 183G. He first moved to Montgomery County, and 
six years later to Cass County; in 1849 he went to Iowa and in 1856 returned to 
Montgomery County; four years later he took up his residence in this township, 
where he owns forty acres of good land finely improved. He learned carpentering 
in his younger days and still occasionally worivs at tiie trade. In 1863, he married 
Miss M. E. Merrill, of Montgomery County, Ind., and of the children born to him 
there are four living and two deceased. He has served as Road Commissioner of 
Gilboa Township, and is a highly respected citizen. 

SAMUEL STANFIELD, son of John and Catherine (Cox) Stanfield, was born 
in Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1831. and was engaged on the home farm until I860, 
when he came to this township and purciiased a farm of eighty acres. This farm is 
highly cultivated and devoted to general crops and to stock-raising. At the house, 
there is a well 204 feet deep, with a wind pump, that supplies an adundance of wa- 
ter for the stock and for general jiurposes. Mr. Stanfield served for one hundred 
days in the One hundred and Thirty fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. On his re- 
turn, he was married, in 1870, to Mary II., daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Laugh- 
lin. Mr. Stanfield takes an active interest in politics and is a highly respected citi- 
zen. 




PART lY. 

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY 



BY J. H. BATTLE. 



FORMATION OF COUNTY. 

DURING the session of the Legislature of 1834-35, the question of 
the disposition of unorganized area of the Northwest Territory came 
up, and after some discussion and investigation, an act was passed form- 
ing the counties of Jasper, Newton, Pulaski, Starke, Marshall, Fulton, 
Adams, Wells, Whitley, DeKalb, Noble, Kosciusko, Steuben and Jay, 
of which the following is in relation to Jasper and Newton : 

Section 12. That all the territory within the following boundary shall con- 
stitute a county, to be known by the name of Jasper : Beginning at the southeast 
corner of Section 33, Township 24 north, Range 6 west, thence west to the line of the 
State of Illinois, thence north with the State line thirty miles, thence east with the liae 
dividing Townships 28 and 29 north, to the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 
28 north. Range 6 west, thence south with the section line thirty miles to the place 
of beginning. 

Sec 13. That all the territory within the following boundary shall constitute 
a county to be known by the name of Newton : Beginning at the southeast corner 
of Township 29 nortli. Range 5 west, thence west to the State line, thence north 
with the State line thirty miles, thence east with the line dividing Townships 33 and 
34 north, to the northeast corner of Township 33, Range 5 west, thence south with 
the range line thirty miles to the place of beginning. 

By these boundaries, it will be observed that the original county of 
Jasper included the whole of Benton County, the present townships of 
Carpenter, Jordan, and so much of Marion and Newton Townships south 
of the line dividing Townships 28 and 29 north, together with the town- 
ships of Grant, Iroquois, Jefferson and Washington, in the present limits 
of Newton County. Newton County at that time included all of the 
present counties of Jasper and Newton north of this line, the townships 
of West Creek, Cedar Creek and Eagle Creek, of Lake County, and 
Boone and Pleasant Townships of Porter County. In 1836, Porter 
County was organized, and the year following Lake County, each of which 
took all the territory north of the Kankakee River, In 1838, Jasper, 
which had been attached to White County, was organized as an independ- 
ent county, Newton County being attached, for some purposes, to Jasper, 



410 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

and for others, subject to White. In the following year, however, the 
Legislature passed " An act relative to the location of the county seat of 
Jasper, and for other purposes," as follows : 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, 
That George A. Spencer and Jacob Meyers, of White, and Solomon Hatfield, of 
Fountain, and Samuel H. Garrison, of Warren, and William Simms, of Tippecanoe 
Counties be, and the same are, hereby appointed Commissioners, agreeably to an act 
entitled, "An act fixing the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter laid off." 
The Commissioners, aforesaid, shall meet at the house of Robert Alexander, of Jas- 
per County, on the first Monday of June next, and immediately proceed to discharge 
the duties hereafter assigned them. 

Sec. 2. And it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Jasper County, either in per- 
son or writing, to inform said Commissioners of their appointment on or before the 
first Monday of May next, and for .such services shall be entitled to such compen- 
sation as the law requires. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners, in addition to the duties as- 
signed them by the act to which this has reference, to examine the counties of Jas- 
per and Newton, with a view of their being consolidated, and if, after examination, 
the Commissioners are satisfied that the interests of the two counties would be pro- 
moted by the union of the same, they are hereby authorized to fix the seat of jus- 
tice in said enlarged territory, taking into view the peculiar situation of said terri- 
tory in regard to prairie, timber, water-privileges, and the known wishes of the citi- 
zens of different parts of Jasper County being attached to other counties ; and the 
seat of justice, if consolidated, shall be called Newton. 

Sec. 4. If, after examination, the Commissioners shall be of opinion that 
either county would be injured by the consolidation, they shall proceed to fix the 
county seat as provided by law, in Jasper County, agreeably to its present bound 
aries. 

Sec. 5. If, after examination, they shall be of opinion that the interests of the two 
counties would be promoted by the union of the same, from thenceforth the terri 
tory known by the name of Jasper and Newton Counties shall be known as Jasper 
County. This act to be in force from and after its passage. 

Approved January 29, 1839. 

The Commissioners thus appointed found the plan of consolidating 
the two counties advisable, and accordingly located the county seat at 
the falls of the Iroquois River, with the name of Newton, thus striking 
the county of that name from the map of the State. In 1840, the county 
of Benton was formed, taking its territory from Jasper, the latter re- 
ceiving by way of compensation thirty sections adjoining the southeast 
angle, and now principally contained in Milroy Township. In 1859, 
however, Newton County was revived, though shorn of much of its early 
dimensions, leaving Jasper in its present shape. 

Origin of Name. — The names of most of the counties of the State 
are suggestive of the Revolution. The period when most of them were 
designated was so near to those heroic times, that no memorial to the 
virtues of its heroes seemed so appropriate as the political divisions which 
owed their existence to their achievements. The name of Jasper is a 
tribute to that heroic devotion which Americans are glad to honor in the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 411 

subordinate as well as in the chieftain. Among the garrison of Fort 
Moultrie, in Charleston, S. C, Harbor on the 28th of June, 1776, was a 
Sergeant by the name of Jasper. It was on this day that the British 
fleet, which had occupied the harbor, opened the attack upon the 
fort with such a heavy and well-directed fire as to cause the observing 
patriots on the shore to tremble for the outcome of the conflict. Once 
during the day, as the smoke from a terrific cannonading cleared away, 
the flag of the fort was nowhere to be seen. The shot of the fleet had 
carried it away, and the anxious spectators, with sinking hearts, feared 
the fort had struck its flag to the foe. But the ensign had not fallen 
willingly nor unnoticed. In face of the storm of shot and shell that fell 
upon the garrison, Sergt. Jasper rescued the flag, and in a perfect hail- 
storm of bullets, nailed it to the broken stafl". At night the fleet quietly 
left the harbor, with the fort unsubdued. Jasper was made the hero of 
the occasion, the delighted citizens of Charleston uniting to do him honor. 
The ladies presented him with a beautiful flag, which he pledged himself 
to defend with his life, and true to his word he was found later in the 
war dead upon the field of battle, clinging to his and his country's flag. 
Sucli is the hero which this county honors. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES AND GEOLOGY.* 
Jasper County is just north of the hydrographic basin of the Wabash. 
The southwestern half is a gently rolling prairie of black loamy soil. In 
the northern and northeastern portions, the soil is sandy, with oak open- 
ings and slashy prairies interspersed with sandy knolls and ridges, and 
is in a wild state of nature, scarcely disturbed by the hand of man. The 
whole country is underlaid by beds of bowlder drift, which varies in 
depth from twenty feet in the valley of the Iroquois River to nearly two 
hundred feet at some of the higher ridges. 

The rocky exposures of this county are wholly of the Devonian and 
Silurian ages. Considerable fragments of black slate and small bits of 
coal are met with in digging wells in the bowlder clays, which indicate 
that the subcarboniferous sandstome, and possibly the outline of the car- 
boniferous age, at one time, extended beyond this county to the north, 
but were eroded during the great ice flow from the northwest. The fol- 
lowing connected section made from observations of isolated localties will 
serve to give a general idea of the rocks of this county ; 

Soil and loam, 2 to 5 feet ; bowlder drift, 20 to 200 feet ; " Waverly " or 
Knob sandstone, 15 feet; Louisville-Delphi black slate, 62 feet; coarse, 
white sand rock (local), to lo feet; Devonian limestone, 2 to 5 feet; 
Silurian limestone (exposed), 8 feet; Silurian limestone, porous, with cav- 
ities filled with petroleum and gas (inbore), 855; total, 1,162. 

• Coiupiled from the State Ueport of 187'J. 



412 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

The highest rocks in the geological series occur near the southern 
boundary of the county, a short distance north of Remington. They are 
an argillaceous sandstone, having an exposure of about twelve feet in 
Jordan's Grove, on Carpenter's Creek. It is the lower division of the 
Waverly or Kent sandstone, sometimes considered a member of the Devo- 
nian ; it is better known as the sub-conglomerate sandstone. In former 
years, this stone was quarried for local use in foundations, but is not now 
in work. At the only exposure, it was irregularly bedded, and from the 
fragments visible would not compare favorably with other stone in the 
the county. A short distance further north, on Carpenter's Creek, the 
Louisville-Delphi black slate is seen in the bluff underlying the above- 
mentioned sandstone. The exposure measures twenty-three feet, is 
slightly glazed with bituminous matter, and the odor of petroleum is per- 
ceptible. During the oil excitement a bore was here put down, and the 
slate was found to extend forty feet below the surface, making the total 
thickness sixty-three feet. It is probable that the erosive force of the 
bowlder drift had thinned this bed not less than thirty feet. About four 
miles west, at Allen's quarry, on a branch of Carpenter's Creek, a 
thin bed of limestone has been extensively worked for building purposes. 
Several dwelling houses and barns of this material give a pleasing variety 
to the architecture. The stone seems to weather well. 

At Rensselaer, the Iroquois River flows over a bed of limestone. A 
few corals and other fragmentary fossils show that it belongs to the Upper 
Silurian age. This limestone is here cherty, and neither fit for burning 
into lime nor for building purposes. A short distance below the town it 
is purer, and has been burned to lime to supply the local market. Above 
the town, near the old mill dam, thin beds of limestone of the Devonian 
age are seen in the low banks of the river. This bed is the only rocky 
exposure seen on the Iroquois in Jasper County. It is an original ridge 
of deposit, having a line of strike from north-northeast to south- southeast, 
and from surface indications veering to the northeast a few milea north 
from Rensselaer. A new exposure in the western part of the town still 
records the mighty effects of the great ice flow which resulted in the 
bowlder drift. The surface is rutted and polished, while the scratches 
show that the direction of the current was a little west of south. Three 
miles southeast of the town is the Phillip's sand rock quarry. It is a 
coarse grit, containing a few pebbles, and is very similar to the con- 
glomerate sand rock. It has been used for building and other purposes at 
Rensselaer with good results. Being in a considerable degree fire as well 
as weather proof, it is an important part of the material resources of the 
county. 

A reliable bed of gravel, of about twenty-five acres in area, is located 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 413 

on Section 16, Township 29 north, Range 6 west, a few miles north of 
the town, and another bed of about two acres was seen on the opposite 
side of the creek. These, together with the abundant limestones about 
the county seat, afford ample facilities for the construction of gravel 
roads. 

ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY. 

Bog ores of iron are abundant in the northern part of the county. 
The area of deposit, after careful examination, is estimated as follows: 
Township 30 north. Range 7, 700 acres; Township 30 north. Range 6, 
500 acres; Township 30 north. Range 5, 500 acres; Township 31 north, 
Range 6, 1,500 acres; Township 31 north. Range 7, 500 acres; Town- 
ship 32 north, Range 5, 1,000 acres; Township 32 north. Range 6, 500 
acres; Township 32 north. Range 7, 500 acres. 

Many other beds of smaller area are known to exist. These ores are 
collected in a soluble state by the waters of sloughs and ponds, in the 
center or lower part of which they are found in comparatively pure 
layers, deposited as the waters are evaporated in dry seasons. The beds 
are generally from one to two and a half feet below the surface of the 
ground, and from five to six inches thick, though it is reported, in some 
places, to be two to two and a half feet thick. In 1870, 1,600 tons of 
this ore, taken partly from Jasper and partly from Starke County, were 
shipped from San Pierre Station, on the Louisville, New Albany & Chi- 
cago Railroad. The ore was taken to the Planet Furnace in Clay County, 
but the high rate of freight imposed by the railroad caused the business 
to be abandoned. The ore is pure, and makes, by admixture with the 
rich ores of Lake Superior, a very desirable quality of metal; and with 
practicable freights large quantities of the ore would be in demand. 

A number of mineral springs are found near Rensselaer, the waters 
of which experience has determined to be highly medicinal. Among 
them are some white sulphur springs, which, in a malarious climate are 
worthy of attention. Half a mile east of the county seat, a well that 
was bored to the depth of 800 feet discharges a large volume of sulphu- 
reted water. This well is supplied from a crevice about 180 feet below 
the surface. Another well in the corner of the court house yard, that 
was bored with a "diamond drill," furnishes a supply of water near the 
surface. 

It has long been known that Jasper County affords abundant evi- 
dences of the presence of petroleum. In the geological map of Indiana, 
published by Dr. Brown, former State Geologist, this county was included 
in a small area marked " the oil region." At low water, oil oozes from 
crevices and partings in the limestone rocks at Rensselaer; and from a 
well sunk to the depth of fifteen feot in this rock, several gallons of 



414 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

oil were obtained, and large lumps of bitumen (desiccated petroleum) were 
found in the excavations made for the railroad track a few miles east of 
town, some of which were hardened into asphaltum. These evidences of 
its presence induced search for the oil, and several bores were put down. 
The bores at the county seat determined the existence of a bed of porous 
lime rock from eighteen to thirty feet thick, just below the thin bedded 
limestone which underlies the black slate. None of these wells yielded 
any appreciable quantity of oil, and it is not probable that a paying 
quantity will be obtained, as the fluid is so diffused in the small pores of 
the rock as to render its collection very difficult. Small quantities of in- 
flammable gas escape from each of these bores, and also from many natural 
fissures. 

MATERIAL RESOURCES.- 

The divide which separates the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers, is a 
succession of low ridges of pure yellow or white sand, interspersed with 
swampy valleys from one hundred to four hundred yards in width, indi- 
cating ancient river channels. These numerous river beds show the ex- 
tent of the region traversed by the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers before 
finding a fixed channel, when "old Lake Kankakee" was first drained 
oflF. The soil in these valleys is peaty, and of no very great depth, and 
is underlaid by a deposit of white sand. A narrow strip of deep, rich, 
alluvial soil, from one to two miles in width, along the southern margin 
of the Kankakee, is well timbered and highly productive. Groves and 
skirts of timber are found along the water-courses, which have been 
found sufficient to supply the demand for all purposes. This timber con- 
sists principally of white oak and hickory, and on fair soil, burr oak. 

CHANGES IN TOPOGRAPHY. 
Cultivation has wrought marked changes in this country during the 
fifty years which the white man has possessed the land. What appeared 
to the early settlers a dead level expanse of prairie and swamp, is now a 
pleasant rolling area of thrifty farms. This transformation has been 
brought about not by physical changes, but by the natural eff'ects of the 
farmer's occupation. The open land was originally covered with a rank 
growth of prairie grass ; on the high lands the grass did not reach its 
normal height, while on the lower lands its growth was of astonishing 
proportions, frequently reaching a height which would hide a man on 
horseback, and thus would tend to create the illusion of a perfectly level 
plain. In the timber lands the change has been still more marked. The 
dense forests of young growth, underbrush and saplings, did not exist 
fifty years ago. Then the timber, save along the rivers, was marked only 
by scattered oaks and hickories, which favoring localities preserved 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 415 

from the annual fires that swept the prairies. These were started by ac- 
cident from the fires of hunters, or by.the Indians, for the purpose of 
keeping the timber in check, and clearing the country of the rank grass 
stubble. These fires that kept the beautiful panorama of prairie unob- 
structed, were the most to be dreaded of all the early contingencies with 
which settlers had to deal. Those only who have been awakened at the 
dead hour of the night by the lurid light of the approaching flames can 
appreciate the horror connected with such an event. The feeling of utter 
helplessness, in face of the unequal combat ; the wall of fire, from ten 
to fifty feet in height, advancing with the speed of a race-horse ; the 
winged denizens of the prairie flying affrighted and screaming before its 
approach ; the maddened rush of the deer, wolves and other animals, for- 
getting all other fear in the presence of this overshadowing calamity ; the 
terrible grandeur of its irresistible advance ; the suffocation and heat of 
its jfresence ; the charred and blackened waste which marked its fateful 
course ; the bewilderment of the isolated family grouped on the only bare 
spot that off"ered safety ; all this cannot be imagined, it must be felt to 
be appreciated. The excitement of its approach, passage and retreat, 
followed by the contemplation of the smoking ruins of a house and im- 
provements which cost months of toil, or of a crop that was the only hope 
of sustenance during the approaching winter, burns upon the brain of an 
interested spectator, a sight never to be forgotten, and one the farmer 
took pains never to see repeated. 

PRAIRIE FIRES. 

From the time the grass would burn, which was soon after the first 
frost, usually about the Ist of October, till the surrounding prairie was 
all burnt over, or, if not all burnt, till the green grass in the spring had 
grown sufficient to prevent the rapid progress of the fire, the early set- 
tlers were continually on the watch, and as they usually expressed the 
idea, "slept with one eye open." When the ground was covered with 
snow, or during rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and both 
eyes could be safely closed. A statute law forbade setting the prairie on 
fire, and one doing so was subject to penalty, and liable to an action of tres- 
pass, for the damage accruing ; but convictions were seldom eff'ected, 
as proof was difficult to obtain, though there were frequent fires. Those 
started on the leeward side of an improvement, while dangerous to prop- 
erty to the leeward, were not so to property to the windward, as fire 
progressing against the wind is easily extinguished, and the temptation 
to start one of these fires for some trivial purpose was often quite irresisti- 
ble. 

Various means were resorted to for protection. A common one was 



416 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

to plow several furrows around a strip, several rods wide, outside the im- 
provements, and then burn out the inside of this strip, or to wait until 
the prairie was on fire and then set fire outside of this furrowing, reserv- 
ing the inner strip for a late burn, i. e., until the following summer, and 
in July burn both old grass and new. The grass would start afresh imme- 
diately, and the cattle would feed it close in preference to the older grass, 
80 that the fire would not pass over it in the following autumn. This 
process repeated would soon, or in a few years, run out the prairie grass, 
which in time would be replaced by blue-gras^, which will not burn to 
any serious extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd 
of business on the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no 
conception, would prevent him doing what would now seem a small 
matter ; and even when accomplished, all such precautions often proved 
futile. A prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap such bar- 
riers and seem to put human effort at defiance. 

A prairie fire when first started, goes straight forward with a veloc- 
ity proportioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the 
center keeping ahead ; it spreads sideways, but burning laterally, it 
makes but comparatively slow progress, and if the wind is moderate and 
steady, this spreading fire is not difficult to manage; but if the wind 
veers a point or two, first one way and then the other, it sends this 
side fire beyond control. The head fire in dry grass and a head wind is 
a fearful thing, and pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some 
defensible point to meet it. A contest with such a fire requires such 
skill and tact as can be learned only by experience, and a neighborhood 
of settlers called out by such an exigency at once put themselves under 
the direction of the oldest and most experienced of their number, and 
go to work with the alacrity and energy of men defending their homes 
and property from destruction. 

The usual way of meeting advancing fires was to begin the defense 
where the head of the fire would strike, which was calculated by the 
smoke and ashes brought by the wind along in advance of fire. A road, 
cattle-path, or furrow is of great value at such a place ; if there was no 
such, a strip of the grass was wetted down if water could be procured, 
which was, however, a rather scarce article at the time of the annual fire. 
On the side, nearest the coming fire, of such a road or path, the grass is 
set on fire, which burns slowly against the wind until it meets the coming 
conflagration, which latter stops, of course, for want of fuel, provided 
there has been sufficient time to burn over a strip that cannot be leaped 
by the head fire as it comes in. This is called " back-firing ; " but in this 
method, great care must be exercised to prevent the fire getting over the 
furrow or path, or whatever is used as the base of operations. If it gets in 





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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 419 

the rear of this and once under way, there is no remedy but to fall back 
to a more defensible position. The head of the fire successfully checked, 
the force of fire-fighters divide, part going to the right and part to the 
left, and the back-firing continues to meet the side fires as they come up. 
This must be continues until the fire is checked along the entire front of 
the premises endangered, and the sides secured. 

Various implements were used to put out a side or back fire, or even 
the head of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence board, four to six feet 
long, with one end shaved down for a handle, was very effective when 
struck flat upon the narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel brush, a 
spade or shovel were often used with eff"ect. The women frequently lent 
their aid, and dextrously wielded the mop, which, when thoroughly wet, 
proved a very efficient weapon, especially in extuinguishing a fire in the 
fence. When the fire overcame all opposition, and seemed bound to sweep 
over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze for the moment 
every faculty, and as soon as the danger seemed imminent, united effort 
ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he could. It is 
due to historical truth to say that actual losses were much less than 
might have been expected, though frequently quite severe. The physical 
efforts made in extinguishing a dangerous fire, and protecting one's home 
from this devouring element, were of the most trying nature, not unfre- 
quently resulting fatally. 

The premises about the residence and yards being trampled down 
by the family and domestic animals, after a year or two became tolerably 
safe from fire, but the fences, corn and stubble fields were often attacked. 
When the open land was all fenced and under cultivation, so that these 
fires were a thing of the past, the residents of prairie were happily re- 
leased from the constant apprehension which for years had disturbed their 
peace by night and caused anxiety by day, though the early settlers still 
retain vivid recollections of the grand illuminations nightly exhibited in 
dry weather, from early fall to late spring, by numberless prairie fires. 
The whole horizon would be lighted up around its entire circuit. A 
" heavy fire six or seven miles away would afford sufficient light in a dark 
night to enable one to read fine print. When a fire had passed through 
the prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires like two armies facing 
each other, the sight at night was suMiine ; and if one's premises were 
securely protected, and he could enjoy the exhibition without apprehen- 
sion, it was a sight well worth going far to see. 

AGRICULTURE. 

Jasper County is still too new, its soil too little exhausted, to encour- 
age or feel the necessity of a regular system of agriculture. Though con- 

25 



420 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

sisting of what may be called a prairie country, it is supplied with 
sufficient timber for fuel and other purposes, and while much of this is 
small or of " scrubby" character, it has increased in quantity since the 
prairie fires have ceased to run, and is rapidly growing into timber valu- 
able for manufacturing purposes. Wood is still the principal fuel used in 
the county, and as the natural advantages for manufactures are not large, 
it is likely to be used as fuel for years to come. 

The chief products are corn, oats, barley, wheat, and the usual varieties 
of vegetables found in this range of climate. Wheat was in early 
years sown upon the first plowing of the sod, and bore good crops, but 
of late years this practice has not been found successful. Wheat is not 
found so well adapted to the soil as to form a staple crop in recent years, 
and while it is still sown to a considerable extend it is not the crop upon 
which the farmers place most dependence. Corn and oats are the principal 
crops upon which reliance is had as a source of revenue, and much of this is 
sold for exportation, though a large quantity of either is fed to stock with 
profit. No attempts have yet been ,made to enrich the soil with commercial 
fertilizers, nor is the ordinary accumulations of the barn yard applied with 
scrupulous care. Some parts of the sand lands of the county are found 
to grow clover successfully, and some are turning this under to give 
strength to naturally weak soil, but all these efforts can hardly be said to 
be expended in a systematic way by the farmers in general. There are 
evidences, however, that the attention of farmers is being aroused to this 
matter, and that a few years will show a marked improvement in this 
direction. Chinese sugar-cane or Sorghum has been extensively experi- 
mented with, and some tobacco grown, but they cannot be classed among 
the permanent products of the county. 

All classes of stock are found here, but horses and cattle predominate, 
as the wide ranges of prairie-grazing are best adapted to raise them with 
profit. A writer in the Rensselaer G-azette of 1858 and 1859 discusses the 
subject as follows : " As a grazing county, we scarcely have an equal, and 
cannot be easily surpassed. Grass grows here in rich abundance, and 
truly, cattle are made to 'lie down in green pastures.' This fact is well 
known to many cattle raisers, who are in the habit of bringing their 
cattle two or three days' drive every spring, that they may luxuriate on 
our rich pasture, and drink of our cooling streams. Some of the finest 
cattle that go from grass to market go from this county. 

LIVE STOCK. 

" Beef cattle have commanded the attention and capital of farmers to a 
greater extent than any other stock in this branch of rural labor. Horses, 
swine, sheep and asses have each occupied more or less time, but more 
capital has been devoted to cattle than to either of the others. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 421 

" Dairies, except with a very few farmers, have been a secondary 
object. Butter-makinj; has not been made a serious branch of business. 
No attention has been paid to it, except by families for private use, or to 
supply the limited trade with the villages of the county, and even this 
has been very inconsiderable, because almost every villager keeps a cow 
during the summer season. 

" There has not yet been any general system of cattle-raising adopted 
from deliberate or scientific trial, by farmers of this county. Each indi- 
vidual has acted upon the scheme suggested by his own judgment or 
fancy, or such as the state of improvement or the natural features of his 
own particular location has afforded, or his own particular case has 
dictated. 

"Numerous breeds of cattle have been raised in this county. Herds 
have been purchased abroad and raised and fatted here. But little or no 
attention has been given to the fineness or firmness of the texture of the 
beef, the color of the flesh, or the odor or flavor of the meat, or the pe- 
culiar frame of the animal, but that breed would undoubtedly receive the 
preference which will attain the greatest weight of carcass in the shortest 
time, and with the least labor, and, what is of not less importance, they 
should be of a hardy variety, able to stand the greatest degree of cold 
and extreme exposure in winter on inferior food, without shelter. 

"In selling, the practice has been to sell for so much per hundred 
pounds, live weight. Drovers have off"ered so much per hundred and 
raisers have accepted the bid, and driven their cattle from the grass on to 
the scales, or themselves taken them to market where the same or similar 
result was achieved. 

"A few only have packed the beef of their own raising or even of their 
own fattening, and where any have had it packed on their own account, 
it has generally been done at some larger towns out of the county, at 
La Fayette, Chicago, or some other city, the butcher furnishing barrels, 
salt, cutting the meat, and packing it, for the hide, head, shanks and 
tallow as payment. In this case the drover must, of course, await the 
action of the market before be can realize. In some instances, advances 
are made by the consignees, but whatever have been the final arrange- 
ments of drovers and packers, cattle have always commanded cash in 
hand to the growers and fatteners, though there has been but little com- 
petition among l)uyers, drovers generally giving their own prices. 

" The general practice in raising cattle has been either to keep 
breeding cows, and let the calves run with them on the open prairie in 
summer, throwing the herd a handful of salt once or twice a week, and 
taking care, either by an employed herdsman or by occasional super- 
vision, that they do not wander too far from the proper range. This is 



422 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

the only expense during seven and a half months in the year, from the 
middle of April to December, 

" A very few, if any, calves are ever slaughtered in Jasper County 
for their veal. Those who do not wish to winter their calves find a 
market among their neighbors in the fall, at from $4 to $6 per head. 
After the grass of the prairies has been killed down by the frosts of 
autumn, the calves are generally separated from the larger cattle, and 
kept up in an inclosure, in some part of which is an open shed, built of 
logs or rails, and covered with a pile of straw or coating of prairie hay, 
and there fed on prairie hay, with a small daily allowance of ears of 
Indian corn or meal. Some keep them on corn fodder, which has been 
cut and shocked up in the fall, or turn them into stock-fields ; that is, 
fields where the ears of corn have been gathered, and the stalks left 
standing, or more recently, since tame grasses have been cultivated, feed 
them on timothy, blue-grass or clover, during a portion of the winter. 

" In some cases, calves are exposed throughout the winter to all changes 
of weather, with no other shelter besides what is afforded by a clump of 
brush or glade of timber. It is not surprising that with such neglect, 
many calves perish and die before the end of the first winter. Others 
that survive get on the 'lift,' or have the 'hollow-horn,' or 'wolf,' or 
some other disease, the result of starvation and exposure. Very few if 
any calves in this county are ever kept in a thriving condition, much 
less in a fat condition, during the first winter they are kept. But as soon 
as spring opens they are again turned out upon the prairies. Here, in 
a few weeks, the whole appearance is changed. The old hair falls off, and 
is replaced by a new and smooth coat. In a short time they become 
fat, and before the ensuing fall they usually attain the size of two-year- 
old stock that is raised on timbered lands. In this condition they are 
brought to another winter, in which they fare no better than during the 
first. They are now kept without shelter, many of them without grain, 
and fed on hay, which costs about $1.50 per ton in the stack. It is 
seldom that any of them die during the second winter, although it would 
appear strange to a New England farmer that any of them should live 
through. Heifers with calf at this age — and most of them come in at 
two years old — need some grain to do well, especially when they come in 
early, but steers and other stock, if they have only enough coarse feed, 
get through without difficulty. Early in the succeeding summer and fall 
the two-year-olds are ready for market. 

" The average value of such cattle, during the last four or five years, 
has been from |15 to $17 a head in the spring, and from $2.75 to $3 
per cwt., live weight, in the summer and fall. Nothwithstanding the 
loss of some calves and some older cattle, the last two hard winters, stock- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 423 

raising has been considered profitable, and some have realized hand- 
some fortunes from it." 

HORSES. 

From the same writer we take the following on the subject of 
horses : " With horses, as with everything else, the middling good, toler- 
ably cheap, every-day-article, is of more general usefulness than any others. 
If they are very inferior, whether vicious, unsafe, balky or tender, their 
services will not pay for their keeping. If a horse is expensive or high- 
priced, few can afford to invest their capital in him. A large majority of 
people have all they can do to live comfortably from yeir to year. We 
cannot afford to try experiments, or risk our means in uncertain enter- 
prises. We know that the dearest horses are not the most useful to us ; 
that, in our circumstances, fancy horses and fast horses are not what we most 
need. We have three purposes for which we want horses, i. e., for 
draught, for travel and for sale. 

" First. We want horses to assist in plowing our lands and raising 
produce; to take our grain to mill and market; to haul our wood, and 
to take our families to worship on Sunday. This is our common business. 
For this we do not need fast horses, but compact, well-built horses that 
possess the powers of endurance; horses that will keep in good working 
condition in winter on hay and a moderate share of grain, with indifferent 
shelter. 

''Second. We need horses for herding on the open prairies. Here 
we need an occasional test of speed, although not great nor long contin- 
ued, for it does not demand a horse of extra dispatch or bottom to outrun 
a cow or ox. 

" Third, for sale. Several farmers have entered pretty extensively 
into this branch of grazing, and some have made money at the business. 
There has been a steady home market for common draught horses at good 
prices, and a foreign market at great prices for horses of extra quality. 

" Our colts are mostly bred from mares that are occasionally worked 
throughout the year, and pastured on the prairie in the summer. On 
the approach of winter, the colts are weaned, fed some grain with straw or 
hay, and sheltered during the hardest weather, and have no other care. 
They usually look pretty thin and squalid toward spring. They are gen- 
erally ' broken ' in the second or third year, and by the fourth year are 
put to hard service. Good geldings then bring from ^100 to ^125. A 
few horses of extra quality have sold for fancy prices. The care bestowed 
on colts is but little more than that devoted rearing calves, and at four 
years of age the ox may be worth ^40, while a colt at the same age rates 
at 3l*^Ci- Why has not more capital been invested in this busi- 
ness? Not over one-half, probably not over one-third, annually, of 



424 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

the brood mares in the county have colts. Not half the farmers who 
keep mares ever raise a colt. 

" One reason is directed against the business itself, i. e., that the busi- 
ness opens the door to dissipation, and while it pays well, it is subject 
to many excitements and tempts to great risks. 

"Another reason is, men who have made a moderate income by rais- 
ing a few common colts annually, have been too often led to try the 
fancy breeds, by which they have changed the character of their asso- 
ciates, fallen under the influence of blacklegs and sharpers, run into idle- 
ness, betting, racing and gambling, and in the end lost both their char- 
acter and property. Men judge that a business liable to such results 
is not safe, and shun it. 

" Another reason is, there is personal danger in it. Many careful 
men neither wish to break colts nor have they sons to do it. They there- 
fore raise only just what is needed for their own service; and as a span 
of horses will last for from seven to nine years, after they have come to a 
working age, their wants do not require continued attention to the busi- 
ness, and they decline it. 

" There is another objection that influences some. Horses, like other 
stock, are liable to die, and careful farmers do not care to risk so much 
value in a single animal. It is necessary to keep them in good condition 
throughout the year, to insure their profitable sale when the market favors 
their disposal, and this involves a considerable expense generally over- 
looked in making a computation of the expenses of the business. 

" But the principal objection to breeding blooded stock of this de- 
scription is that the business requires more capital than the ordinary 
farmer is able to invest until the profits can be realized. To be success- 
ful, the breeder needs good stalls, tame pastures, good fences and plenty 
of help to give the stock all necessary care. With all these accessories, 
the event is at best uncertain. Not one colt in a hundred will bring an 
extraordinary price. Horses noted for beauty, force or speed, have not 
always reproduced their like, and even when they do the owner of the colt, 
unless prepared to expend a costly school of training upon it, is likely to 
discover the fact only after it has passed from his possession. 

" We have in Jasper County the names of all the noted horses in the 
land, and the names of all the breeds ; but we have neither the stock nor 
the means at present of producing it, and while we frequently find valu- 
able horses, both under the saddle and harnessed to the plow, we have 
never yet seen here a first-class horse." 

This review of the stock of the county is substantially correct for 
the present date. More recent years have wrought some changes aifect- 
ing general grazing interests ; the public lands have been absorbed by 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 425 

purchasers, and some facilities have been added that were not practical a 
score of years ago. There is more interest manifested of late in improved 
Stock of all kinds, a few persons paying particular attention to swine and 
poultry, as well as cattle and horses. This is probably due to a sort of 
mania, that has become almost epidemic, rather than to any natural de- 
mand in circumstances or advantages of the county. 

The admirable reports of Horace E. James, the Secretary of the Agri- 
cultural Society at Rensselaer, give a concise and accurate survey of the 
present state of agriculture in the county. In his report of 1879, he 
says: "Last winter was favorable to the growth of fall-sown wheat; the 
spring helped its development ; insects did not ravage it, nor summer 
storms do it damage, and at harvest time a good, well-matured crop was 
found, which was saved in fine condition. Generally, however, wheat has 
not been a reliable crop in this locality. The soil does not seem to be 
favorable to its growth. But possibly the topography of the county is 
really the greatest obstacle to overcome. A large part of the country is 
prairie, nearly level, with great capacity for supporting water. What 
little snow falls, does not rest quietly where it settles, but is blown about 
by the winds, which have almost unbroken sweep. This leaves the wheat 
plants at the mercy of the thawing, freezing and heaving-out process of 
February and March. Systematic draining, by means of open ditches 
and of tile, and liberal coatings of coarse manure, applied before the mid- 
dle of February, may solve the problem of successful wheat culture upo n 
light and loamy soils and flat surfaces, such as are to be seen with us. At 
least those farmers who have experimented in this direction are greatly 
encouraged by the results that have invariably followed such treatment 
The wheat crop of Jasper County in 1879 is estimated at double that of 
any former year, being more than enough to supply the home demand. 

'• Small fruits, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, are not ex- 
tensively cultivated, although both soil and climate are favorable ; grapes 
do well with us, the commoner kinds being hardy and yielding sure crops 
of good fruit. Producers are only beginning to cultivate them as they 
merit. Vines bore abundantly this year. 

" Some varieties of pear may be grown with moderate returns only. 
Peaches and quinces winter-kill badly. Plums suffer too much from the 
ravages of the curculio ever to be popular. Apples do well usually. The 
exhibition of this fruit at our fair this season was remarkably fine. The 
perfection of specimens equaled any that were shown at the State Fair. 

•' Quite an interest has developed in Jasper County within a year or 
two in the breeding of poultry. An association had been organized, and 
several gentlemen lay claim to the title of amateur fowl-fanciers. 

" Ours is emphatically a cattle and hog producing district, and prob- 



426 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

ably more attention has been paid to the improvement of these classes of 
live stock than to any of the other branches of husbandry. The great 
desire has been to produce beef to the neglect of milkers, hence short- 
horn breeders have been favorites with cattle-raisers. Recently a few 
Jerseys have been introduced, but thus far have not been looked upon 
with that degree of favor which is calculated to increase the enthusiasm 
of those who have invested their money in them for the purpose of breed- 
ing. 

" Large herds (report of 1881) of cattle are less frequently met than 
in earlier days. I do not mean that fewer cattle are bred and fed here, 
but they are scattered around more generally, not kept together in large 
bunches, as in the days before the county was so thickly inhabited, and 
before so much of the land was inclosed by fences. The breed has been 
greatly improved by separation, better care, better feed, and the introduc- 
tion of improved blood. The improvement has, however, been altogether 
in the direction of beef-making. There are few, if any, good milkers or 
butter producers to be found in our pastures. 

'•In no former year was there so much good hay, both cultivated and 
wild, put into stock. Tons by the thousand were not even moistened by 
dew. It has commanded satisfactory prices. Next to corn and not 
much behind, either, is the hay in importance with us. Much of it is fed 
on the ground, but there is also an important industry in baling and 
shipping it, which has sprung up within a few years. 

" After cattle, hay and corn, come hogs in point of importance. Our 
breeds are Berkshire, Poland-China and Jersey Red, with a decided pref- 
erence for the first named, either pure breed, crossed or common grade. 

"Sheep hold a modest position. No large flocks are kept, but 
many farmers own from a dozen to thirty or fifty. The long- wool breeds 
and their crosses with the natives are the favorites. There are occasional 
thoroughbred animals, but the object seems to be to grow mutton rather 
than wool. 

" Our horses are chiefly what may be called general-purpose animals. 
The introduction of the Norman and the Clydesdale breeds has made the 
stock on many farms much more serviceable and marketable than pre- 
vious to their advent. The quarter crosses of these large breeds upon 
scrubs are excellent horses for general purposes. There are, however, a 
few flyers owned in the county, some of which are known to the race 
courses of three or four States, and boast genealogies recorded in the 
stud book, but no breeding is done for the special object of speed. 

" A decided change for the better is perceivable each succeeding year 
in the method which farmers employ for the tilling of the soil and the 
cultivation of crops. The land is better and more systematically worked 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 427 

than formerly. There is a manifest desire to learn and adopt improve- 
ments. There is a growing taste for literature treating upon farm topics. 
In brief, there seems to be more mind-work combined with liand-work. 
Several tile factories are finding employment in the solution of the problem 
of systematic draining. A butter factory or creamery of the capacity of 
1,000 pounds of butter daily has lately been built at the county seat, 
which is doing a good paying business, while opening up a new field to 
the vision of stock breeders. Orchards and vineyards are being planted, 
and what is more to the purpose, are being cared for with a thought to 
their ultimate value as a source of revenue." 

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 

The history of the Central Agricultural Society of this county has been 
a checkered one, and owes so much of success as it has had to the per- 
severing energy of a few devoted friends of the cause. The enterprise 
has labored under various hindering influences, some of which are still 
operative. At first, the county was largely engaged in stock grazing for 
market purposes, a pursuit which did not furnish material out of which 
to build a fair, but since the growth of population and change of circum- 
stances have largely removed this obstacle, two district fairs, the one in- 
fringing upon the eastern border and the other on the southern border, 
so divide and distract the agricultural interests of the county that the 
oldest and central society finds its efforts to maintain an annual agricultural 
display greatly hampered. 

Jasper County Agricultural Society . — The first attempt at an agri- 
cultural show was made in 1854, but under what, auspices it is difficult 
to determine. There was no regular organization, and exhibitions were 
held upon a plat of two and a half acres, which is now the site of Mr. 
Kannal's residence. Under this arrangement, four annual fairs were held. 
An ordinary fence inclosed the grounds, and a premium fund was made 
up by subscription, which was distributed in premiums of from 50 cents 
to $5, the latter being offered for the best farm, and the latter for sundry 
articles of home manufacture, including " the best made vest," pants, 
dress, etc., making a total of some ^50 or ^75. In December, 
1858, a joint-stock company was formed with a capital of $500, 
under the style and name of " Jasper County Agricultural and Mechani- 
cal Association." At a subsequent meeting, the following oflBcers were 
elected : Robert Parker, President ; J. C. Post, Vice President ; Alfred 
McCoy, Treasurer ; S. Donaldson, Secretary. The first fair was held by 
this society on the 27th, 28th and 29th days of September, 1859. The 
occasion was somewhat marred by the wet weather, but the exhibition was 
generally voted a success. "Floral Hall " was well-filled, an(l the ladies' 



428 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

department was well-represented. The show of agricultural products was 
good, but the show of stock was not so good. There were some fine 
blooded animals, however, shown in the ring, cattle, and horses and hogs 
were represented, and for the first exhibition the display was encouraging. 
The society had purchased ground and fenced it, and considerable revenue 
was derived from the admissions. These grounds consisted of seven acres 
about a mile down the river from the county seat and on the north side. 
The ultimate fate of this society is told in the Secretary's report for 
1879: 

" The Jasper County Agricultural Society was organized July 18, 
1879, to supersede the County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, 
which had become hopelessly entangled in debt. On the 18th day of 
August, it was determined to hold the first fair of the society on the 7th 
to the 10th days of October inclusive. Although late in the year, the 
display of articles in some departments was large and good, and the 
attendance was highly gratifying to those who were interested in the wel- 
fare of the society. The show of horses, cattle and hogs was excellent ; 
that of sheep and poultry, passable ; of apples, remarkably fine ; of corn 
and other cereals, Irish potatoes and produce of the garden was probably 
never surpassed for excellence in the county. Except harness, the ex- 
hibition of manufactured articles was nothing to be proud of; still many 
useful things were exhibited, in needle-work especially, that gave evidence 
of taste and skill. A high degree of excellence was attained in the but- 
ter, cheese, fruit preparations, pickles, bread, cakes, and kindred articles 
shown. It was too late in the season for an attractive showing of flowers, 
and people are loath to expose house-plants to the vicissitudes of fall weather 
and rural fairs. However, taken all in all, the fair was a good and suc- 
cessful one. The public was satisfied with what was to be seen ; exhibit- 
ors received in cash the full amount of the premiums, and the society 
realized enough to pay its expenses, and leave a small surplus in the treas- 
ury. It is proper to say that in a large degree the successful issue of 
this hastily arranged exposition is to be credited to the excellent manage- 
ment of Hon. William K. Parkinson, President ; to the energy of Marion 
L. Spitler, Vice President ; David H. Yeomans, Superintendent ; and the 
excellent board of directors, together with the zeal of Messrs. H. A. 
Barkley and James Welsh, of the Committee on Advertising. All were 
industrious to perform the duty assigned to them. 

" The Jasper County Agricultural Society owns twenty acres of 
ground within the incorporated limits of Rensselaer, modestly improved, 
worth probably $3,000, and is entirely out of debt." 

The Union District Agricultural Society was organized April 27, 
1872, and holds its annual exhibitions at Remington. This society draws 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 429 

its support from the contiguous territory lying in Benton, Newton and Jas- 
per Counties. 

SWAMP LANDS. 

A very important feature in any agricultural survey of Jasper 
County is the vast body of swamp lands found here. In the early 
history of the county, the river margins were impassable marshes, save at 
one or two points where a limited passage could be found. Cultivation 
and such improvements as enterprising settlements bring about have 
changed the natural features of the county in this respect, and Congress 
made a liberal provision by which these lands might have been largely 
converted into fine, arable soil, had not these provisions been converted 
into plunder for the enriching of a comparatively few unscrupulous men. 
The Legislature of the State took cognizance of these misdemeanors at 
last, and appointed a committee to investigate the frauds which had been 
perpetrated, but unfortunately not until they were substantially beyond 
remedy. Jasper County suffered in this respect severely. Two or three 
fairly effective ditches were dug in Kankakee and Wheatfield Townships, 
but these are but a moiety of the work that should have been done for 
the expenditure of land which was made. The report of the Legislative 
Committee of Investigation, in 1859, gives asummary of the whole ques- 
tion, as follows : 

By the act of Congress of September 20, 1850, the swamp or overflowed lands 
in the State, belonging to the United States, were granted to the State of Indiana, 
upon condition that the same should be drained and reclaimed, and rendered fit for 
agricultural purposes. By the provisions of the second section of that act, it was 
made the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to transmit to the Governor of the 
State, upon his request, a list and plats of the swamp lands previously ascertained, 
together with patents therefor, vesting the title in the State, subject to the disposal 
of the Legislature, with the express proviso that the proceeds of said lands, wheth- 
er from sale or direct appropriation in kind, shall be applied exclusicely, as necessary, 
to the reclaiming of said lands. 

As near as can be ascertained by your committee, the amount of lands patented 
by the General Government to the State, under the act aforesaid, and under the act 
of Congress of March 2, 18>"), granting lands to the State for swamp lands, which 
had been located upon by military land warrants, amount to 1,252,638.65 acres. It 
has been decided by the Commissioner of the General Land Office that the title to 
all im.sold lands in the State, that belonged to the United States on the 28th of Sep- 
tember, 1850, were .swamp lands vested in the State b}' the pa.ssage of said act. 

After showing how certain State officials had defrauded the Swamp 

Land Fund to the extent of upward of r^40,000, the report continues as 

follows : 

Tiie law of 1852 provided for the sale of swamp lands in the several counties by 
the county officers. Lender this act, all of these lands, in some of the counties, 
were dispo.sed of, whilst in others large bodies remained unsold at the passage of the 
act of 1857, which act made "direct appropriati(jn in kind " for the purpose of 
reclaiming for agricultural purposes such lands. 



430 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

By the law of 1852, it was made the duty of tlie Governor to appoint Swamp 
Land Commissioners in every county owning swamp hinds. In many instances, these 
appointments were singularly unfortunate, possessing neither qualifications nor 
honesty of such a character as to fit them for their responsibilities. 

We have had our attention called to the ofiicial misconduct of these officers in 
several counties, but have found it utterly impossible to give the subject that inves- 
tigation which the interests of the State and justice demand. In the county of 
Jasper, our investigiitions have satisfied us that the officers of that county have not 
onl}^ aided others in the commission of great frauds upon the Swamp Land Funds, 
but have also been participants in the profits arising therefrom. In this charge we 
make no reference to the present Treasurer and Auditor of this county. 

The Commissioner, at a letting of a large amount of ditching under a law of 
1852, let almost the entire work to one man, for the sum of 20 cents the cubic yard, 
although at this letting there were other good and responsible bids for the same 
work at 14 cents the cubic yard, and one as low as 10 cents. The ditching contracted 
for at this letting has never been finished according to the plans and specifications, 
and some of the ditches are worthless. The entire estimate of this work, amount- 
ing to $39,451.59, has been paid to the contractor. According to the testimony 
before us, this one transaction has resulted in great loss to the Swamp Land Fund, 
and loss to the value of real estate in the vicinity of the work. 

In the year 1856, without the color of law, and in violation of all right, the 
then Auditor of State, Hiram E. Talbot, directed the Auditor of Jasper County to 
withhold from sale a large amount of swamp lands designated by him. The com- 
mittee are compelled to conclude that this order was prompted with a view to per- 
sonal and private speculation. This, no doubt, was the commencement of a system 
of frauds unheard of before. A spirit of speculating in these lands was engendered, 
and in a short time there were formed four separate companies, who selected as they 
termed it, and actually obtained, by the complicity of Swamp Land Commissioners, 
deeds for about one hundred and twenty-four thousand acres of the best of the lands 
vacant in the county. (For the names of the parties in this scheme we refer you to 
the evidence herewith filed.) The deeds to these lands were procured without the 
shadow of law from the officers of State. 

The Swamp Land Act, approved March 5, 1857, required that these fraudulent 
conveyances should be returned and canceled when the work was not completed, 
but provided that the loose contracts upon which they had been obtained, might be 
ratified and confirmed by the Swamp Land Commissioner, and provided that the 
contractors might file with the County Auditor lists of the lands selected by them 
to be taken in payment for ditching, and the sale of these selected lands was then 
prohibited by the county officers till the completion or perfecting of the contract 
for the payment of which they were filed, and that 75 per cent upon the estimates 
of the work done should be issued to the contractor until all was done, when cer- 
tificates for the whole should be issued; and provided further that the contractor 
might at any time, by depositing f 1.25 per acre with the County Treasurer, for the 
whole or any part of the lands in his list, take out certificates and procure patents 
for the same, and that the money so paid into the county treasury should be then 
retained, to be repaid to the contractor at the rate of 75 per cent upon estimates of 
work done, until the contract was completed, when all should be repaid. Under 
this law, the Swamp Land Commissioner of Jasper County confirmed all the old 
contracts at 20 cents per cubic yard, which had been originally let at from 
12 to 18 cents per cubic yard, and the contractors were permitted to file lists 
of lands to any amount they desired, and the amounts of their respective con- 
tracts were swelled up to cover the amount filed for, and in a short time after the 
taking effect of this law, all the unsold swamp lands in Jasper County, amounting 
to about 175,000 acres, were then absorbed, and nearly all the contractors, without 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 431 

paying any money into the eounty treasury, by private arrangement with M , 

the then Treasurer of Jasper County, obtained from him certificates of purchase, and 
upon these obtained the greater part of their i)ateuts for these lands. In a few in- 
stances, the contracts have been, in whole or in part, completed, but probably not 
one-half the ditching is yet completed. From estimates of the whole amount of 
these contracts, and of the amount of work done upon the same at the expiration of 

the term of said M 's term of office, he should have paid over to his successor in 

office at least $100,000 of money deposited with him by contractors for lands 
obtained bj' them, but not one cent was so paid over by him. The lands being gone 
and there being no money for the same on deposit in the county trea.sury, and con- 
sequently no incentive to the completion of the contracts, and there being no law to 
enforce their completion, your committee would recommend that some law be 
passed to remedy this defect. 

There is evidence before the committee showing tliat M , without the shadow 

of authority or law, issued to , in the name of his brother and others, cer- 
tificates of purchase for a large amount of these lands, previously filed for by 

contractors, and that upon these fraudulent certificates obtained patents; and 

that the contractor, whose lands he had thus stolen, in order to avoid troublesome 
and expensive litigation, compromised with him, permitting him to retain 3,500 
acres of these lands thus obtained, of which M got a portion. 

From the evidence in possession of your committee, they cannot but express 

their surprise that Gov. Willard should have appointed M to the responsible office 

of Swamp Land Commissioner of Jasper County, soon after the expiration of his 
term of office as Treasurer of said county, notwithstanding it was known to His 

Excellency that the said M had been sued on his official bond as a defaulter to 

the Swamp Land Fund, in 1855, which suit he had compromised by giving his notes 
with surety for the sum of $23,460.30, thus acknowledging his defalcation, and that 
the greater part of those notes, though due, were still outstanding and unpaid; and 

notwithstanding it was known to His Excellency that said M had again been 

sued in 1856, upon his official bond as Swamp Land Treasurer, for the further defal- 
cation of $14,000 to the Swamp Land Fund, as certified by the Auditor of State; and 
that in his official bond as County Treasurer to the amount of $1,000 for State reve- 
nue, and that was then and still is pending against him upon his official bond for 
defalcation of county revenue, and had not at the date of his appointment as said 
Commissioner, and still has not, settled with the Auditor and Treasurer of State, or 
County Commissioners, for either State, swamp land or count}' revenues; and not- 
withstanding it was known to His Excellency that by Section 10, Article H, of the 

Constitution of Indiana, said M was wholly "ineligible to any office of trust or 

profit," and that by an act of the Legislature, approved March 1, 1855, he was guilty 
of felony — still, with a full view of all the.se dis(iualifications and disabilities, he, 
M , was appointed and invested by His E.xcellency with the duties of this im- 
portant and responsible office, for the performance of which he is not reipiired to 
give any bond. In view of all these facts, your committee would recommend that 
His Excellency be respectfully requested to remove Mr. M from said office. 

SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 
Tmces of the former inhabitants of this county are foiiml, l»ut not in 
great abundance. A mound on the east side of the Iroquois River, about 
four miles northeast of the county seat, is the only relic of the Mound- 
Builders to be found here. It is nearly ten feet high, about forty feet in - 
diameter, and contained ashes, bones and shells. Spear and arrow heads 
of an unusual form, and of a gloss chert, seen naturally only in Tennes- 



432 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

see, are discovered here. A number of highly polished stone axes and 
scrapers have also been found. Besides these more enduring relics of the 
Builders, there are found in Jasper County the more curious but less sub- 
stantial evidences of their domination, in vestiges of corn-fields and trails 
left here and there untouched, bearing the evident marks of their pres- 
ence here. 

The first discoverei*s of the territory covered by the present State of 
Indiana found it in possession of the Delaware, Miami and Pottawato- 
mie nations. The great family to which these tribes were allied by 
language, physical and mental peculiarities, was the Algonquin. Before 
the encroachment of the whites, the numerous tribes of this family occu- 
pied most of the territory now embraced in the United States, between the 
35th and 60th parallels of latitude, and the 60th and 105th meridians of 
longitude. The starting point in the wanderings of the Algonquin tribes 
on the continent as determined by tradition and the cultivation of maize, 
their favorite cereal, was in the Southwest. Passing up the western sideof 
the Mississippi Valley, they turned eastward across that river, the south- 
ern margin of their broad tract reaching about to the 35th parallel, while 
the center probably covered the present territory of Illinois. On reach- 
ing the Atlantic coast, they seem to have moved northeasterly along the 
sea-board to the mouth of the St. Lawrence ; thence, ascending this river 
and the shores of the great lakes, they spread northward and westward to 
Hudson Bay. the basin of Lake Winnepeg and the valley of the Upper 
Mississippi; and thence the head of the migratory column circling around 
the source of the great river, recrossed it in a southeasterly direction above 
the Falls of St. Anthony, and passing by way of Green Bay and Lake 
Michigan came into the present limits of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Thus, 
after revolving in an irregular ellipse of some 3,000 miles in diameter, 
they fell into the original tract eastward. This extended course of migra- 
tion, induced by a variety of causes and circumstances, continued through 
a long period, the original stock probably receiving considerable acces- 
sions from the nomadic tribes of the Pacific Slope, and leaving behind 
large numbers at each remove, until the head of the column came to rest 
from sheer lack of momentum, or other moving influences. Thus scat- 
tered over a large expanse of country, and broken into numerous tribal 
organizations, they lost much of their family affiliations and characteris- 
tics, and the early whites found them distinct nations, everywhere posses- 
sing the border lands, and waged with them their first and bloodiest wars. 
Situated within the ellipse above described were the nation of the Iroquois 
family, who, held together by circumstances, and posted advantageously 
on the inner sides of the circle, able at any time to mass their forces upon 
a single point of the circumference, early proved a devastating scourge 
to the Indian world, and especially so to the Algonquins. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 433 

Of the tribes of this latter family, this history has to do only with 
the Pottawatomie nation, the tribes of which to the number of 4,000, 
occupied the northern part of the State. Their chief village was early at 
Chitchakos, near the Tippecanoe River, wiiere the earliest French ex- 
plorers found them, and where a mission was established nearly 300 years 
ago. The nation originally occupied a part of the Lower Peninsula of 
Michigan, whence they were driven by the irresistible Iroquois. They sub- 
sequently found a place of refuge in Wisconsin, but when the power of 
Iroquois was broken, they returned and found an abiding place near their 
old haunts. They were a bold, war-like people, and were generally 
found allied against the whites. Among them were found some of the 
most prominent warriors and chiefs of the Western tribes, the record of 
whose eloquence and feats of daring is found in all the history of the 
Western wars. They were allied with the French against the Iroquois 
and English, with the English against the Americana, and took promi- 
nent part in Pontiac's conspiracy, yielding only to the inevitable in the 
general pacification which closed the war of 1812. Notwithstanding 
their bitter hostility to the whites, arising from their conviction that the 
pale face, if unresisted, would drive them to the Western ocean, when once 
they had plighted their faith, they were less vacillating than many of the 
tribes. During the Winnebago outbreak in 1827, they resisted the en- 
treaty of the hostile tribes, and again, in 1832, when Black Hawk strove 
to unite the savage nations in a combined attack upon the whites, he met 
a fatal obstacle in the faithful attitude of the Pottawatomie nation, Shab- 
bona, who shares with Shakespeare the distinction of having his name 
spelled in an endless number of ways, was a prominent civil chief of the 
nation in Eastern Illinois. He was known as the "white man's friend " 
among the natives, and when Black Hawk was betrayed into hostilities, 
at the news of the Indians' first blow and success, he sent his son and 
nephew in different directions, when he went in still another, to warn the 
settlers of their impending danger, thus saving the lives of many in the 
isolated settlements. In the military operations which followed, with 
Waubdnsie, " Billy Caldwell," and a considerable number of Pottawat- 
omie warriors, he enlisted with the army under Gen. Atkinson, who at 
once placed him in command of the Indian contingent. 

The French priests were remarkably successful in their missionarv la- 
bors among this nation. At first the efforts to convert tiiem were almost 
universally at the expense of the lives of the priests. But when the Pot- 
tawatomies yielde<l to conviction, they were scarcely less firm and devot- 
ed than the primitive Christians. When the priests left them, and 
they were without spiritual instruction for years, they taught each other, 
and attempted to preserve the religious influences they had enjoyed. It 



434 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

is said, when a priest met one of their chiefs on one occasion, he entreated 
him if he would not visit them, at least to pass through their woods, for 
the very thought of the " man of prayer " having been through their coun- 
try would, he said, be suflficient to remind them of their duties, and make 
them better. Even those who remained unconverted, retained a pro- 
found reverence for the " black gown." Until 1834, they were only 
visited occasionally by priests from Vincennes or Detroit. At this date, 
Vincennes was made the See of a bishop, who early provided the Indian 
mission with a regular priest. M. Desseilles was the appointee, and la- 
bored among the natives with wonderful results. The fatigue to which 
his labors exposed him brought on sickness that left him almost at the 
point of death, and feeling that his last moments were approaching, he 
roused himself, repaired to the altar, and while attending to his duties, 
surrounded by his dusky followers, expired on its very steps. The Indi- 
ans who had watched him with anxiety, and had followed him to the 
church, unwilling to believe that he was dead, remained about in prayer 
for four days, when another clergyman who had been previously written 
to, arrived and performed the funeral obsequies. The new priest had 
been with the tribe but a short time, when the general removal took place. 
The Government, aware of their repugnance to remove, had determined 
to use force if necessary, and accordingly, while one of the chiefs was 
discussing the removal, at the village of Chichipy — Outipy — the village was 
snrrounded by troops, who summoned him to surrender. His savage in- 
stinct got thebetter of his judgment for the instant, and, seizing his rifle and 
tomahawk, he placed himself in a posture of defense ; but observing the 
troops were accompanied by a" black gown," he yielded, saying, "the 
Son of God submitted to be bound." 

The Rapids of the Rockwise, as the Iroquois was early called, was a 
favorite resort of the Pottawatomie Indians, and every spring and fall 
durfng their stay in this State found large numbers gathered here to fish 
and hunt. She river swarmed with the largest fish, the prairie supplied 
innumerable deer and grouse, and the sw&mps of the Iroquois and Kan- 
kakee afforded some of the best trapping grounds in the whole State. 
Two or three tribes of this nation made their homes in Jasper County, 
whose principal villages were located near the line of Sections 17 and 20 
in Newton Township, and just east of the spring on the Phegley farm. 
Their principal chiefs here were Job, whose following numbered about 
three hundred persons ; Jim, with a tribe of about a hundred and ten, and 
Wapakonatta, with a soaaller band. Their corn-fields were scattered all 
over the county. What is now known as the Indian Garden, on the 
Kankakee River in Wheatfield Township, was one of the largest of their 
corn-fields. Others were on the site of the Benjamin farm, some five 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 435 

miles west of the county seat, on the Mallatt place, a few miles further 
west, and on the site of Rensselaer. The corn was quite different from 
anything now in cultivation. It was universally of a blue and white 
color, similar to our sweet-corn in texture, never acquiring that flinty 
hardness which is characteristic of the grain now in general cultivation. 
The sites chosen for corn-fields were such as could be the easiest tilled; 
with the rude implements at command, and where the rank prairie grass 
could be best held in control. The squaws performed the labor with the 
" sanghoe," chopping off the sod and piling it up at one side. On the 
spot thus cleared the corn was planted and left to grow as it might. On 
the following year, the spot on which the sod had been piled was found 
bare of grass, and here another hill of corn was planted ; thus, in the 
second year, double the number of hills were planted. The ground thus 
brought under cultivation was worked each successive year, the corn being 
planted each time in the same spot, and the earth successively hoed up to 
the same spot formed little mounds to mark the site of each hill of corn. 
The stalk grew about four and a half or five feet high, from which the corn 
was stripped in the fall and hung up by the husks in the rude sheds provid- 
ed for the purpose. Cured fish was an important part of the Indians' 
winter supplies. On the Rhodes farm, about three-quarters of a mile 
southeast of Rensselaer, they had their pits for this purpose. These 
were rectangular pits about two by four feet, sunk into the ground about 
three feet. These were filled with wood, which was set afire, and when 
the whole was reduced to a body of live coals, short sticks were placed 
upon these, on which a fish was placed just as drawn from the water; 
when sufficiently cooked, the fish was taken off the fire, the skin removed, 
and the flesh stripped entirely from the bones ; the shred flesh was then 
placed on pieces of sheet iron and again placed over the coals, the meat 
being turned from time to time and rubbed between the palms of the 
hands until the whole was reduced to a rather fine, dry powder. When 
the fire was exhausted, this fish powder was removed, packed closely in a 
deer skin sewed up to receive it,' and laid aside for the winter. A few 
handfuls of this powdered fish with pounded corn made a very acceptable 
dish to the Indian. 

Although the tribes which made their homes in Jasper exhibited 
no indication of having imbibed the religion of the priests, they were 
not less friendly to the early whites that found their way here on trading 
or hunting expeditions, and even when the whites came to take possession 
of the land after the Logansport treaty, they still maintained the friend- 
liest relations with them. The larger part of the Pottowatomie nation 
was removed in 183<S, under the direction of Gen. Tipton, to a reserva- 
tion in Kansas. Of these the larger portion has abandoned the tribal re- 



436 • HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

lation, and become citizens. Of the others, some are in Kansas, upward 
of 300 are in Indian Territory, a few are yet on reservations in this State, 
and the remainder are wanderers. 

The First White Settlements. — Until the treaty of 1832, this county 
was not open to white settlers, nor was there any considerable immigration in 
this direction. The whole "Northwest Territory" had been thrown open, 
and the tide of in-coming population being principally from the south, at 
this time the southern parts of Illinois and Indiana and the whole of 
Ohio afforded abundant opportunities for the selection of choice farms 
considerably in excess of the demand. Besides being some distance re- 
moved from the natural source of supplies and general lines of communi- 
cation at that time, the character of the country operated to discourage 
immigration. The general rumor described the country here as alternate 
swamps, sterile sand ridges and flat, wet prairies. Its reputation as a 
paradise for game, however, induced the more adventurous to seek this 
region in quest of sport and the profit arising from the sale of peltries, 
and eventually brought the first actual settlers. 

The first actual settler within the present limits of Jasper County 
was William Donahue. Attracted by the fur-bearing game to be found 
here in great abundance, and the prospect of trading with the Indians 
that possessed the land here in considerable numbers, he came to what is 
now Gillam Township as early as 1832. He stayed here a number of 
years, improved a good farm and died here; his descendants, however, 
have all left this vicinity. The next settlement was made at the Falls of 
the Iroquois, by Joseph Yeoman, John and David Nowels, in the fall of 
1834. There is some confusion in the date of this settlement, some 
putting the date of their coming a year later. The Nowels were natives 
of Kentucky and early moved to Ohio. From thence the family moved 
to Fountain County, Ind., where the wife of John Nowels died, and his 
daughter was married to Joseph Yeoman. Anxious to better his prospects 
in life Mr. Yeoman proposed to move into the new country opened up by 
the recent treaties, and went to a place on the Iroquois River, in Illinois, 
near the Indiana line, known as Bunkum. Here the family all moved, 
and soon learned of the Falls of Iroquois. The site was noted for its fine 
fishing, and rumor doubtless exaggerated the beauty of its surroundings, 
so that Yeoman determined to explore the situation for himself. Ac- 
cordingly in this year, Nowels having nothing to prevent his engaging in 
such an expedition, with his son David, accompanied Mr. Yeoman. At- 
taching a yoke of oxen to the forward wheels of a wagon and fixing up a 
cart to carry what the party would need while gone, the little party set 
out on their journey. Their road was up the course of the river until 
they reached the rapids. Here, pleased with the prospect. Yeoman left 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 437 

t 

Mr. Nowels and returned to arrange matters for the removal to the new 
site. In the meanwhile the latter prepared logs for a cabin and drew 
them to the site chosen for the new home. This done, David returned to 
Bunkum with the oxen, and as soon as practicable, the family came, ar- 
riving here in the fall of 1835. There were no neighbors to assist in the 
"raising," and the three men, assisted by Mrs. Yeoman and the team, 
soon had a home erected. The first addition to the settlement here was 
in the person of Charles G. Wright; he was a native of North Carolina 
and came to Indiana when a Territory, in 1-807. After several removals 
within the present limits of the State, he found himself in White County, 
and soon after the Yeoman settlement, came here to trade with the In- 
dians. He did not bring his family, but boarded with Mr. Yeoman for 
some time, subsequently, however, building a hewed-log house near the 
site of the Baptist Church. 

In the latter part of 1834, Thomas Randle and George Culp, re- 
cently from Virginia, started for the " new purchase," which had just 
been surveyed, and on their way hither met Mr. Morris returninn- from 
his work of surveying the ceded" territory. He suggested a fine location, 
directing them to follow up the Monon River to a point named, from 
thence to strike due west over the prairie until they reached a grove of 
trees, which appeared to hang down. They had no trouble in following 
these directions, and proceeding northward made a selection of land at 
the forks of the rivers Pinkamink and Iroquois, but not until they had 
examined the famed "'falls" of the latter river. In the followin<T May, 
they returned with their families and made the settlement of the Forks. 
In the following year, this settlement was re-enforced by Royal Hazleton, 
John G. Parkinson and Henry Barkley, Jr., and soon afterward by the 
Shannahans, Reeds, Casads, Gutheridges, Burgets and other families. 

The settlement near the sight of the old Indian village in Newton 
Township, now locally known as Blue Grass, was an early one. William 
Mallatt was among the earliest of the families gathered here. He came to 
the Falls of the Iroquois in 1835 or 183(3, and made a claim on the south- 
west side of the river near Yeoman's house, but this improvement being 
"floated" by a W. M. Kenton, he removed to the former place, where he 
lived until his death in 1859. Another settlement here was that of Mrs. 

Jared Benjamin with her family, consisting of two sons and a dauf^hter 

Jared, Jr., Samuel and Phoebe. The Benjamins were natives of Ohio, 
and the first-named son having married and determined to try his 
fortune in the new West, the whole family came in 1838. Previ- 
ous to their coming, a brother of Mrs. Benjamin, Gilbert Yeoman, came 
out to examine the country, bought a claim which had been made here 
by Mr. Nowels, and on which he had erected a cabin of quaking-ash poles. 



438 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

Not being pleased with the outlook, Mr. Yeoman decided to stay in Ohio, 
and sold his claim to Mrs. Benjamin, who came with her family in a sin- 
gle wagon to this place. Others in this vicinity, were Erastus Smith, 

Elijah, and Alta Yeoman. David Phegley, who made a claim near 

the " springs," east of Rensselaer, on the Iroquois River, and John Jor- 
dan, who came from Tipton County, about 1836, and made a clafm in 
" Carpenter's Grove," were among the pioneers of the county.* 

THE GAME. 

The country which these earlier pioneers had thus chosen was 
a hunter's paradise. The prairie, timber and water-ways were crowded 
with game of all kinds, and without this it is doubtful if this region could 
have been settled until a score of years later. The early thoroughfcires, 
obliged to deviate from a true course to avoid marshes and impassable 
rivers, left this region isolated, and the tide of population following 
these lines of travel, naturally avoided this section. Thus cut off from the 
natural sources of supply, the pioneer was forced to depend upon the re- 
sources of the country alone, which, even with abundance of game, 
proved but a meager support for the family. Deer were found in un- 
limited numbers, and the first settlers found no trouble in killing 
more than the needs of the family required, right at his own door. 
Droves, reaching to the number of a hundred, were often seen, and 
settlers were in the habit of carrying their guns on almost all occa- 
sions, and seldom returned from any expedition without an evidence 
of the abundance of these animals in the shape of a haunch or ham 
of venison. Wild hogs served also to vary the frontier fare. These 
were animals that had escaped from the older settlements, and sub- 
sisting upon the nuts and roots of the woodland, had gone wild in the 
course of nature. They were of a long-legged, gaunt species, and kept 
the timber pretty closely. They were no particular damage or annoyance 
to the settlers, but furnished capital hunting sport, and gave a relief to 
the monotonous recurrence of venison upon the table of the settler. 
Wolves were of the coyote species, and were found in the open prairie. 
These were of more annoyance to the settlements, attacking sheep, young 

•There is considerable confusion aa to the date of the coming of some of the early settlers. It is 
difficult also, to learn of all who may be entitled to be listed as old settlers, and without attempting to 
nnas flnv oDinion upon these questions, a published list of the " Old* Settlers' Society," is here given. 




TTammniid Mrs William Burns, Mrs. H. C. Thornton, Mrs. Joseph Sparling ; ISiO, Nathaniel Wyatt, D. 



M Price VV. J. Wright, Sidney Stewart, Thomas R. l^arker, Mrs. William Cockrill, Mrs. Benjamin Welsh ; 
1841 Lemuel Harkle, liial Benjamin, William Nolaud, Mrs. (i. II. Brown ; 1842, Alexander Rowen, Sam- 



John W. Duvall, Jabez Wright; 
itou; 1844, Joseph Yeoman, James 
?lement Timmons ; 1845, George Kes- 
ler"Lem'uel Shortridge, Abram Freeland, John Daugherty, Daniel Daugherty, Lewis L. Daugherty, 
William H. Daugherty ,Simon Phillips, L. W. Sayers. 



uel 'McCuUough, Samuel Long, Joseph C. Henkle, John A. Ileukle, 
1843 Andrew Farris, Henry ;Sayler, H. C. Thornton, C. C. Thornti 
Yeoman Wesley Downing, Madison Makuren, Ira W. Yeoman, Clem( 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 439 

pigs and sometimes cattle. They were miserable cowards, never attack- 
ing a person, and were hunted and killed as a nuisance. They were small 
and undersized, making the night dismal with their howling, and when 
overtaken by the dogs, would fall on their backs and fight much like a 
cat. On frozen ground, and when filled with a recent meal, they were 
run down with little difficulty on horseback, as they seemed to avoid the 
timber, and would risk capture rather than go into it. Pinnated and 
ruffed grouse, better known as prairie chickens and partridges, were 
everywhere found in inexhaustible numbers, and furnished a touch of del- 
icacy to the early fare. Wild geese, cranes, herons, ducks of the mallard, 
pintail, blue-winged teal, wood and ring-necked varieties, were found by 
thousands, and are still found here in hardly diminished profusion, to the 
delight of hunters, who are attracted in large numbers to enjoy the hunt- 
ing. The Iroquois River has sustained its reputation as one of the best 
stocked rivers in the State, from the earliest knowledge of the whites to 
the present. Long before any settlements were made here, rumors 
of its profusion of fine edible fish came to the frontiers through 
the Indians, to whom this was a favorite place of resort each fall 
and spring. Here bass, bream, pike, salmon, mullet, suckers and 
other varieties are found, some of these varieties having been found 
over twenty-five pounds in weight. With this abundance of what are 
even now considered luxuries, it would seem at a casual glance that 
the pioneer life was a life of ease rather than hardship ; but when it 
is considered that these were the sum of their early luxuries, that what 
we deem the common necessities and find so cheap as to pass almost 
unnoticed in our estimate of family supplies and expenses, were to the 
early settlers almost inaccessible and the most expensive, a great change 
is wrought in our estimate. Salt was more expensive than sugar, and 
more difficult to procure. Flour could not for a time be procured at any 
price, and even meal, such as is provided to-day, was unknown on the 
frontier. And even the variety of game provided, soon failed to 
answer the purposes of beef and pork. The system exposed to ravages of 
disease, and subject to the trying experience of early farm labor, de- 
manded something more substantial than this. Nor could all give their 
attention to hunting. The prime reason for the presence of most of the 
pioneers in this country was to build up a home and lay the founda- 
tions for a future competence, and to accomplish this the larger part 
of the community centered here had only their hands with which to 
accomplish their mission. It was no uncommon occurrence to find men 
surrounded by this profusion of game who never shot a deer, and oc- 
casionally one who never owned a gun. 



440 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

LIFE ON THE PRAIRIE. 

The pioneers who formed the early settlements in this county were gen- 
erally familiar with the isolation, and inured to the hardships and priva- 
tions, of frontier life, but with all this the open prairie presented difficul- 
ties to which they had hitherto been a stranger. From the standpoint of 
this later day, when the adaptability of the prairie has been so abundantly 
proven, it seems unfortunate that the early experiences of these pioneers 
led them to cling to the timbered portions of the country, where foul 
water and miasma aggravated the inevitable discomforts of frontier exist- 
ence. Life in a new country is everywhere subjected to the misery of 
malarious diseases. The clearing-oif of timber or the breaking-up of 
prairie sod, involving the rapid decay of large quantities of vegetable mat- 
ter, gave rise to the inevitable miasma, which wrought its sure work upon 
the system. Such sickness was generally confined to the last of the sum- 
mer and fall. There was but little sickness in winter, except a few linger- 
ing fall cases that had become chronic ; there were but few cases after se- 
vere frosts, and the spring and early summer were perfectly healthy. It 
was commonly remarked that when the bloom of the resin weed and other 
yellow flowers appeared, it was time to look for the ague. The first 
spring flowers on the prairie were mostly pink and white, then followed 
purple and blue, and about the middle of August yellow predominated. 
High water in spring, flooding the bottoms and filling the lagoons and low 
places along the streams, and then drying olT with the hot sun of July 
and August, was a fruitful cause of disease, and in such localities it was 
often quite sickly, while the higher prairie was comparatively exempt. 
With these evils, the pioneer was generally forced to struggle alone. 
Physicians were very few and often so far situated from the scattered settle- 
ments that it took a day's ride to reach them. But where they were 
found within practical distance, the urgent necessity for the practice of 
every economy led the settlers to depend upon their own skill. Boneset, 
Culver's physic (root), and a long list of teas and herb decoctions were to 
be found in every cabin, and most of the ailments incident to a frontier 
were generally made to yield to them. To have a severe case of 
malarial fever or several seasons' run of the ague, was expected by each 
new-comer, and none were considered as having been fully inducted into 
all the mysteries of citizenship until they had had the regular malarial 
experience. For years, people who had hitherto possessed a fresh com- 
plexion and buoyant spirit, after coming here, wore the pale, sallow com- 
plexion of semi-invalids, and often the whole community would be so gen- 
erally attacked with the prevailing distemper as to leave none to attend 
upon those who were ill. It got to be very much the custom for each 
family to prepare for the inevitable attack, arranging matters so that they 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 441 

could care for themselves, it being no infrequent thing for a whole family 
to be confined to the bed at the same time. 

The Cabin. — The early settlers brought with them nothing but what 
the necessities of the situation demanded. One wagon generally sufficed 
to bring the family, household furniture, farming implements, and fre- 
quently two or three months' supplies. It requires no great amount of 
consideration to conclude that luxuries, or even comforts, could find no 
place in such an outfit, and so the pioneer, after constructing a shelter for 
his family, found his skill and ingenuity taxed to their utmost to supply 
this deficiency. It was necessary to manufacture tables, chairs and bed- 
steads before they could be used, and some of the most striking incidents 
of frontier life are founded upon this universal dearth of ordinary com- 
forts. Hand tools were always a part of the load when possessed by the 
emigrant, but when in the absence of these the ax accomplished all that 
was necessary. A section of a good sized log, smoothed with an ax and 
furnished with a rough back, or often without a back of any sort, and legs, 
took the place of chairs. A rude bedstead was often constructed in the 
corner of the cabin with a single leg, the two sides of the structure sup- 
porting the rest of the bedstead which was framed in the logs. Upon this 
the bed cord, which could be easily brought, was arranged, or in its ab- 
sence, deer hide thongs. This or simply a pile of brush supported the 
" tick," which was brought with the family, and filled with leaves and dried 
grass until the first crop supplied a better substitute in the husks. 

The cabin itself displayed the ingenuity of the pioneer and the pov- 
erty of his resources. A log pen, with a single door and window, the 
latter closed with greased paper, and the door provided with a simple 
blanket, the fire-place constructed of such loose stones as could be found, 
and the chimney built up of sticks protected with a covering of mud; the 
roof of "shakes " split from a straight-grained tree, and held in place by 
weight poles, completed the tout ensemble of the early homes. At first 
there was often no floor but the ground, but generally slabs split out from 
the unseasoned timber were smoothed with the ax and made to do good 
service as a protection from the bare earih. When the door was con- 
structed, these "puncheons" served as the material from which it was 
constructed, wooden pins taking the place of nails, and wooden hinges, 
latch and bars serving the purposes of the modern builder's hardware. 

The Farm. — These preliminaries accomplished, the most urgent neces- 
sity was to secure a crop. The plows were crude affairs, strong and serv- 
iceable, but requiring great team power and considerable mechanical 
skill in the plowman. The sod was found tough, not easily " tamed," 
and very uncertain in producing a first crop. So tenacious was the turf, 
that the furrow turned out one unbroken strip of earth, and occasionally, 



442 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

t 

■when not especially careful, the plowman had the disappointment of see- 
ing yards of this leathery soil turn back to its natural position, necessi- 
tating the tedious operation of turning it all back again by hand. The 
expenditure of all this labor was generally well repaid the first year, if 
the sod became thoroughly rotted, even though it produced but a small 
crop. Oftentimes the second and third plowing showed the soil stubborn 
and unkind. Few, even among farmers, know much of the labor involved 
in "breaking prairie," unless they have experienced its obstacles and 
overcome them. Corn was the only crop planted at first, and this fur- 
nished food for man and beast. A few years later, it was a mark of un- 
usual prosperity to be able to furnish wheat bread to especial guests. The 
first crop was generally planted by cutting a gash in the inverted sod 
with an ax, dropping in the corn and closing it by another blow beside 
the first ; or it was dropped in every third furrow, and the sod turned 
on it ; if the corn was so placed as to find the space between the furrows, 
it would find daylight ; if not, the result of the planting was extremely 
doubtful. Of course cultivation in this case was impossible, and if the 
squirrels and crows gave the crop an opportunity to mature, it generally 
proved a satisfactory return. Later, the culture of wheat was begun, 
and with the increase of markets has grown to larger proportions. 

Most of the settlers brought in horses and cows, but the former pretty 
generally gave way to oxen for working purposes. Hogs were bought in 
the older settlements, and a little later sheep were introduced. All these 
animals were supported with little cost. The wide range of wild grass 
afforded excellent pasture and hay. With the range the early settlers 
had, their cattle would put on more flesh and in less time than on any 
other pasture. The sedge which grew along the sloughs was the first 
to start in the spring, and furnished the earliest pasture. The bent or 
blue-joint, which was principally found along the sides of the sloughs, or, 
in the vernacular of the pioneer, "between the dry and wet land," was 
preferred by stock to all other varieties, especially when mixed with the 
wild pea-vine. This made the best hay, and as its yield was very large, 
was generally selected for this purpose. But the combined ravages of 
stock and scythe rapidly exterminated it, so that in many cases the 
ground where it grew became almost bare of vegetation. The stock and 
the farmer then resorted to upland grasses, but before the settlers multi- 
plied so as to limit the range of the stock, the older and more experienced 
of the herd would go long distances to find their favorite pasture, often 
necessitating on the part of the pioneer a hunt of several days to recover 
them. 

The native grasses were scarcely less marked for their medicinal qual- 
ities. Cattle and horses seemed to be remarkably free from disease so long 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 443 

as they could find plenty of wild grass and hay to feed upon. Horses 
raised upon the prairie were said never to be afflicted with the heaves, 
while horses brought here, suflfering with this malady, were speedily cured 
by simply feeding on the native grasses. This advantage, however, was 
somewhat offset by the colic which this rank grass frequently produced in 
horses with fatal effect. The introduction of tame grasses has largely 
remedied this evil, and most farmers are now able to supply their stock 
with a mixture of the two kinds. But the wild grass of the present is 
not found in all its original purity, and the pea-vine is almost if not en- 
tirely extinct. 

Mills and Markets. — There is a beatitude not found in the usual list 
" Blessed be nothing, for ye shall want nothing," which finds abundant 
confirmation in every day's logic. Its converse, " The more we have, 
the more we want," is only another way of putting the same truth, and 
is suggested by the experience of the pioneers. No sooner was a crop 
secured than the lack of any proper means to reduce it to the necessities 
of the household was made painfully apparent. So long as the corn was 
soft, it was grated on rude graters, made by punching holes through a piece of 
tin. After it became hard, it was sometimes parched and ground in a 
coffee mill, and at other times pounded in a rudely constructed mortar. 
A stump was hollowed out by burning and scraping to serve as a mortar. 
Over this was suspended from a " sweep " a pestle, to the end of which 
was fixed an iron wedge, and with this rude machinery bushels of corn 
were broken sufficiently fine to use in the various ways common to pioneer 
days. The finest was used in " corn-pones " and dodgers, while the 
coarser part was used as hominy, the separation being effected by means 
of a sieve made of a perforated deer skin stretched tightly over a frame. 
" Corn-crackers " were put up in the various settlements at an early 
date, but these did but little better work than the mortar. They did the 
work quicker, and such a mill was kept running night and day, while 
the patrons coming from distances of fifteen or twenty miles would wait 
patiently for a day or two to get their '• grist." But for flour, the only 
resort was to La Fayette, where an older settlement had secured the 
advantages of a " flouring mill." The demand for groceries was limited 
to the means of purchasing, which were generally of the most slender 
sort. There was but little to sell, and then the only market was at 
Chicago, where the settlers hauled hundreds of bushels of shelled corn to 
sell at 30 cents per bushel. Coon skins, however, were almost "'land- 
office " money. Fur buyers were an institution of the early times here, 
and many a quarter section was purchased with the price of these skins. 

There were some luxuries, however, that could be secured without 
money. Bee trees were, in many parts of the country, found in great 



444 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

numbers, and no piece of timber was entirely devoid of them. It some- 
times required an expert to find them, and some united pleasure and 
profit in this sort of hunting. An experienced hunter would go out in a 
bright, warm day in winter or late fall and burn some honey comb, which 
seldom failed to attract the game to the honey, which was provided for 
them. Loading up with this, the bee would rise, circling in the air, 
and then fly straight to its tree. It was then the hunter's business to 
follow the fleet-winged insect closely, and thus discover its secret. To 
do this required an expert, and there were few who were marked for their 
success. Sometimes, a number of bees from a single tree, at no great 
distance, were attracted. These do not rise in circles, but darting to and 
fro in a straight line, make the course plain enough to be easily followed, 
but this is rare. In other cases, the best that can be done is to discover 
the direction of the bee's flight, and taking this — against the sun if 
possible — to stumble along with upturned gaze, scanning every tree for 
the tell-tale hole or crack. But when the tree was found, the battle was 
but half won. This must be felled, and the occupants dispossessed of 
their stores. When the hollow extended down to the point where the ax 
must penetrate it, the hunter was often obliged to decamp in hot haste 
as soon as the blows had aroused the swarm. 

The bee was easily domesticated, and many of the settlers captured 
swarms ; placed them in sections of hollow logs, and in a little while 
possessed a constant source of supply for the table and the market. In 
some cases, this was the principal source for the sweetening used in the 
culinary work of the cabin, and was the basis of a favorite drink. 
" Metheglin " was made of steeped honey comb, and honey fermented. 
It was counted an excellent drink, and much preferred to cider, and when 
strengthened by age became a powerful intoxicant. This, however, has 
passed away with many other of the homely joys of pioneer days. 

The ready tact of the pioneer housewives, and the unparapered tastes 
of that early day, found a good substitute for fruit in the pumpkin. 
When frozen, they were prepared and stewed down to a sirup, which 
furnished a very acceptable substitute for sugar or molasses in the absence 
of honey, and mixed with fresh, stewed pumpkin formed a desirable 
sweetmeat. They were planted in considerable numbers, and stored in a 
vault constructed "underneath the hay stacks to be fed to the cattle during 
the winter. Well may this "fruit loved of boyhood" be apostrophized 
by the poet, and be honorably placed in a State's coat of arms. 

Prairie Travel. — Neighborhoods extended over a wide area of country, 
and a journey of fifteen miles was not considered a great undertaking for 
an afternoon's visit. Roads were few, and the prairie, easily cut up, often 
presented, at points where lines of travel were obliged by the conformation 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 445 

of the land to unite, bog holes, that proved almost impassable. So long 
as the paucity of settlement allowed a pretty free selection of route, mud 
holes could be generally evaded, and a worn track avoided. But this 
practice had its disadvantages. In a country without continuous fences, 
and few landmarks, save the groves, it requires some skill and an intimate 
knowledge of the country to successfully cross even a small prairie in 
daylight. Crossing the uncultivated prairie at night was a very uncertain 
venture even to the most expert. If the night was clear, the stars were 
a reliable guide, and the pioneers became quite proficient in the simpler 
rudiments of astronomy. In a cloudy night, and a snowy or foggy day, 
their resources were less sure. A steady wind often proved the only 
guide. The traveler, getting his bearings, would note how the wind 
struck his nose — the right or left ear — and then, keenly alive to these 
sensations, would so maintain his course as to keep the bearing of the 
wind always the same, and regardless of all other guides would generally 
reach his destination without difficulty. To do this required no little 
skill, and a steady wind. If the latter changed gradually, the better the 
skill, the wider the traveler diverged from his true course. Without these 
guides, it was a mere accident if a person succeeded in crossing even a 
small prairie. The tendency is to move in a circle, and when this is once 
begun and observed by the traveler, the only resource is to camp in the 
most convenient place and manner, and wait for morning. Each family 
had its signal light, which served to mark the place of the cabin. It was 
a frequent practice to erect a pole by the chimney, upon which a lighted 
lantern was placed. Others had a light in the window, which often saved 
a dreary night's experience on the open prairie. 

Such experiences, unpleasant in mild weather, were too often fatal in 
the winter season. The trackless prairie, covered with a deceptive expanse 
of snow, and swept by a fierce blast, which pierced the most ample clothing 
and the hardiest frame, made the stoutest heart waver. Journeys were 
seldom undertaken in such circumstances, save under stress of the most 
urgent necessity. But nearly every early settler can remember some 
experience in winter-season traveling, while some never reached the home 
they sought, or the end of the journey reluctantly begun. 

An incident of this sort is related which resulted in the first adult 
death in the county. John M. Piper, who had come in 1837 to select 
land, made his choice in the Barkley settlement, and started on the 18th 
of December on foot for La Porte to make the proper entry. Soon after 
starting on his journey, a snow storm set in, and he was never again seen 
alive. For thirty miles his route lay through the untracked prairie with 
no guide but a faint Indian trail, and it was thought that he must have 
succumbed to the fierceness of the storm the first night. His body was 



446 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

found on the 4th of tlfe March following, on the farm of Mr. Henry 
Barkley, Sr. Attention was attracted to the spot by the collection of 
buzzards, and on examination the remains were found and identified, 
though horribly mutilated by wolves and birds. His shoes were 
found nearly cut to pieces by the snow, his mittens in his pocket, 
and his cane in his hand. His money, consisting of some $200 in gold 
and silver, was undisturbed, and it was supposed that becoming bewil- 
dered, he had traveled in a circle until, overcome with fatigue and cold, he 
laid down and died. 

With the settlement of the prairie, and the regular laying-out of 
roads, traveling became less dangerous, though scarcely less difficult. 
The amount of labor which could be devoted by the few people in the 
scattered settlements, made but little effect upon the roads of a country, 
which seemed particularly exposed, by the character of the soil and the 
conformation of its surface, to the unfavorable action of rain, and even 
now the farming community pays a heavy annual tribute to muddy, im- 
passable roads. 

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. 

It will be observed that the county of Jasper, while projected in 1835, 
had no independent organization until some time later. As originally 
erected, it occupied the territory now known as Benton County, and a part 
only of its present area. Until 1838, it remained attached to Warren 
County when it was organized by the Commissioners of that county. The 
principal settlements at that time were on the Big Pine Creek, some thirty 
miles south of the present site of Rensselaer, and the Kenoyer settle- 
ment west of the present location of Brook, in Newton County. The 
county seat was fixed at Pine Township, and the first Board of Commis- 
sioners elected in 1837 met at the house of Robert Alexander in Parish 
Grove in January, 1838. The members of this board were Amos White, 
Joseph Smith and Frederick Kenoyer, and at their first session it was 
ordered " that the Circuit Court, Probate Court and Commissioners' Court 
be held hereafter at the house oi" George W. Spitler, provided a majority 
of Pine Township be in favor of it, which is to be known, by Amos White 
taking a petition through said Pine Township and getting every voter to 
sign the petition for or against the removal." The result was that six- 
teen signed in favor and eight against the proposed removal. This was a 
remarkable vote when it is considered that it moved the seat of justice to 
a smaller settlement in the northern edge of the county. It is explained, 
however, by the fact that George W. Spitler had been elected as Clerk, 
and refused to act unless the place of business was brought nearer to his 
residence. The Commissioners would be better accommodated by this 
change, and as the duties of these offices were a thankless task, this 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 447 

concession was made, and in March, 1839, the Commissioners met at the 
house of Mr. Spitler, which was located about half of a mile south of 
Lyon's mill, in Iroquois Township, in Newton County. In the meanwhile, 
the act of the Legislature providing for the consolidation of the counties 
of Newton and Jasper had been passed and the whole political geography 
of this section changed. 

In 1835, the Commissioners of White County ordered that all of 
Indiana west of White County, and north of Township 28 north, to the 
Illinois line, and north of White County to the line dividing Townships 
33 and 34 north, which territory had been attached to White County, 
should be organized as Marion Township, and an election was ordered to 
be held at the house of William Donahue on the 26th of September, 1835. 
At this election, the following votes were polled : Thomas Randle, John 
Stump, David Phegley, George Culp, George Phillips and William Dona- 
hue. Of these six votes, Thomas Randle received three votes and John 
Stump three. This was undoubtedly the first election held within the 
limits of this county, and in consequence of the tie a second one was 
ordered to be held at the same place in the following May. On this 
occasion, the following persons voted : Herbert Owens, David Phegley, 
Harry Owens, Eli Haskins, John Nowels, John Price, Thomas Randle, 
George Culp, Alexander Crockett, J. D. Yeoman, John L. Stump, Silas 
Phillips, George Phillips, William Donahue and Michael Stump, Randle 
receiving ten votes and George Stump receiving five votes for the Justice 
of the Peace, and Alexander Crockett being elected Constable by the 
same vote. Some time during the early summer of 1836, the few settlers 
of Marion Township petitioned the County Commissioners of White 
County to change the place of election to a more central point, and the 
house of John Price was accordingly designated. The names appended 
to this petition exhibit, in addition to the names recorded above, that of 
Samuel Shannahan. In the meanwhile, Porter County had been organ- 
ized, and in addition to absorbing that part of Newton County north of 
the Kankakee River, its jurisdiction was temporarily extended over all or 
part of the remaining territory of the original county of Newton. At 
their September session in 1837, the County Commissioners of Porter 
ordered, " that all the territory attached to Porter County that it called 
Newton County shall form and constitute a township to be known by the 
name of Marion, and that there shall be an election held at the house of 
John Price on October 21, 1837, to elect one Justice of the Peace, and 
William Donahue is appointed Inspector." In accordance with this 
action of the Commissioners, an election was held on Saturday, October 
21, 1837, at the house of Mr. Price, when the following persons voted: 
Thomas Randle, Robert Mallatt, William Overton, Stephen Nowels, 



448 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

Alfred Marvin, George Gulp, George G. Williams, J. D. Yeoman, Robert 
Parker, Herbert Owen, Solomon Davidson, Edward Dyer, Hiram Mallatt, 
John Nowels, Samuel Shannahan, William Gillara, John M. Gillam, 
Erastus Smith, John Price and George Burgett. At this election, William 
Donahue received the unanimous vote for the position of the Justice of 
the Peace. In the following spring (1838), Donahue, ex officio Coroner, 
held an inquest on the body of John M. Piper, who was lost in the snow 
as noted in the preceding pages. The jury summoned on this occasion 
shows the names of J. G. Parkinson, James Reed, S. Sherwood, John 
Burgett, George B. McCulloch and S. H. Benjamin in addition to others 
already named. In the August election of this year, 1838, the list of 
voters include, in addition, names of Robert and Henry Barkley, Enos 
Marshall and John Lewis. 

On the organization of Jasper County in 1838, the old county of 
Newton seems to have been re-attached to White County, and on the 3d 
day of September in that year, this territory, which had been named Mar- 
ion Township by the White County authorities, and subsequently confirmed 
in the same title by the Porter County officials, was divided by the former 
authorities under whose jurisdiction the territory had come again. 
According to this action, " all of Newton County lying in the forks of the 
Pinkamink, and all lying east from the bridge across the east branch of 
that creek, and by a line due east from that bridge ; all on the north of 
that line," was erected into the township of Barkley in honor of Mr. 
Henry Barkley, Sr. This territory was subsequently attached to Jasper 
County as originally formed, and the Commissioners of the latter county, 
at their March meeting in 1839, divided this territory into Newton and 
Pinkamink Townships, the latter containing all territory south and east 
of the Iroquois River. The voting precincts were established at the house 
of Joseph D. Yeoman, and at the house of William Donahue, and an elec- 
tion ordered for the April following. Owing to the destruction of the 
early records in the burning of the court house, it is difficult to ascertain 
the result of these early measures, but it is probable that the action of 
the Legislature in January of this year rendered their action of no effect. 
The name of Pinkamink did not cling to any civil division, and Newton 
was established later. 

In June, 1839, the Legislative Commissioners met, consolidated the 
territory of Jasper and Newton, and restricted the latter name to a 
township which probably included the present townships of Newton and 
that part of Marion north of the Iroquois. What was the subsequent 
action of the County Commissioners elected under the new dispensation 
is simply a matter of conjecture. The records previous to 1849 were 
destroyed, but at this date there were five townships, Jordan, Marion, 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 449 

Newton, Barkley and Gillam, which covered the present territory of Jasper 
County. Jordan and Marion occupied the territory south of the Iroquois 
River, the latter including the village of Rensselaer and some little ad- 
joining territory. The rest of the county was covered by the other town- 
ships, each of which had the Kankakee River as its northern boundary. 
The next township organized was Walker, the original boundaries of 
which were doubtless plain and accurate enough for the purposes of that 
time, but rather obscure now. It was erected at the March session of 
the Commissioners in 1851, with the following boundaries : Commencing 
at the bridge over Copperas Creek ; thence east to Moses Davidson's 
mill-dam ; thence to the mouth of Stump's slough ; thence to the east line 
of the county ; along said line to the Kankakee River ; thence westwardly 
along the river to a line of Beaver Township (now Newton County line), 
thence to place of beginning." This was probably intended to include all 
the present territory of Jasper north of the Copperas Creek. In 1853, 
there was a general revision of township lines, and the boundaries of 
Walker were changed to the following: " Commencing at the southeast 
corner of Section 17, Township 31 north, Range 5 west; thence east to 
the county line ; thence north on that line to the Kankakee River ; thence 
along said river to the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8 ; thence south on said 
line to the southwest corner of Section 18, Township 30 ; thence east to 
the line of Gillam Township ; thence north to place of beginning." This 
includes nearly one-half of the whole area of the present county. 

The lines of Gillam Township were arranged as now found on the 
map, save the northwest corner was square, the corner being established 
at the southeast corner of Section 17, Township 31 north. Range Sweat. 
The southwest corner of the township also followed the section line 
between Sections 4 and 5 instead of the line of the river. 

Barkley Township was defined as follows : " Commencing at the 
southwest corner of Section 18, Township 30, on range line between 
Ranges 6 and 7, thence south to the Iroquois River ; following the river 
thence to the forks, and thence northeastly, following the line of the 
Pinkamink to the line of Gillam Township ; thence north to the southeast 
corner of Walker Township ; thence west to the place of beginning." 

Marion Township was comprised within the following boundaries : 
Commencing at a point one and a half miles west of the northwest corner 
of Barkley Township ; thence south twelve miles ; thence east to range 
line between Ranges 5 and 6 ; thence north to the Pinkamink River; 
thence along said river to the forks of the Pinkamink and Iroquois River; 
thence northwest along the river to the line between Ranges 6 and 7 ; 
thence north to the line of Walker Township ; thence west to the place 
of beginning. 



450 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

The lines of Newton Township began at the point where the Iroquois 
River crosses the line between Ranges 7 and 8, follows up the stream to 
the west line of Marion, thence with this line to Walker Township, and 
thence with that line to the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8, and thence 
south to the place of beginning. 

At this session, Hanging Grove Township was erected substantially 
as it is at present. The first boundaries made the line between Townships 
28 and 29 to the southern limit, but subsequently at the same session the 
following boundaries were established, which remain to the present writ- 
ing : " Commencing at a point where the dividing line between Ranges 
5 and 6 crosses the Pinkamink River ; thence east following the river to the 
center line dividing Section 9, 10, 11, and 12 ; thence due east to the 
county line ; thence south to the White County line ; thence west three 
miles ; thence south one mile ; thence west to the line between Ranges 5 
and 6, thence north to the place of beginning." This township was struck 
off from the original territory of Marion Township which was not included 
in the revised boundaries of that township given above. 

Jordan Township included all the rest of the present territory of 
Jasper County. 

In the March session of 1856, the Commissioners erected the town- 
ship of Kankakee, which included all that territory north of Township 31, 
Ranges 5 and 6 ; i. e., the present townships of Kankakee and Wheat- 
field. In March of 1858, Keener Township was erected out of " Town- 
ships 31 and 32, in Range 7, and so much of Township 30, Range 7, as 
lies north of Newton." In the following June Wheatfield Township was 
erected with its present boundaries; i. e., so much of Range 6 as lies be- 
tween Township 31 and the Kankakee River. In March, 1862, Jordan 
Township was divided, the following boundaries defining the new town- 
ship, which was called Carpenter: " Commencing at the northeast corner 
of Section 4, Township 27, Range 6, and running west on the township 
line to the west line of the county ; thence south on said line to the Ben- 
ton County line ; thence east on said line to the southeast corner of Sec- 
tion 33, Township 27, Range 5 ; thence north on the White County line 
to place of beginning." In December, 1867, Milroy Township was 
erected as follows : " Commencing at the southeast corner of Section 4, 
Township 28, Range 5 ; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 
3, Township 28, Range 6 ; thence south to the southwest corner of Sec- 
tion 27, Township 28, Range 6 ; thence east on the southern boundary 
of the county to the southeast corner of Section 28, Township 28, Range 
5 ; thence north on the east boundary of the county to place of beginning." 
In December, 1868, the last township organized. Union, was erected as 
follows : " Commencing at the northeast corner of Section 20, Township 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 451 

31, Range 6, thence west to the northwest corner of Section 19, Town- 
ship 31, Range 7 ; thence running south to the southwest corner of Sec- 
tion 31, Township 30, Range 7 ; thence east to the southeast corner of 
Section 32, Township 30, Range 6 ; thence north to the northeast corner 
of Section 20, Township 31, Range 6, to place of beginning." These 
lines were changed in June, 1861, so as to restrict the new 'township 
within its present limits. The minor changes in the boundaries of the 
various townships have been numerous and in many cases trivial, and very 
often necessitated by oversight in the original lines. These have not 
been stated, nor will the present map of the county exactly agree with 
these boundaries, as some minor changes have since been made. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

OflScial dignity of the early day was of a homespun character, and 
required no great expense to provide appropriate surroundings. When 
it was decided to remove the place of county business to the Brook settle- 
ment, Mr. George W. Spitler, who was the first Clerk, and subsequently 
discharged the clerical duties of all the offices save that of Sheriff and 
Treasurer, erected a log building about sixteen feet square for the uses of 
the Commissioners and Circuit Court at his place of residence. This 
served in the double capacity of court room and boarding house until the 
removal of the seat of justice, in 1839, to the Rapids of the Iroquois. In 
this year, Rensselaer was laid out, and in accordance with the custom of 
that day, the proprietor donated, in addition to the public square, four 
blocks for the erection of public buildings. The first building to serve as a 
court house in the new county seat, was a small building erected on Cor- 
nelia street between Front and Van Rensselaer streets, near where the 
Barton residence was subsequently built. In 1845, Van Rensselaer also 
erected, at his own expense, a two-story frame building, 31x36 feet, on 
the lot nearly east of the square, on Cullen street, for a court house. 
This was arranged with the court room below and offices above. 

The offices were not used, however, by the county officials as they pre- 
ferred their own residences as more convenient, and as the records were 
not then voluminous, this served the county just as well and required no 
extra expense for fuel. This served until 1857, when a brick structure 
was erected on the public square. The first steps toward securing this 
building were taken by the Board of Commissioners in the September 
session of 1853. It was then ordered by the board that the Auditor con- 
tract for a hundred thousand brick and for the delivery of material for a 
foundation. The specifications required the walls of the foundation to be 
of stone, to be begun two feet below the surface, to be two feet wide and 
four feet high, and to be of faced work above the ground. The specifica- 



452 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

tions were so far changed as to make the foundation three feet wide be- 
low the surface, and the Avork to be finished by December 15, 1853. 
The outside dimensions were to be 70x40 feet, court room above and six 
oflfice rooms below, three on each side of a hall, ten feet wide, extending 
through the length of the building. The plans seem to have been de- 
vised by the Commissioners, and the specifications drawn by George 
Brown, architect, of La Fayette. On May 6, 1854, a contract was awarded 
to Benjamin Henkle for the erection of the superstructure, he to take the 
brick purchased by the county, at a stipulated price, and to complete the 
building within two years. For this he was to receive $10,000, and an 
allowance for anticipating the time set for the completion of the contract 
at the rate of $500 per annum. The finances of the county were not in 
the most flourishing condition, and the records show that Henkle finally 
begged to be relieved from finishing the building, reciting the fact that he 
had been put to great inconvenience and loss by the failure of the county 
to pay according to contract, and that if final payment was delayed until 
the completed building should be accepted, there would be no money in 
the treasury. The (Contractor was, however, put off with expressions of 
satisfaction as to the work so far as finished, but still held to his contract. 
The building was finally accepted in September, 1856. The original 
specifications called for vaults for the records of the county, but these 
were subsequently modified in this respect to the eventual cost of the 
county: In 1864, the court house caught fire and was partially destroyed. 
The fire was first discovered about 11 o'clock at night, and at that time 
the flames had got beyond the control of the facilities which the town 
afforded for checking it. It was generally supposed that the fire was the 
work of an incendiary, who was interested in the destruction of the 
records, and suspicion pointed generally to one man who left the county 
about that time, though no evidence was obtained to fasten the guilt upon 
any one. The whole interior and roof of the structure was burned and all 
the papers and records of the county were destroyed save such as were 
rescued and thrown out of the burning building. The cheap vaults 
proved no protection, and the loss thus incurred cannot be fully esti- 
mated. The walls of the building were found generally in good condi- 
tion and were left untouched, save the removal of about three hundred 
brick and the straightening of the west wall which was warped a little out 
of line. J. A. Silver was the contractor for the repairs, to which were 
added the construction of sufficient vaults for the protection of valuable 
papers and records, at a cost of $954. 

The first jail was built in 1847, the erection of which was constructed 
by George W. Spitler, the actual work being done by Willis J. Wright, 
who was then a carpenter by trade. It was built of hewed logs, twelve 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 453 

inches square, and was constructed about 20x26 feet in size, with two 
rooms. Its architectural plan was simply that of a tight box with one 
small window and door to each room. One room led off from the other. 
The former was the stronghold and was constructed of double timbers, 
the door of heavy timbers and the window guarded by strong iron bars. 
For this building Spitler received four blocks of the village plat, contain- 
ing forty-eight lots, which had been donated for the purpose of providing 
public buildings. The first prisoner incarcerated was the famous Shaffer, 
who was subsequently killed in Newton County. The lock of the door 
had been put on in such a way as to expose the bolt where it entered the 
socket, and Shaffer, who was extraordinarily strong in his fingers, 
managed to shoot back the bolt, and before the Sheriff was out of sight 
was standing on the outside of the building to the no small amusement of 
lookers-on. The Sheriff replaced him and that night the prisoner repeat- 
ed the performance, but seems to have become bewildered and found him- 
self in the morning near the dam at the head of the rapids. He then 
concluded he would go to the Sheriff's house for breakfast, where he ap- 
peared before he was missed, and subsequently was lodged in the peniten- 
tiary for a five years' term. This structure served the purpose of a jail 
until 1856, when it was torn down and removed. It had been condemned 
by the grand jury before, but the inability of the county to supply its 
place with another caused it to be used for some time. Until 1883, the 
county obtained accommodations for their prisoners at La Fayette, Monti- 
cello and Fowler. At the December session of the Commissioners in 
1881, the county entered into contract with P. J. Pauley & Brother, of 
St. Louis, to erect the present brick building on the corner of Cullen 
and Harrison streets. Lots 4 and 5 in Block 10 of the original plat. The 
contract price was ^11,655, to which was added ^1,087 for the " Haxtem 
patent" steam heating apparatus, with which the jail is warmed. The 
specifications of the latter require the interior to be raised to the temper- 
ature of seventy degrees when the mercury outside stands at twenty de- 
grees below zero. George M. Robinson was the superintendent of con- 
struction on the part of the county, receiving for his services two and one- 
half per cent of the contract price. 

A " Poor Farm" was established in 1870. Up to this time, the pau- 
pers of the county were farmed out to the lowest bidder, and the records 
bear the frequent and somewhat startling statement of various persons being 
" sold " at various prices. On March 10, 1870, 240 acres on Section 23, 
Township 29 north. Range 7 west, were purchased for ^4,659, subject also 
to a mortgage of ^341. On this stood a brick residence, which served the 
purposes of the county until a year or two later, when a frame building 
was erected at a cost of 3475.45. The former building is used to accom- 



454 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

modate such of the inmates as do not need close attention, while the 
superintendent and other inmates occupy the newer building. For the 
incurable insane, the county has provided apartments especially adapted 
for the confinement of the more dangerous of this class, while others are 
cared for at the farm. The last report of the farm, dated March 31, 
1882, gives the value of personal property remaining on the farm at $1,- 
353.70, consisting of corn, oats and wheat in the bin and crib, cows, 
hogs and poultry, and household and kitchen furniture. There were at 
this date fourteen inmates, four pronounced incurably insane, three badly 
crippled, two epileptics, one blind, and four old and almost helpless. 
The report adds: " The farm is in tolerably good condition, and the in- 
mates have comfortable rooms and are well cared for by the Superintend- 
ent, Simon Phillips." 

COUNTY OFFICIALS. 

Owing to the unfortunate destruction of the records, it is impossible 
to give a full list of those who have occupied official positions in the 
county. George W. Spitler was Clerk from 1838 to 1856 ; Charles M. 
Watson, from 1856 to 1860 ; David I. Jackson, from 1860 to 1868 ; Mar- 
ion L. Spitler, from 1868 to 1876 ; Charles H. Price, from 1876 to the 
present. 

George W, Spitler was Auditor until 1852 ; Lawson Bruce was 
elected his successor, but served only a few months, when he was taken 
sick and died. John D. Nork was appointed to fill the vacancy 
thus occasioned, and served until the next general election in 1855. Tur- 
ner Knox was then elected, and served until 1859 ; David T. Halstead 
served from 1859 to 1867 ; Ira W. Yeoman, from 1867 to 1871 ; Frank 
W. Babcock, from 1871 to 1875; Henry Barkley, from 1875 to 1879 ; 
Ezra C. Nowels, from 1879, and is the present incumbent. 

The first Recorder was George W. Spitler, who served until 1856 ; 
Cyrus W. Henkle, from 1856 to 1864; Ezra L. Clark, from 1864 to 
1872 ; Harvey W. Wood, from 1872 to 1881 ; James T. Abbott, from 
1881, and is the present incumbent. 

The first Treasurer was Albert Persail, succeeded by Samuel L. Spar- 
ling, who served until 1852 ; Jacob Merkle, from 1852 to 1856 ; Ezra 
Wright, from 1856 to 1860 ; Samuel Alter, from 1860 to 1864 ; Thomas 
Boroughs, from 1864 to 1868 ; Charles Piatt, from 1868 to 1870; Lemuel 
Henkle, from 1870 to 1872; Lemuel C.Jones, from 1872 to '1876 ; 
Henry I. Adams from 1876 to 1880 ; Moses B. Alter, from 1880, and 
is the present incumbent. 

The Sherifts have been : Dunn, Barkley, William Stew- 
art, John Phillips, William Henderson, Willis J. Wright, to 1858 ; Simon 
Phillips from 1858 to 1862 ; Daniel F. Davies, elected in 1862, and died 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 455 

in office; John M. Austin, Coroner, serving the unexpired term ; Charles 
Piatt, from 1864 to 1868; Allen J. Yeoman, from 18*38 to 1872 ; Lewis 
L. Daugherty, from 1872 to 1876 ; George M. Robinson, from 1876 to 
1880; John W. Powell, from 1880, and is the present officer. 

The Surveyors have been : Welch, Wesley Spitler, James Bal- 
lard, Frederick Schraack, J. D. Hopkins, John Miller, II. B. James, Jo- 
seph M. Hopkins, Charles P. Mayhew, Daniel B. Miller, Lewis S. Alter, 
from 1880, and is the present incumbent. 

The Coroners have been : John M. Austin, Norman Warner, F. J. 
Sears, from 1881, and is the present incumbent. There were others pre- 
ceding this list, but there are no data at hand to complete the statement. 

School Examiners have been: David Snyder, 11. S. Pierce, L. A. 
Cole, Alfred Thomson, H. A. Mayhew, S. P. Thompson, G. M. John- 
son, J. H. Snoddy, David B. Nowels, since 1879, and is the present 
official. 

The list of County Commissioners is quite imperfect. The first 
board consisted of Joseph Smith, Frederick Kenoyer and Amos White ; 
since then, among those who have served in recent years, G. H. Brown, 
W. K. Parkinson, C. M. Watson, Samuel McCullough, George Major, Jared 
Benjamin, George Kessler, Frederick Hoover, E. Rockwood, Isaac D. 
Dunn, George W. Burk, Asa C. Prevo and John Waymire. 

THE EARLY COURTS. 

The first session of the Circuit Court was held in 1839, at the 
Clerk's residence in the Brook settlement, and was attended by Isaac 
Naylor as Judge, with Matthew Tervvilliger and James T. Timmons as 
Associates. The Prosecuting Attorney was Joseph A. Wright, who has 
subsequently represented a district in Congress ; been twice elected Gov- 
ernor of the State, and later appointed as United States Minister to the 
court at Berlin. Rufus A. Lockwood was in the suite of the court, 
though it does not appear that he had any case before the court here at 
this time. Mr. Lockwood subsequently became a distinguished lawyer, 
and will especially be remembered for his successful prosecution of Gen. 
Fremont's claim to the Mariposa tract, for which he received the fee of 
$100,000, an exceptional amount for that time. The court room was the 
building referred to as the first court house, wheve, after the daily ses- 
sjpn, judicial and social distinctions were forgotten, and Judges, opposing 
counsel, and " discreet, good and lawful jurors." lay down together with 
millennium peacefulness of the lion and the lamb. The first cause on 
the civil docket was " Hepsey Montgomery, administrator, vs. Ed Boon, 
administrator." On the criminal docket, the first case was the State 
against I. T. Timmons. This was promptly nollcied by the court, and it 



456 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

may be reasonably questioned whether it was not a " practical joke" 
against one of the Judges of the Court or some of his relations. At all 
events, it does not appear again in any subsequent proceedings. A sec- 
ond case Avas against Jonathan Hunt for " assault and battery," but it 
seems to have been brought to an untimely end by the absence of the de- 
fendant. Writs for his apprehension were issued from several counties, 
but he seems to have been of such a retiring nature that even all this 
show of official consideration entirely failed to attract him to the sessions 
of this first court. The evidence seems to show that he persisted in this 
conduct to the end, and never graced the court with his presence. The 
proceedings were further varied by a petition for divorce — Louisa Barr 
against Andrew Barr. 

The first session of the Circuit Court at Rensselaer was held in the 
"old half-demolished cabin near the residence of Mr. Merkle," in 
April, 1840. The grand jury, consisting of fifteen men, was made up 
of the following citizens of the county : W. Donahue, Hannaniah Hew- 
itt, Wesley Spitler, Robert Mallatt, Lewis Elijah, William Gillam, Will- 
iam Doran, Joseph Woolsey, George Culp, Thomas Timmons, James 
Reed, James Brown, Andrew Richey, Joseph D. Yeoman and Samuel 
Benjamin. The fall term of this year was attended here by Judge J. 
W. Wright, of Logansport. The court house in the interim had been 
unused, and effectually occupied by a vigorous colony of bed-bugs. The 
court learned that the temple of justice had been occupied by a number 
of "red-skinned warriors," who seemed disposed to dispute its possession 
with the constituted authorities ; but nothing daunted, the Judge had 
confidence in the awe-inspiring influence of the law, even on a savage, 
and proceeded to the disputed point. A single glance revealed the in- 
equality of the contest, and the session was opened in an unfinished build- 
ing designed for a blacksmith shop. » 

The Probate Court was first opened in 1839, at the court house in the 
"Brook settlement," the whole proceedings of the term being summed up 
in the following entry : " There being no business before the court, it 
adjourned. David McConnel. Judge." At a subsequent session, the 
business consisted of granting letters of administration to Elias Clifton, on 
the estate of John Wolf; setting off a dower to Mrs. Julia Lewis, 
widow of Benjamin Lewis, deceased, and the granting of a marriage 
license to James Lacy and Matilda Blue, the marriage ceremony being per- 
formed by John Lyons, Esq. 

CRIME. 

In its early history, Jasper County bore an unsavory reputation. The 
impenetrable character of the swamp lands along the Kankakee River 
afforded a safe retreat for a class of criminals who were early known as 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 457 

the " Bandits of the Prairie," and while their depredations were not com- 
mitted so much upon the people here, they made this region a resort to 
evade the pursuit from other quarters, and gained for the county the repu- 
tation of being a community of those-thieves. This class infested the 
Northwest as early as 1837, and while they scrupled at the commission 
of no form of crime, they were especially annoying in their principal 
business of horse-stealing and counterfeiting. Their plan of operations 
was to take the lighter horses of Illinois to Indiana and sell them, making 
their return trip with heavy draft horses which were disposed of in Iowa 
and Michigan. For a time these depredations were carried on with im- 
punity- The population, scattered at considerable distances apart, was 
principally confined to the edge of the timber, leaving the prairie a broad 
highway for these bandits to pass from one end of the country to the other 
undiscovered. The early settlers did not submit to this state of affairs 
without some efforts to bring these persons to justice and to recover their 
property, but singly the pioneers proved poor trappers of this game. 
The bandits were known to be desperate characters, adepts in the use 
of weapons and in traveling the open prairie, and it often happened that 
when a party got close upon the thieves, discretion seemed the better part 
of valor, and the chase was given up. Their success emboldened these 
robbers, and the early land and stock buyers learned to seldom travel 
alone, and never unarmed. 

A good horse caused many persons to be waylaid and killed, and a 
large amount of money in the possession of an unprotected person, almost 
inevitably brought him into trouble. Burglary soon followed success on 
the road. Farmers became more cautious and evaded these footpads. In 
this case the cabin was entered, and the money taken, while the family 
was kept discreetly quiet by a threatening pistol. The open-handed hos- 
pitality of a new country made the settlers an easy prey to those who 
lacked even the traditional respect of the Bedouin freebooter. It was 
impossible to discriminate between the worthy stranger and the bandit, 
and the stranger taken in was more likely to prove a robber than an angel 
in disguise. Civil authority seemed hopelessly incapable of remedying 
the evil. Occasionally a desperado would be apprehended. Legijl 
quibbles would follow and the rascals get free, or justice would be delayed 
until a jail-delivery would set him loose to prey upon the public again. 
This occurred with such monotonous regularity and unvarying success, 
that the scattered pioneers began to lose confidence in each other, and 
anarchy seemed about to be ushered in. 

Counterfeiting was an evil which was carried on to a considerable 
extent within the limits of this county, and caused a great deal of indigna- 
tion among the honest settlers hero. The two classes of outlaws were 



458 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

united and had their sympathizers everywhere among the early settlers. 
Indeed, the latter class became so bold in their operations as to take little 
pains to conceal their work, and so skillful as to deceive the officials of 
the land office. It is said that a neighbor came upon a blacksmith of this 
county one rainy day, and found him busily engaged in coining bogus 
money. He made no attempt to conceal his dies, but said, in a matter- 
of-fact way, that he had just finished making enough to enter another 
quarter section of land, and proposed to stop the business. This he did, 
destroying his dies and showing them to his neighbor, but he secured 
his land and no official scrutiny was ever directed toward his manner 
of getting his property. This was not an isolated case, and both men 
were respected as men of high social character and probity, but the theory 
seemed to exist that so long as the evil was not directed against the home 
cummunity, it was a venial crime. 

The Jasper Rangers. — Such looseness in the public morals, however, 
had their inevitable re-action, and the reputation and peace of the com- 
munity began to suffer. Horse-thieving, petty larceny of all kinds, 
malicious destruction of property, murderous assaults and counterfeit 
money became prevalent right here, and finally aroused the people to the 
necessity of a determined prosecution of these ofienses. Accordingly, in 
February, 1858, a company was organized in this county under " an act 
authorizing the formation of companies for the detection and apprehension 
of horse-thieves and other felons, and defining their powers." It was 
composed of two men from each township under the direction of a captain, 
and each man was constituted a detective to arrest or cause the arrest of 
any suspicious character. The effect of this company's work was prompt 
and salutary. Before the organization was two weeks old, it secured the 
apprehension of a noted horse-thief, and a week later had him safely in- 
carcerated in the penetentiary under sentence of a five years' term. The 
honest residents of the county cordially aided the company, which in a year 
or two rid the country of the gang which infested the county. On one 
occasion, a new wagon of a settler was found mutilated and essentially 
ruined. Suspicion pointed to a man and his four sons, one of whom was 
apprehended and examined. Nothing could be elicited, and it was deter- 
mined to try more forcible means. A rope was procured and the victim 
pulled up to a tree in the court house yard. After suspending him as 
long as they dared, he was lowered. But he still remained firm in his 
denial of any knowledge of the affair. He was again strung up and would 
probably have died had not one of the Rangers cut him down. Once 
brought to his senses, he " gave the whole gang away." This organiza- 
tion subsequently got upon the track of the counterfeiters' organization, 
found and destroyed dies of these operators in Union Township, Mc- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 459 

Clellan, Bogus Island and west of these places. These places were evi- 
dently the workshops of the gang, and contained guns, saddles and 
bridles, counterfeit coin, dies, provision, etc. There was no serious en- 
counter, though armed men appeared to dispute the party's advance. 
Finding a determined show of force would not turn the Rangers from 
their course, they made a hurried retreat. With the growth of settle- 
ments and the drainage of these swamp lands, this species of outlawry has 
long since ceased, and Jasper County bears a reputation for a law-abiding, 
thrifty population second to no county in the State. Its courts have 
had no cases of remarkable importance, save perhaps the action of the 
County Commissioners against a Treasurer of the county, and the contro- 
versy in relation to the formation of Newton County. These were 
both settled in the Supreme Court. 

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. 

The early reputation of the county in regard to its social as well as 
its physical characteristics greatly retarded the growth of population in 
the county. There were no railroads, no newspaper until about 1854, 
and very poor highways, and so long as these characteristics remained 
prominent, the unsettled portions of other parts of the State secured the 
larger part of the immigration westward. The tide began to change, 
however, soon after 1850, and ten years later a new impulse was given to 
the community here by the removal of many of the hindrances which had 
been hitherto operative. 

The pioneers of Jasper County came principally from Ohio, Penn- 
sylvania, with a number from Virginia and other Southern States and 
from New York. Most of these families had been pioneers in older settle- 
ments in the States from which they came, or had grown up in frontier 
colonies, which their fathers had founded, and had been trained in the 
stern school of experience to meet and conquer the difficulties of a 
new country. But the problem here, nevertheless, presented difficulties 
entirely different from those with which their earlier experience had ac- 
quainted them. The timber that skirted the margins of the rivers and 
sent out spurs here and there along the banks of the creeks and marshes, 
divided the vast open plain of grass and flowers in two great divisions. 
North of the Iroquois, the deceptive meadow was circumscribed by timber, 
while on the south the broad expanse of the grand prairie, marked here 
and there by a stray clump of undersized trees, stretched away toward 
the south, unbounded save by the horizon, and the pioneer with his little 
retinue of wagons was lost in this luxuriant wilderness like a convoy of 
sloops in midocean. 

The first sight of a great prairie is one never to be forgotten. The 



460 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

beholder strains his eyes to take in its extent until the effort becomes 
painful, while its beauty and richness foil the powers of expression. It 
is a new and wonderful revelation. Strange sights and sounds greet 
the senses on every side. The piping note of the prairie squirrel, as 
he drops from his erect posture and seeks the protection of his hole on 
the first alarm ; the shrill notes of the plover, scattered about in countless 
numbers, fitfully starting and running over the meadow; the booming of 
the prairie cock ; the mad scream of the crooked-bill curlew as you ap- 
proach its nest; the distant whoop of the crane ; the pump-sounding note 
of the bittern ; the lithe and graceful form of the deer in companies of 
three to five, lightly bounding over the swells of the prairie; the beauti- 
ful harmony of color and rich profusion of flowers — it all seems like a 
new creation, an earthly paradise. 

Every immigrant supplied his own means of reaching his destined 
home. The pioneer from Pennsylvania, Ohio, or the Southern States, 
betrayed his nativity and prejudice in the schooner-shape wagon box, the 
stifi" tongue, the hinder wheels double the size of the forward ones, and 
closely coupled together, the whole drawn by a team of four or six horses, 
which were guided by a single line in the hands of a teamster riding the 
"nigh wheeler." His harness was of gigantic proportions. What be- 
tween the massive leather breeching, the heavy hames and collar, the im- 
mense housing of bear skin upon the hames, the heavy iron trace chains, 
and the ponderous double-tree and whifile-trees, the poor beasts seemed 
like humanity in a chain gang, or some terrible monsters that human in- 
genuity could scarcely fetter securely. The Eastern immigrant, from 
New York or farther east, was marked as far as his caravan could be seen 
by a long, coupled, low-boxed, two-horse wagon, provided with a seat, 
from which, with double lines, the driver guided his lightly harnessed pair 
of horses. There was about each part of the outfit evidences of the 
close calculation of means to an end, and an air of utility which left no 
room for doubt as to the purpose of the maker in every part of it. 

The prairie country undoubtedly off"ered opportunities to the pioneer 
occupant far superior to those of a timbered country ; but the general 
impression was that only the timber belts would ever be inhabited ; the 
prairie, swept by the fires of summer, and by the piercing blasts of winter, 
seemed little better than a desert, and for years there was not a cabin in 
Jasper County built more than one hundred yards from the timber. 

Primitive Society. — The pioneer, having selected a site on some pros- 
pecting tour, or being attracted to a certain region by the report of 
friends, came with all his worldly possessions on wagons, and making se- 
lection of a farm, chose a site for his cabin, and set at once to build it. 
Trees were felled, logs of the proper length chopped ofi" and drawn to the 



HISTORV OF JASPER COUNTY. 461 

chosen site, and willing neighbors for miles about invited to the raising. 
Rude as these structures were, it needed no little handicraft to rear them, 
and it was not long before the special ability of each member of the com- 
munity entailed upon him his special duty on these occasions. The logs, 
trimmed, "saddled " and properly assorted, were placed in the pen-shape 
of the cabin ; the gable ends were run up with regularity, shortening 
logs, shaped at the ends to allow for the slope of the roof; on these the 
long roof-posts, two feet apart, stretched from end to end, served as found- 
ation for the roof, which was made up of clapboards, riven by the froe 
from bolts of oak, laid in place and held secure by "weight-poles," made 
firm by pegs or stones. Then followed the sawing-out of the door-way, 
and windows, the chinking of the cracks with pieces of riven timber ; 
the caulking with a mixture of mud and chopped hay ; the construction of 
floors and a door from puncheons, and the building of the chimneys of 
"cat and clay." Hinges were supplied from raw hide, and the 
wooden latch, reached from the outside by means of an attached leather 
latch-string passing through a hole in the door, was often the only pro- 
tection against forcible entrance. Later experiences introduced the use 
of heavy wooden bars ; but the proverbial expression of early hospitality 
was the hanging-out of the latch-string. 

The interior of the cabin was marked by the same general similarity. 
In each the wide fire-place shed abroad its genial warmth of hospitality 
or aided in the preparation of the table's cheer. The "crane," hung 
with iron pots and kettles, and the Dutch oven, half submerged in coals, 
were in all cabins the "evidence of things not seen," and furnished forth, 
under the guidance of the deft housewife, a Tueal which is still sighed for 
as the "grace of a day that is dead." The "corn pone," or when so ex- 
ceptionally fortunate as to be able to use flour, the hop-yeast or salt-rising 
bread, the " chicken-fixings," the game, the fresh, luscious vegetables, 
are memories that more pretentious days have not dimmed in the hearts 
of the pioneers. The latter-day inventions of salaratus and baking pow- 
der had their prototype in the pearlash, which was prepared by burning 
the potash, so common then, upon the lid of the "bake kettle; " the sput- 
tering, greenish flame produced by the process in the meanwhile enforc- 
ing upon the childish minds of the household the stern doctrines of the 
hereafter. The frontier home, as a rule, contained but one room, which 
served all the domestic and social purposes of the family alike, unchanged. 
Curtains arranged about the beds suggested the retirement of sleeping 
apartments, while the cheerful blaze of tiie fire-place afforded an unstinted 
glow to the whole establishment. 

The women of those days ate not the bread of idleness. They were 
Indeed the helpmates of father, brother and husband, and nowhere in the 



462 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

world did man prove such an unbalanced, useless machine as the unmar- 
ried pioneer in this Western wild. While the man, with masterful energy, 
conquered the diiEculties of a new country and asserted his sovereignty 
over an unsubdued wilderness, it was woman's hand that turned its asper- 
ities into blessings, and made conquered nature the handmaid of civiliza- 
tion. The surplus product of the frontier farm suflEiced to supply a slen- 
der stock of tea, coffee, sugar and spices, with an occasional hat for the 
man and a calico dress for the woman — all else must be derived from the 
soil. How this was accomplished, the occasional relics of a flax-wheel, 
brake, spinning-wheel or loom, suggest. To card and spin, to dye and 
weave, were accomplishments that all women possessed. Housekeeping 
was crowded into the smallest possible space, and the preparation of linen, 
of " linen woolsey," and stocking yarn, with their adaptation to the wants 
of the family, became, to vary catechism, the chief end of woman. 
About these homely industries gathered all the pride of womanly achieve- 
ment, the mild dissipations of early society, and the hopes of a future 
competence ; a social foundation, of which the proud structure of this 
great commonwealth bears eloquent testimony. 

But with all this helpful self-reliance indoors, there was plenty to en- 
gage the vigorous activity of the male portion of the family out of doors. 
The exigencies of the situation allowed no second experiment, and a life- 
time success or failure hung upon the efforts of the pioneer. The labor 
of the farm was carried on under the most discouraging circumstances. 
The rude agricultural implements and the too often inadequate supply of 
these, allowed of no economical expenditure of strength, and for years 
rendered the frontier farmer's life a hand-to-hand struggle of sheer mus- 
cle and physical endurance with the stubborn difficulties of nature. The 
location of the cabins along the lowlands that formed the margin of the 
streams exposed the early settlers at their most vulnerable point. Dur- 
ing a considerable part of the year, the almost stagnant water of the 
sluggish streams filled the air with a miasmatic poison that hung in dense 
fog over stream and grove like a destroying spirit. The difficulty expe- 
rienced in securing good water often rendered it necessary for the farmers 
to drink from stagnant pools, "frequently blowing off the scum and 
straining the wigglers from the sickening, almost boiling, fluid through 
the teeth." That the "fever and ague" should stalk through the land, a 
veritable Nemesis, was inevitable under such circumstances, and many a 
hardy pioneer was cowed and fairly shaken out of the country in the 
chilly grasp of this grim monster. But having withstood these discour- 
agements and secured a harvest, the greatest disappointment came in the 
utter lack of markets. After a year of labor, privation and sickness, the 
moderate crop would hardly bear the expense of getting it to market. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 463 

How this country was settled and improved under such circumstances can 
be explained upon none of the settled principles of political economy. 
Retreat there was none ; and that homely phrase, '* root, hog, or die," 
was borne in upon the pioneer by his daily experience with a benu mbing 
iteration that must have wrought ruin to any class of people of less hardy 
mental and physical health. . 

In a community where " the richest were poor and the poor lived in 
abundance," there was no chance for the growth of caste, and families for 
miles around were linked together as one neighborhood, by the social 
customs of the time, which, in the spirit of true democracy, drew the line 
at moral worth alone. The amusements of a people, taking their charac- 
ter from the natural surroundings of the community, were here chiefly 
adapted to the masculine taste. Hunting and fishing were always 
liberally rewarded, while log-cabin raisings, the opening of court 
with its jury duty, and the Saturday afternoon holiday with its 
scrub horse-race, its wrestling match, its jumping or quoit-pitching, af- 
forded entertainments that never lost their zest. It was a common re- 
mark, however, that a new country furnished an easy berth for men and 
oxen, but a hard one for women and horses. Outside of " visiting " 
and camp-meetings, the diversions in which women participated at that 
early day were very few ; husking and spinning bees, and " large wed- 
dings," where the larger part of the night was spent in dancing, did not 
have the frequent occurrence so characteristic of the Eastern States, and 
nothing here seemed to offer any substitute. So long as the commu- 
nity gathered here lacked easy communication with the outside world this 
state of things continued. There was a market at Chicago at this time, 
where a fair price could be had for the surplus crop, and the growth of 
the older settlements further east and south brought the advantages of 
civilization nearer to these outlying communities, but the lack of roads 
prevented the early enjoyment of these privileges. 

EARLY ROADS. 

The early lines of travel were along the Indian trails. These were 
clearly defined paths, about eighteen inches wide, and worn into the sod 
of the prairie, sometimes to the depth of eight or ten inches. Some trace 
of these trails are to be found yet in the county. One of these led down 
from Lake Michigan across the Kankakee, near the Baum bridge, and 
took nearly a direct course to the Indian village in Newton Township. 
Another connected this village with the one in the eastern part of the 
county, crossing the Iroquois west of the county seat, and re-crossing it 
some distance east. From the latter point the trail extended to the Mo- 
non River, and on to the Wabash. Another crossed the county through 



464 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

the " Forks settlement," toward La Porte. These were the principal 
ones, and were the principal guides between certain points until roads 
were established. Blazed and staked roads pioneered the way for those 
that were regularly laid out. The old " horse-head road " was, perhaps, 
the connecting link between the two classes of roads. This was in the 
eastern part of the county, and took its name from a horse skull which 
was placed upon a large bowlder, which was a conspicuous land-mark on 
this route. The first legally established road was the State road leading 
from Williamsport, on the Wabash River, and the head of .early naviga- 
tion to Winamac, important at an early day, as the location of the land 
oflfice. This road extended from the first-naraed place by the most avail- 
able and direct route to the Falls of the Iroquois ; thence to the now ex- 
tinct village of Saltillo, crossing the Iroquois again, at the old ford above 
the farm of John Groom, and crossing the Pinkamink on the old bridge 
at Saltillo, and thence by way of White Post, to Winamac. The Saltillo 
bridge was the first structure of its kind built in the county, the old grade 
which was built at either end still remaining to mark its site. The Indian 
trail road which led from Rensselear northward to the Kankakee River, 
was probably the second road. This crossed at Eaton's Ferry, or where 
the Baura bridge now is. Congress early granted a ^" three per cent 
fund" for the building of. roads and bridges, and in 1835 Thomas Ran- 
dle was appointed agent for the disbursement of this fund. Porter County 
was very much interested in having a bridge put across the river at this 
point ; this Randle refused to aid. He was accordingly displaced. Joseph 
Schipp moved over the river from Porter, and was appointed agent of this 
fund. Under the new agent, the bridge, three-quarters of a mile long, was 
started in December, 1837, and $2,300 expended in getting the log piers 
built, and the stringers placed. It never got beyond this point, however, 
as that winter it took fire and was burned. A good, substantial bridge, 
721 feet long, now spans the river at this point, to the southern end of 
which, this county has made a long and expensive grade. The " Dunn 
bridge " crosses the river further east in Kankakee Township, but the low 
character of the ground on the north side of the river renders it less de- 
sirable as a route of travel than the other. The meanderings of the 
river make the cost of bridges an important item in the expenses of the 
county, but the various road-crossings are pretty well supplied with sub- 
stantial wooden structures, while in the central and southern parts four 
durable iron bridges afford a safe and sightly passage over the Iroquois 
and other streams. But with all that could be profitably done for the 
highways of the county, the prosperity of the community settled here 
languished for the advantages of a railroad. When the Louisville, New 
Albany & Chicago made its way along its eastern border, the county had 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 465 

greater facilities, but its people had still a tedious journey over roads that 
were impassable to loaded teams during a large share of the time, and 
the contrast between the more favored territory and Jasper intensified 
the already considerable anxiety felt for better facilities for communica- 
tion with the rest of the world. 

Railroads. — Hopes of securing railroad facilities were entertained as 
early as 1852, but it was not until two years later that any definite plan 
was urged. About this time aline of road was projected from New Lon- 
don, Ohio, to Chicago. This passed through the usual changes incident 
to railroad organizations, until 1857, when the money stringency of that 
time killed the project. Early in this year, the question in which Jasper 
County was interested with reference to this road, was the course the road 
would take from Fort Wayne. Kankakee and Rensselaer were ostensi- 
ble competitors, and the projectors of the line shrewdly kept the two 
places straining their resources to outbid each other in the amount of 
contributions. In this contest, the latter place had interests in common 
with the towns of Rochester and Winaraac, which made the contest not 
altogether uneven. It was held as a self-evident truth in Jasper that 
if the road diverged to Kankakee, " Rensselaer would be killed dead as a 
mackerel," and there was, therefore, a feverish anxiety as to the outcome, 
and there was a ceaseless activity maintained to help its chances. The 
railroad was the principal topic of conversation on the street, in which all 
classes of society joined with but one voice. There were meetings, pub- 
lic and private, and hurried journeys to and combinations with sympa- 
thizing towns. The heavy defalcation of the Ohio State Treasurer, upon 
whose bond some of the men most prominent in this railroad movement 
were found, sounded the first note of failure. The air line to Rock Island 
from this point westward was deferred, and after a vain effort to secure 
subscriptions, payable when the grade should be made and ties placed 
upon it, the enterprise succumbed to the financial pressure of the times, 
and was heard of no more. 

In 1870 and 1871, this railroad scheme was again revived. The road 
had been projected in Ohio and Indiana under the general laws. These 
charters were revived, a special charter obtained in Illinois and New Jer- 
sey, and the line projected to Council Bluffs under the general laws of 
Iowa. In Pennsylvania, this combination purchased an old charter 
granted to the Continental Railway Company of Pennsylvania, which 
gave the new combination its name of "The Continental Railway Com- 
pany." Through each State the organization was independent of any 
other, and when these several organizations were complete, a gradual con- 
solidation combined the various fragments of the great line into the Con- 
tinental Company, with a line of road projected in practically a straight 



466 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

line from New York City to Council Bluffs. The local organization in 
Indiana was known as the Fort Wayne & Western Railroad. Hon. R. 
S. Dwiggins was, and is still, President of this company, and, under the 
plan of consolidation, a Vice President and Director in the general com- 
pany. A branch from Rensselaer to Chicago was projected and char- 
tered, and arrangements settled to make this point the site of large rail- 
road shops, and the important junction by which the Chicago traffic 
should reach the East. In 1872, some fifteen miles of grade was made 
eastward from Rensselaer, and some 120 miles in Ohio, from New London 
to Tiffin, and elsewhere along the line. Jasper County voted $50,000, 
which was raised by private subscriptions to ^75,000 or |100,000, but 
these were pledged on the condition that the road should be built in two 
years, and the money raised by taxation was refunded. 

The Continental Railway, as projected, consumed only fifty-nine miles 
in curvature over the geographical distance between New York and Chi- 
cago, and only ninety-nine miles between New York and Council Bluffs, 
a geographical distance of 1,131 miles. The line was to be constructed 
with a double track of heavy steel rails as far as Chicago, and with a 
single track from Rensselaer westward. The whole equipment was in- 
tended to be first class in every respect, and the whole cost placed at 
$150,000,000. There was no question that the construction of such a 
road through Rensselaer and Jasper Counties would have been of the high- 
est advantage, and this was appreciated by the people here, but the county 
was sparsely settled, its early career had been disappointing, and there 
was less of enthusiasm than in earlier years. Still the grading of the 
road-bed raised the hopeful; anticipations of the people to a high pitch, 
when the disaster of 1873 doomed the enterprise to failure, and the peo- 
ple to another disappointment. The project is still occasionally heard 
from, and some hope is entertained that the road will eventually be con- 
structed, but the golden opportunity for the county seat to reap the early 
benefits of such a road has passed. 

The next railway project that claimed the attention of the people 
here was the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad. This company 
was organized under the general laws of this State, May 13, 1869, with a 
capital stock of $500,000, consisting of 10,000 shares of $50 each. The 
company was re-organized September 3, 1872, with the same stock, and 
projected a line from Indianapolis to Frankfort, Monticello, Rensselaer, 
Lowell, Dyer, and thence to Chicago. Its progress toward actual con- 
struction, however, was quite slow, and it was not until 1877 that active 
operations were begun toward soliciting subscriptions in Jasper County. 
In the latter part of this year, Alfred McCoy, R. S. Dwiggins and Ira 
W. Yeoman took the lead in this movement, and held meetings at the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 467 

9choolhouse3 throughout the northern part of the county. The amount 
demanded from Jasper was ^50,000, and in October of this year the grat- 
ifying announcement was made that this amount had been pledged, the 
amount to be paid when the road was constructed and a train of cars run 
into the village of Rensselaer. 

" How it was done," is the caption of an article in the Union of No- 
vember 1, 1877, from which we extract the following: *' Toward the close 
of the late canvass for subscriptions to the stock of the Indianapolis, 
Delphi & Chicago Railroad Company, to aid in building the division be- 
tween Rensselaer and Bradford, public feeling became quite warm, and 
rose in intensity as the subscriptions began to hesitate and diminish in 
size, ^/i,000 or so below the quota demanded. Not only was active can- 
vassing done on the streets as people came into town on business, but 
they were waited on at their homes and treated to most eloquent special 
lectures ; they were invited to dinners where their generosity and public 
spirit were appealed to between the elegant courses of the table ; and as 
a grand conclusion of the canvass, a meeting was held in the court house, 
to ' close the thing up,' at which the enthusiasm became immense." 

On the 3d day of October, 1877, the company contracted with Yeo- 
man, Hegler & Co., for the construction of the road, the latter to furnish 
all the material necessary for the purpose, and the corps of engineers nec- 
essary to lay out and construct the grades. The road was to be three 
feet gauge ; road-bed, eight feet wide on top, and the rails to be not less 
than thirty-five pounds to the yard ; " to furnish the necessary machinery 
and rolling stock, and run and operate the same by themselves or assigns 
in perpetuity." In consideration of these engagements, the company 
agreed to furnish the right-of-way free of cost to the contractors, and to 
pay for the construction and equipment of the road, ^550,000 in cash 
and subsidies, ^5,000 per mile in first mortgage bonds of the company, 
and ^5,000 per mile in stock of the company. The road was divided 
into eight divisions ; the first to consist of the line from Dyer to the 
south line of Lake County ; second, from Lake County line to the town 
of Rensselaer; third, from Rensselaer to Bradford; fourth, from Brad- 
ford to Monticello ; fifth, from Monticello to Delphi ; sixth, from Delphi 
to Rossville ; seventh, from Rossville to Frankfort ; and eighth, from 
Frankfort to Indianapolis. Payments were to be made on the completion 
and operation of a division, work to begin at Bradford, and the road from 
Dyer to Delphi to be completed by the 1st of January, 1879, and from 
Delphi to Indianapolis by 1st of January, 1880. Work was at once begun 
on the third division, and on Thursday, February 1-4, 1878, Rensselaer 
celebrated the event of its completion by a barbecue, a free excursion on 
the road and an enthusiastic meeting. Mr. McCoy furnished the fatted 



468 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY, 

OX of the occasion; it weighed 834 pounds net. It was estimated 
that some 2,000 persons were present, and the inland county seat for the 
first time experienced the advantage of railroad communication. The 
fourth division was completed to Monticello August 11, 1878, and on the 
4th of September, 1879, the road was opened to the public from Rens- 
selaer to Delphi. This is the extent of narrow gauge track that was ever 
constructed on this road. It subsequently passed into the possession of 
the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad Company ; the road from 
Rensselaer to Chicago was constructed as a standard gauge road ; the 
part already constructed was widened to the new gauge, and the road 
opened from Delphi to Chicago in January, 1882, and from Delphi to 
Indianapolis in early summer of 1883. 

The Logansport & Peoria Railroad was built through the southern 
part of Jasper in 1859. This part of the county was then a sparsely 
settled country, and given up principally to grazing. The Rensselaer 
Q-azette of August 3, 1859, says of this road: "The Toledo, Logansport 
& Burlington Railroad Company commenced laying the tracic at the junc- 
tion with the New Albany & Salem Railroad at Reynolds Station, on 
the 16th ult. * * * The road runs through the southern part of 
our county. It runs most of the way through rich agricultural and graz- 
ing country, and will greatly aid in developing the resources of the south- 
ern part of Jasper County." There was no attempt made to enlist the 
enthusiasm of the county in its aid, as it did not pass through the region 
best able to afford assistance. It is now under the control of the Pitts- 
burgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Company, and it is known a^ the 
State line branch of this corporation. 

The Plymouth, Kankakee & Pacific Railroad is a line that has been 
agitated for some ten or twelve years. It is now known as the Indiana, 
Illinois & Iowa Railroad Company, and at the present writing is building 
its track through the townships of Kankakee, Wheatfield and Keener. 
This line passes through a sparsely settled part of the county, and attracts 
but little general interest through the county. The locality through 
which it passes will undoubtedly be greatly benefited, but its general im- 
portance to the county is not great. 

The Pacific, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad have 8.84 miles of main 
track, and .45 side track in Carpenter Township, and the L., N. A. & C, 
twenty-two miles of main track and .88 miles of side track in the county, 
the combined valuation of which for taxation is $230,550. The Western 
Union Telegraph Company have nine miles of lines in Carpenter Town- 
ship, 4.7 miles in Milroy, 8.2 miles in Marion, 3.5 miles in Newton, and 
6.2 miles in Union; an aggregate of 31.2 miles in the county. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 469 

THE PRESS. 

The newspaper is an important factor in American society, ami its es- 
tablishment marks an epoch in the history of a community. In the main, 
it reflects the character of its constituency ; it leads to a union of senti- 
ment and purpose, and thus renders the moral force of society more ef- 
fective. Hand in hand with the church, the school and railroad, it comes 
in the van of civilization, and society in this age cannot afford to dispense 
with its power. 

It was with something of this sentiment that the people of Rensselaer 
secured the establishment of the Jasper Banner in 1853. Political lines 
had not, up to that time, been closely drawn. The majority of the early 
settlers had brought with them well settled convictions of the soumlness 
of Democratic principles, and while later years had brought in some rep- 
resentatives of the Whig school, the disproportion of the two parties and 
the minor differences of political creed, sufficed to keep the party lines 
from being drawn in local elections. The Banner was therefore started 
by the subscriptions of members of both parties, upon tlie conditions that 
the paper should be politically neutral, and that the subscriptions should 
be considered as stock and repaid out of the net earnings of the paper. 
John McCarthy was the editor, a stranger in the county, who signified 
his willingness to conduct such a paper upon such conditions. It was 
almost an impossibility in the nature of the times for a man to be polit- 
ically neutral. The agitation of national questions during the years of 
1854 and 1855, was breaking down old party lines throughout the coun- 
try, and even in the sparsely settled county of Jasper this influence was 
felt. The Banner caught the infection and showed its party bias by re- 
ferring to those opposed to the Administration, as " Abolitionists," "Ne- 
gro-worshipers," etc. In the CArapaign of 1856, the lines between 
Democrat and Republican were sharply drawn, and the Banner openly 
espoused the cause of the former party. This gave rise to considerable 
controversy and brought about the establishment, on April 29, 1857, of 
the Rensselaer G-azette. Its profession of faith was unmistakably clear : 
" The Gazette will be Republican in politics, ' now and forever.' We 
will exert all the energy that is in us to advance the cause of freedom, 
whose standard was so nobly borne aloft last fall by John C. Fremont." 

Political differences engendered animosities that resulted in assaults. 
The " Old Line " party in possession of the post office, sought to prevent 
the free circulation of the Gazette on technicalities, and for several years 
a large part of the space in either paper was occupied with recriminations. 
The Republican school of politics gradually gained in strength, and has 
since been the prevailing influence in the county. The Democratic party, 
true to its colors, kept up its organization here throughout the period of 



470 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

the war, and since that time has gathered some strength. During the 
agitation against monopolies, better known as the " Grange movement," 
and the succeeding movement in favor of the " Greenback " monetary 
system, and the " Silver Dollar," the Republican organization suffered 
defeat, but it is usual to refer to the county at present as " Republican by 
300 majority." 

The Jasper Banner ceased publication in 1861. The Rensselaer 
Gazette was founded by J. W. Sullivan and Daniel F. Davies. Mr. Da- 
vies soon afterward became sole proprietor, and in 1859 or 1860, being 
elected to office, sold the establishment to I. N. S. Alter and Thomas 
Boroughs. In 1861, James Spencer bought Mr. Boroughs' interest, and 
the firm became Alter & Spencer. In the following year, Robert G. 
Mitchell purchased Alter's interest, and the new firm was known as 
Mitchell & Spencer. The senior partner soon afterward retired, and Mr. 
Spencer a little later sold the paper to C. H. Tatman. In the latter part 
of 1864, or early in 1865, Mr. Spencer again became proprietor, and in 
July or August of that year sold a half interest to A. H. Green. The 
name of the paper was then changed to the Jasper Signal. This continued 
only some two or three months, when the material was sold to R. B. 
James, who issued the first number of the PraiV/g Telegraph, Wednesday, 
October 18, 1865. It was a weekly. Republican, six-column folio. 

The Iroquois Press was started in Rensselaer in the latter months of 
of 1867, by Joshua Healey and Jacob Keiser. It was seven-column 
folio, weekly. Republican paper. In the latter part of the month of Sep- 
tember, 1868, Mr. R. B. James sold the Prairie Telegraph to his son, 
Horace E. James. Col. Healey became sole proprietor of the Iroquois 
Press, and the two offices were consolidated, the new paper bearing the 
name of the Rensselaer Union. This was a seven-column weekly, Re- 
publican in politics. In 1874, it announced itself independent of polit- 
ical parties, and was enlarged to a six-column quarto. November 9, 1875, 
Col. Healey retired, leaving Mr. James sole proprietor. 

The Remington Journal was started in Remington, July 3, 1872, by 
Messrs. 0. E. De Forest and J. B. Dunham. It was a seven-column 
weekly folio, neutral in politics. Charles M. Johnson bought the office 
in March, 1871, and continued the publication of the Journal until Sep- 
tember, 1874, when it ceased publication, and the material was moved to 
Rensselaer, The Jasper Republican appeared September 18, 1874, be- 
ing printed on the types and presses of the defunct Remington Journal. 
It was Republican in politics, but otherwise unchanged in its general 
character from its predecessor. 

Spitlers Real Estate Grazette was started at Rensselaer in July, 
1872, and was continued a year. It was a four-column folio, issued 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 471 

monthly by Thomas J. Spitler, to advertise his real estate business, and 
was printed by James & Healey. February 1, 187G, IL E. James and 
C. M. Johnson formed a partnership, united their respective offices in 
one, and published a consolidated paper under the name of the Rensselaer 
Union and Jasper Republican. The first number appeared February 
3, 1876, takins the volume and number of the Union. It was a weekly, 
seven-column quarto, and Republican in politics. Subsequently John- 
son retired, and later M. 0. Gissel beca;ne partner with Mr. James, 
under the firm name of H. E. James & Co., the paper in the mean- 
while being reduced to a folio, in May, 1879, Mr. Gissel retired, and 
the folio winnr month startevl the Rensselaer Standard, a seven-column 
folio. Republican, weekly. Mr. Jaines, in OcDober, 1879, sold the Union 
to T. M. Bitters, who also bought the Standard in January, 1880, and 
merged it in the former paper. In the following July, Mr. Bitters sold 
the establishment to Calkins k, Johnson, but the latter never took an 
active part in the business beyond the fact of the sale, and was s lo- 
ceedcd in a few months by a brother of Mr. Calkins, and the firm 
became Calkins Brothers. May 1, 1881, Messrs. C. F. Overacker ;md 
(jr. E. Marshall purchased the office, and August 1, 1882, Mr. Over- 
acker retired, leaving George E. Marsiiall the sole proprietor. The 
name of the paper was changed in 1880, by Calkins & Johnson, to the 
Rensselaer Republican, a name it still retains. It is now a five-column 
quarto, weekly, and Republican in politics. 

The first paper started distinctly as a Democratic paper is the 
Democratic Sentinel, at Rensselaer. This was first issued February 18, 
1877, by James W. McEwen, who came from Monticello, Ind., where 
he had conducted a similar paper for eighteen years. The Sentinel is an 
eight-column weekly paper, devoted to the interests of the county seat 
and the Democratic party. 

In October, 1874, Messrs. Shortridge k Winegarden commenced 
publishing a six-column quarto, Republican weekly paper at Remington, 
which was called the Guard, but it survived only a few months. In the 
same month, Messrs. A. J. Kitt and A. B. Clark came from Rochester, 
•'Ind., and established the Record at Remington. It was supported by 
several gentlemen, who supplied the capital for the press and material, 
and a seven-column weekly paper was issued. This continued until about 
1877, when the paper was suspended, and the office was removed. About 
this time the Times was started by Charles Jouvenat, who continue<l its 
publication until the fiill of 1878, when he removed the plant to Good- 
land. Charles Cox then started the Reporter, in which 0. W. Church 
became interested. This paper continued until January, 1881, when W. 
H. Coover assumed editorial management, changed the name to the 



472 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

News, and ha8 since controlled the editorial columns. It is a five-column 
quarto, and is now published by 0. B. Mclntire. But little attention is 
given it, save in odd hours taken from abetter paying business. Reming- 
ton at present presents but a limited field for journalistic ventures, and 
the News is maintained by the public spirit of its proprietor for the bene- 
fit of the village rather than for the hope of any financial return. 

CHURCHES. 

But before all these influences, more important than markets, or rail- 
roads, or newspapers, to the highest social progress, are the church and 
school. Whatever success the individual lacking these influences may 
achieve, a community can never prosper without them. The early settle- 
ments were considerably scattered, and it was for some time a diflScult mat- 
ter to get more than two or three families together for religious services. 
The pioneer preachers were men of slender education and homely address, 
but were wonderfully effective in their self-denying earnestness. They 
visited from cabin to cabin, exhorting, counseling, reproving, as occasion 
might demand ; they became in every home a welcome guest, and many a 
weary heart and feeble hand was stayed by these simple-hearted servants 
of the cross. Among the names most familiar here were the Woods, and 
especially one who was familiarly called " Long Enoch." Others preached 
in various parts of the county, the Methodist Episcopal denomination pio- 
neering the way in church work. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Rensselaer was the first church 
organization in the county, and was founded in 1834 by E. G. Wood. 
At that time the charge of which Rensselaer was a part included consid- 
erable territory in addition to the new counties of Jasper and Newton, 
necessitating long rides on horseback to reach the various appointments. 
For years this organization struggled against the disadvantages of a 
sparsely settled country and the lack of means, until they achieved a 
comfortable frame place of worship, which the church still occupies. This 
is 37x57 feet, will seat about three hundred persons, and the property is 
valued at about ^1,800 ; besides this, the church owns a parsonage valued 
at $750. A movement is now on foot to secure a new brick edifice, which ♦ 
will probably be erected in the near future. 

The Independence Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillam Church 
was organized in May or June, 1836, at the cabin of John M. Gillam, by 
Rev. H. Bradenburg, an itinerant preacher. The original membership 
consisted of J. M. Gillam and his wife Mary. George Culp and wife 
Mary, Thomas Randle and wife Nancy, Sarah McJeinsey and Maria 
Gillam. Their first meeting house was built in 1849 near the present 
site of Independence Chapel. It was a hewed-log building with glass 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 473 

windows, shingle roof, lath overhead, with the plastering put on above 
the lath, because the plasterer could not make it stick from beneath. 
The first sermon was preached in it by Rev. George Guild in 1849, the 
congregation sitting on the floor sleepers. Their present house of wor- 
ship, known as Independence Chapel, is a neat frame building, 30x50 
feet in size, and was built in 1872 at a cost of $2,400. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Remington was organized in 1859, 
by Rev. J. H. Hull. They have the best house of worship completed 
in the county. It is a frame building, 50x70 feet in size, well finished, 
and is valued at $8,000. A parsonage, built in 1875, is valued at 
$1,600. 

Two other societies, organized in 1848, one holding its services at the 
Watson Schoolhouse and the other at Blue Grass, have never built places 
of worship of their own, and have been on the Rensselaer charge from the 
first. There are a number of classes at various points in the county which, 
with the regular organizations, aggregate a membership of five hundred 
and fifteen. 

The Protestant Methodist Church had at one time a strong following 
in Jasper County, but it has of late years languished until the member- 
ship is quite small, and no regular organizations are reported. The 
first organization was made near Carpenter's Grove, by Rev. John Alter, 
in 1849. The second class was organized at the house of Isaac D. Bark- 
ley, in Barkley Township, in 1858, by F. Long. The first circuit was 
organized by Rev. John Alter and his daughter. Rev. Mrs. Helenor M. 
Draper, subsequently Mrs. Thomas Davisson, in 1863 or 1864. Mrs. D. 
served the work as pastor for three years. It was during this time that 
the question as to the legality of a marriage solemnized by a woman was 
raised by lawyers. Subsequently classes were organized at schoolhouses 
in Barkley, Wheatfield and Jordan Townships. In 1876, there were six 
classes in the county, four in Pleasant Grove Circuit, and two in Grand 
Prairie Mission, with a membership of about one hundred and fifty 
persons. Six ministers resided in the county, and two others labored 
here. The denomination had places of worship of their own, however, 
and only one parsonage valued at $300. 

The Rensselaer Presbyterian Church was organized February 10, 
1847, by Rev. Edward W. Wright. Its members then were James and 
Susan Van Rensselaer, Susan C. Weston, Ezra and Martha Wright, 
Lucinda MahafTee, Henry Barkley, Ira and Lois B. Allen. Ezra Wright 
and Henry Barkley, Sr., were elected Elders. None of these persons now 
remain. The body of Mr. Van Rensselaer lies buried in the churchyard. 
The building is a frame structure 36x50 feet in size, and is valued at 
$2,000. 



474 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

The first Presbyterian Church of Remington was organized April 
29, 1865, by Rev. Horace A. Mayhew, J. C. Irwin and Elder Corne- 
lius Hutton, a committee appointed by the Logansport Presbytery. The 
church has a frame building 30x50 feet in size, which was built in 1866, 
and is valued at $2,000 ; also a manse, consisting of two lots and a 
framed two-story house, large barn and other buildings, valued at $1,800. 
The original membership was fifteen, which was increased to one hundred 
and ten, but is somewhat less now. The two churches of this denomin- 
ation now aggregate a membership of eightv-six. 

The Rensselaer Baptist Church (Missionary) was recognized by Coun- 
cil, according to the practice of the denomination, in 1851. Its first pas- 
tor was Rev. Moses A. Kern, who was succeeded by Reuben R. James. 
Revs. John C. Post, Lewis McCreary, James Dunlap and D. J. Huston 
are among the pastors who have served the church. The society owns a 
frame church edifice in Rensselaer, 38x46 feet in size, which is valued 
at $1,000. 

The First Free- Will Baptist Church of Rensselaer was organized Janu- 
ary 1, 1853, by Rev. Peter Lansing. Its first meetings were held at the 
residence of Mr. Barney Daughtery, two miles south of the county seat. 
The first quarterly meeting held in Rensselaer was January 3, 1871. 
Previous to that time, all of the church work was done outside of the 
village. At present, the church has a brick structure under way. The 
two churches aggregate a membership of seventy-six. 

In former days there was a strong Baptist society in Newton Town- 
ship, but the organization has dwindled to very small proportions, and no 
longer maintains regular services. 

The Church of God at Rensselaer was organized February 4, 1860, by 
Elder William P. Shockey. The name of this organization, which is iden- 
tical with that adopted by the Winebrennarians, has led in some cases to 
confusion of the one with the other. The peculiarity of their faith con- 
sists in the belief that immorality is the gift of God, and granted only to the 
righteous ; that the earth, restored or renewed, is to be inherited by the 
meek who will " dwell therein forever." They discard, as authority in the 
matter of name as well as of faith and practice, everything except as 
prescribed by ordained embassadors prior to the church of Rome. There 
is an organization of this fellowship at Remington, who worship in the 
church edifices of other denominations. At Rensselaer, this church 
occupies a neat frame place of worship, 35x50 feet in size, and valued 
at $1,500. 

The Christian Church at Remington is a flourishing organization. It 
has a fine edifice erected in 1867, at a cost of some $2,000. 

The United Brethren in Christ have two organizations in the county 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY, 



475 



— one in Barkley Townsliip, which holds its services in the schoolhouse ; 
the other is at Remington, but has no regular pastor or services at 
present. 

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, near Rensselaer, was organized 
by Right Rev. J. Luers, Bishop of tiie Diocese of Fort Wayne, in 1866 
or 1867. It is connected with St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum and Manual 
Labor School. The farm consists of 900 acres, about a mile from the 
county seat, is furnished with good substantial frame buildings, including 
a place of worship, two dwellings, barns, etc. A fine brick church edifice 
is now in course of erection in tlie village, which will cost, when com- 
pleted, in the vicinity of ^8,000 to $10,000. The value of the farm 
property is placed at $35,000. 

The St. John's Church at Remington was organized in December, 
1875. They have a neat frame place of worship, neatly finished, 32x60 
feet in size, a steeple 100 feet from the ground, and valued at $5,000. 

The last State report gyves the following church summary of Jasper 
County : 





a 

09 

E? 

o 

ja 
S 

s 




t 

9 


MEMBERSHIP. 


rch Building, 
er Church 




OQ 


eS 
V o 


o 

o 

•a 

a 

3 


"o !: 


S 


DENOMINA- 








.2 S ' (U . 

aS ' P.^ 


s 

Is 


TIONS. 


o 










« *i O 3 « 1 I. l< 
3 O fc. 1 CS a) 3 

•a»-)P^ SCO 5a 


H 

« a 


^s' 






•ll 

o 

1 

a 

9 


<0 

a 
o 

.a 


o 

1 

a 

9 


-a 


_2 


'OS*' 


^5 

.23 
S5 


o5 
is 


g P H 


■<co 




!zi 




^ 


s 


% 


H !zi 


> < 


O 


S 


!z; 


!z; 


< 


Methodist 




5 
2 


3 
1 


210 
43 


305 

72 


515 1 12 

115 1 4 


86200 81300 


8275 


8191 

200 


27 
7 


350 
75 


700 


Church of God... 


2000 500 160 


45 


Presbyterian 




2 


2 


30 


56 


86 ! 15 


3700 1 700 1 250 


103 


21 


250 


175 






2 




36 


64 


100 2 


1300 120 


100 


13 


6 


35 


150 


Baptist (Mission- 














1 


1 


20 


30 


50 9 


1500 


700 


300 


70 


6 


60 


100 


Baptist (Predes- 








1 
2 




10 
37 


16 
58 


26 1 




60 










60 




2 


95 


7 


3000 



























Totals 


15 


10 


386 


601 


987 


50 


817700 '«3370 81085 


8576 


130 


1460 


1200 













SCHOOLS. 

Scarcely second of the active forces that influence the development of 
society is the public school. In common with the whole " Northwest 
Territory," Indiana enjoys the advantages of the enlightened legislation 
of the General Government which laid the foundation of the present 
excellent system nearly a century ago. On May 20, 1785, when this 
State was under the unquestioned control of the savage, the Congress 
passed an ordinance reserving the " sixteenth section " in all the territory 
northwest of the Ohio, for the maintenance of public schools. Two years 
later, the policy was re-affirmed in the famous ordinance of 1787, which 



476 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

declared that ''religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to 
good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, and the means 
of education, shall be forever encouraged." 

The great principle thus enunciated made but slow progress, however, 
in this State during the early years, although public-spirited men were 
not altogether wanting. In 1807, the Territorial Legislature incorpo- 
rated a university at Vincennes ; October 26, 1808, and December 14, 
1810, the Legislature provided for the administration of the school lands, 
the first act authorizing the Common Pleas Courts to lease the reserved 
sections, for a period not to exceed five years, with the obligation that 
lessees should clear ten acres upon each quarter section, and the latter 
act prohibiting the wasting of sugar trees and timber thereon. The 
constitution of 1816 provided for the enactment of laws for the suitable 
improvement of these lands, to prevent their sale before 1820, and to 
adopt measures for the security and proper management of the school 
fund. The constitution further provided for a general system of public 
schools, as follows : " It shall be the duty of the General Assembly, as 
soon as circumstances will allow, to provide by law, for a general system 
of education, ascending in regular gradation from a township school to a 
State University, wherein tuition shall be gratis and equally open to all." 
In the constitution of 1851, the same provision is made, with the excep- 
tion of a State University. December 14, 1816, the General Assembly 
provided for the appointment of Superintendents of School Sections in the 
several townships, who were authorized to lease the lands for a term not 
exceeding seven years, every lessee being required to set out each year 
twenty-five apple trees and twenty-five peach trees, until 100 of each had 
been planted. January 9, 1821, the General Assembly provided against 
"any distinction between the rich and the poor," which eventuated in 
the first general school law of the State. 

It would be impossible within reasonable space to trace the varied 
course of legislation upon this important subject. Almost every session 
of the Legislature has witnessed the passage of some special or general 
law in i^elation to the school interests of the State. The difficulties in 
the way of the early progress of the system were numerous and for a time 
insurmountable. Funds for the pay of teachers and for erecting school- 
houses were lacking, qualified teachers could not be found, the school 
districts were sparsely settled, much of the legislation was impracticable* 
the school funds were mismanaged, and more fatal than all, was the 
strange prejudice entertained by many against popular education under 
the name of " free schools." Against the various hindrances, however, 
the system has slowly made its way, in spite of hostile judicial decisions, 
until in efficiency of organization and extent of the public fund, the public 
schools of Indiana are equal if not superior to the best in the Union. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 477 

School Funds. — There are eleven sources of school revenues, which 
the State Superintendent, in his report of 1872, divides into three 
classes, productive, continjjent and unproductive. Of the first class is 
the Congressional township fund, which consists of the money arising from 
the sale of the ''sixteenth sections," most of which have been sold and 
the money placed at interest. 2. The saline fund, which arose from a 
second grant by Congress to the State in the act enabling the Territory 
to form a constitution and State Government. This act provided, " that 
all salt springs within the said Territory, and the land reserved for the 
use of the same, together with such other lands as may, by the President 
of the United States, be deemed necessary and proper for working the 
said sp)"ing3, not exceeding in the whole (quantity contained in thirty-six 
entire sections, shall be granted to the said State for the use of the people 
of the said State, the same to be used under such terms, conditions and 
reijiilations as the Legislature of saiil State shall direct. The Legislature 
afterward saw it proper to make this a part of the permanent school fund. 
3. The surplus revenue fund, which originated under the administration of 
President Jackson. At this time the national debt contracted during the 
Revolutionary war and in the purchase of Louisiana was entirely dis- 
charged, leaving a large surplus in the treasury. In June, 1836, 
Congress distributed this money among the States in the ratio of their 
representation in Congress, and ^860,254 fell to the share of Indiana. 
February 6, 1837, the Legislature set apart ^573,502.96 as a permanent 
part of the school fund. By the terms of this distribution, this amount is 
subject to be recalled into the national treasury, but the strong probabil- 
ity is that it never will be. 4. The bank tax fund arose from the 
" State Bank," chartered by the Legislature in 1834. A part of the 
stock in this bank was owned by individuals and part by the State. 
Section 15, of the charter provided that " there shall be deducted from 
the dividends and retained in bank each year the sum of 12J cents on 
each siiare of stock, other than that held by the State, which shall con- 
stitute part of the permanent fund to be devoted to the purposes of com- 
mon school education under the direction of the General Assembly, and 
shall be suffered to remain in bank and accumulate until such appropria- 
tion by the General Assembly." 5. The sinking fund also originated in 
the operations connected with the State Bank. To pay her subscription 
to the stock of this bank, and to assist individual stockholders to pay the 
second and third installments upon their stock, the State borrowed 
$1,300,000. A fund was created out of the unapplied balances of this 
loan, and out of the principal, interest and dividends of so much as was 
loanetl to individual stockholders, for the purpose of sinking the debt of 
the bank. A section of the original charter provided that after full pay- 



478 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

ment of the bank's indebtedness, principal, interest and incidental ex- 
penses, the residue of said fund should be a permanent fund, and appro- 
priated to the cause of common school education. From this source the 
educational fund of the State received about ^5,000,000. The summary 
of these funds in 1872 was as follows : 

Congresssional Township Fund $2,281,076 69. 

Saline Fund 85,000 00. 

Surplus Revenue Fund 573.503 96. 

Bank Tax Fund 80,000 00. 

Sinking Fund 4,767,805 89. 

The contingent class of funds arise under the provision of law from, 
1. All fines for a violation of the penal laws of the State, which are made 
a part of the permanent fund. 2. All recognizances of witnesses and per- 
sons indicted for crime, when forfeited. 3. Moneys arising under the 
statute which provides that " the estate of a person dying intestate, 
without kindred capable of inheriting, shall escheat to the State, and 
shall be applied to the support of common schools, in the manner pro- 
vided by law." This fund, in 1872, amounted to $17,866.55. 4. From 
the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands under a clause in the constitu- 
tion which provides that " all lands which have been, or may hereafter 
be granted to the State, when no special purpose is expressed in the 
grant, and the proceeds of the sale thereof, including the proceeds of the 
sales of the swamp-lands granted to the State of Indiana by the act of 
Congress of the 28th of September, 1850, after deducting the expenses 
of selecting and draining the same," shall be a part of the common 
school fund. These lands were disposed of, not without some loss by 
peculation, and a considerable fund derived. 5. From " taxes on the 
property of corporations that may be assessed by the General Assembly 
for common school purposes." This clause of the constitution is not clear 
either in its application or purpose, and has not been productive of any 
revenue to the school fund. 

Under the unproductive class falls so much of the sixteenth sections 

as remain unsold. Nearly all of such lands furnish no revenue to the 

general fund, though a part has returned something in the way of rents 

or profits. The summary of the school funds for 1882 is as follows : 

Common School Fund held by counties in June. 1882 $2,838,675 65. 

Non negotiable bonds 3,904,783 21. 

Total Common School Fund 6,743,458 86. 

Congressional Township School Fund 2,463,952 65. 

Grand total 9,207,411 51. 

Grand Total held in June, 1881 9,133,577 09. 

Increase for year 73,834 42. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 



479 



The early settlers of Jasper were not behind the general sentiment of 
the State in their appreciation of the advantages of schools, and long be- 
fore the State could give the scattered communities aid, they liail solved 
the problem for themselves, had erected schoolhouses and maintained 
schools by subscription. Neighborhoods turned out and put up the cabin, 
and each patron paid the expense of the teacher's salary in proportion to 
number of children sent. Money was scarce, but anything the settler 
had was valuable to the teacher, and by exchange the farmer's hog or cow 
was transformed into the children's education. In the Barkley settle- 
ment, the first school was held in the winter of 1838-39, and taught by a 
Mr. Webster ; in the Blue Grass settlement, the first school was taught 
about 1840, by a Miss Price, and G. W. Spitler taught the first school 
at Rensselaer in 1841. The growth of schools here was subject to all 
the hindrances of a sparsely settled country and the limited means of the 
pioneers. The slow growth of the population deferred the improvement 
of these early schools, and in 1853 there were but eight schoolhouses in 
the combined territory of the present counties of Jasper and Newton. 
Since 1875, the progress in this direction has been rapid and highly 
satisfactory, the following statement of the County Superintendent gives 
a comprehensive view of this period : 



1877. 



Enumeration 

Enrollment 

Averace daily attendance 

Length of school year in days 

Number of districts in which school 
was taught 

Number of teachers employed 

Average compensation of male teach- 
ers 

Average compensation of female 
teachers 

Tuition expended during year 

Number of new schoolhouses built.... 

Estimated value of the same i 83, 

Special school money expended | 87, 

Total value of .school property 841, 

Number of brick schoolhouses. 

Number of frame schoolhouses. 

Number of log schoolhouses 

Total number of houses 



819 



3,490 

2,749 

1,691 

122 

78 
131 

81 78 

81 62 
182 91 
6 
430 00 
805 13 
870 00 



3,452 

2,796 

1,706 

128 

85 
1.32 

81 70 

81 46 

820,880 42 

4 

82,200 00 

87,427 OG 

843,405 00 



3,378 

2,940 

1,714 

137 

84 
127 

81 63 

81 38 

319,151 03 

2 

8650 00 

86,801 80 

8;t3,135 00 



1880. 



3,396 

2,850 

1,807 

140 

86 
123 

81 57 

81 40 

319,606 61 

5 

82,300 00 

88,064 00 

838,130 00 



1881. 



3,513 

2,843 

1,882 

140 

89 
119 

81 65 

81 46 

819,349 03 

9 

85,135 00 

810,057 45 

848,665 00 

2 

84 

4 

90 



1882. 



3,511 

2,815 

1,921 

146 

88 
122 

81 62 

81 47 

820,281 44 

2 

81,075 00 

810,377 08 

842,776 00 

2 

84 

4 

93 



The course of study as prescribed by the County Board of Education 
is thorough and extends through five grades, and the grammar grade, 
which adds to the common branches of reading, spelling, arithmetic, 
writing, grammar and geography, those of history, physiology and elo- 
cution. The County Board, as an inducement for pupils to complete the 
course of study, has provided for the graduation of those who do complete 
it, as follows : 

I. The County Superintendent is hereby empowered to issue a certificate of 
graduation to any pupil in the public schools of this county, who shall have com- 



480 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

pleted the adopted course of study, sustained correct deportment and passed the re- 
quired examination. 

II. Before any pupil is graduated he shall be required to pass a satisfactory 
examination before the County Superintendent in all the eight common school 
branches, and shall sustain a grade of at least 70 per cent in every branch. 

III. At least two months before the close of the term, the teacher shall report 
to the Superintendent the names of those pupils who are finishing the course of 
study and are preparing for the examination. 

IV. The Superintendent shall examine such pupils at a time and place agreed 
upon by him and the Trustee. 

V. There shall be no more than one examination held in any one township 
within a year, and all examinations shall be held some time between the 1st of 
February and the 1st of July. 

VI. The Superintendent shall determine from such examination and from 
other information whether the applicants are worthy to graduate and shall notify 
the teacher and Trustee of his decision. 

VII. At a time and place designated by the Trustee, the schools of the town- 
ship shall be assembled, and the successful applicants shall be called upon to recite 
orally, in the presence of the assembled schools, patrons and visitors, in such man- 
ner as may be directed by the Superintendent, or, in the event of his absence, by the 
Trustee. 

VIII. Other exercises may be provided for the day as may be deemed expedi- 
ent. 

IX. At the conclusion of such exercises, the certificates of graduation shall be 
publicly presented to the graduate by the Superintendent, Trustee or some other 
person selected for that duty. Said certificates shall be signed by the Superintend- 
ent, Trustee, Director and Teacher. 

X. A record of the names and age of pupils, date of graduation, name of the 
school, and of the teacher under whose tuition the pupils graduate, shall be kept 
by the County Superintendent and Township Trustee. 

The following exhibit gives the status of the county's share of the gener- 
al school fund as shown in the report of the Board of Commissioners of 
the County of Jasper, in the State of Indiana, to the Superintendent of 
Public Instruction for the year ending the last day of May, 1882, as re- 
quired by the 105th and 106th Sections of the School Law : 

CONGRESSIONAL FUND. 

Amount of fund held on trust as shown by last report $44,686 71 

Amount since added from the sale of lands 1,040 00 

Total $45,726 71 

Total amount of Congressional Township school fund held in trust at 

this date 45, 726 71 

Number of acres of unsold Congressional Township school lands 1,520 

Value of unsold Congressional Township School lands $3,806 

COMMON SCHOOL FUND. 

Amount of fund held in trust by county as shown by last report $11,179 29 

Amount since added from fines and forfeitures by Clerk of Court 119 26 

Amount since added from fines and forfeitures by Justices of the Peace. . Ill 76 
Amount since added from all other sources 121 60 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 481 

CONDITION OF SCHOOL FUNDS. 

Congressional Common 

Fund. School Fund. 

Amount of funds safely invested 143.128 82 111.526 79 

Amount not invested and in the county treasury at this 

date 2,597 89 5 12 

Total funds as above $45,726 71 $11,531 91 

Amount in treasury at last report 435 00 195 71 

Amount of loans paid within the year 10,134 00 2,695 72 

Amount of funds loaned within the year 7,971 11 2,886 31 

Amount of interest on the fund collected within the year, 3,650 43 1,044 62 

Amount of interest on funds delinquent 7 71 

Amount derived from renting or leasing unsold Congres- 
sional school lands 56 50 

How much of the fund is represented by forfeited lands, 2,007 50 134 10 

What is the estimated cash value of such forfeited lands, 2,742 00 205 50 

Witness our hands this 10th day of June, 1882. 

Isaac D. Dunn, ) 

' Elisha E. Rockwood, y County Commissioners. 

George W. Burk, ) 
Attest : Ezra C. Nowels, Auditor. Moses B. Alter, Treasurer. 

SECRET SOCIETIES. 

Prairie Lodge, No. 125, of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, 
was organized at Rensselaer, under a charter from the Grand Lodge of 
Indiana, issued May 29, 1860. Its predecessor, Jasper Lodge, No. 125, 
was organized under a dispensation of the Grand Lodge, and held its first 
meeting July 19, 1851. Its charter members were : John Test, Joshua 
Clarke, Peter S. Benham, Presley Dunlap, G. A. Moss, R. Purcupile, E. 
Whitson and J. Langel. The lodge subsequently came to a disagreement 
among themselves, and surrendered the old charter in 1859. Steps were im- 
mediately taken to form the present organization as above, when D. T. Hal- 
stead was appointed Master* I. M, Stackhouse, Senior Warden, and W. 
S. Hopkins, Junior Warden. The lodge meets in a pleasant hall in 
Nowels' Block. Their assets are limited to their fixtures, the demands 
upon their income for charitable purposes being so large as to prevent the 
accumulation of any considerable fund. 

Remington Lodge, No. 531, of the same order, was organized at 
Remington, under dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, June 
24, 1867, by Isaac M. Stackhouse, of Rensselaer. 

The Iroquois* Lodge, No. 143, of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, was organized at Rensselaer under dispensation from the Grand 
Lodge of Indiana. May 15, 1854, by 1). D. G. M. William B. Davis. 
First meeting, June 9, 1854. The first officers were : J. M. Troxel, N. 
G. ; R. Brearly, V. G. ; D. P. Spears, Sec. ; A. F. Reed, Treas. The 



482 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

lodge occupies a hall in Newels' Block ; have assets valued at about 
$4,000, and a membership of forty-three. 

Schuyler Lodge, No. 284, of the same order, was organized at Rem- 
ington July 10, 1857, by D. D. G. M. James H. Loughridge, of Rens- 
selaer. It numbers about thirty-five members, and has no accumulated 
fund. The calls upon it for assistance have been considerable, and there 
has not been felt any special ambition to amass any considerable re- 
sources. 

Remington Lodge, No. 58, of the order of the Knights of Pythias, 
was organized February 18, 1875, by Mr. Carnahan, of La Fayette, 
Ind. The order did not seem to thrive, and in 1877 or 1878 the lodge 
surrendered its charter. 

Rensselaer Lodge, No. 82, of the same order, was instituted June 13, 
1878, under dispensation, and secured its charter, March, 1879, with the 
following charter members: C H. Price, M. F. Chilcote, B.J'. Wal- 
dorf, F. B. Myers, E. D. Rhoades, D. B. Miller, B. L Philipps, N. W. 
Reeve, R. B. Patton, I.N. Lowman, G. M. Robinson, Benjamin Tuter, 
F. H. Robinson, Louis Bass, C. H. Hopkins, L. C. Grant, 0. P. Robin- 
son, C. C. Starr, T. A. Knox, A. W. Cleveland, G. W. Allen, Lud 
Hopkins and E. Peacock. C. H. Price was elected first C. C. There 
are now about thirty-seven members, who meet in a pleasantly furnished 
hall in Nowels' Block. The assets of the lodge reach about $400. 






^ct/l^i^cC' ^:^^^^<^ 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 485 



MILITARY HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

BY J. H. BATTLE. 

IN the early wars of the Union, the Revolution, the war of 1812, the 
Black Hawk war in 1832, the war with Mexico in 1846-47, Jasper 
County took no part. The county was scarcely settled at this later period, 
and while several of her citizens were represented in the Indiana troops 
that were organized at that time, the county was not marked as the scene 
of especial enthusiasm or military ardor. In 1860, while still one of the 
most sparsely settled counties, Jasper was one of the few counties of the 
State that had a militia organization under the law of 1855. 

" From the formation of the State to 1830, the State militia was in 
high repute, and aiforded the surest channel through which to achieve 
civil distinction. Four years later, the organization was entirly aban- 
doned, and public sentiment seemed to re-act, and render the later efforts 
to revive the system a failure. On the 14th of June, 1852, an act was 
passed for the organization of the militia by Congressional districts ; and 
on the 12th of February, 1855, an 'Act concerning the organization of 
voluntary associations ' was passed, providing for the formation of mili- 
tary companies by filing articles of association in like manner as provided 
for organizing, building, mining and manufacturing companies. These 
laws were practically of no value, merely providing, in a general way, 
for the organization of the militia without regulations sufficient to se- 
cure any successful result. Many commissions were issued, in most cases 
for the mere purpose of conferring honorary military titles upon the re- 
cipients ; but with the exception of probably a dozen companies (most of 
which had but a brief existence), formed in various parts of the State in 
1859-60, aggregating about 500 men, no organizations were made."* 
Such was the condition of the military force of the State when Fort Sum- 
ter surrendered on the 13th of April, 1861, and when on the 15th, Gov. 
Morton telegraphed to President Lincoln the tender of 10,000 men, " for 
the defense of the Nation." 

The Senatorial campaign of 1858, with the succeeding Presidential 
contest in 1860 (in both of which Lincoln was the exponent of the polit- 
ical principles that were rapidly gaining the ascendancy in Jasper County), 
served to fix the attention of this section upon the political storm which 
seemed to be gathering with portentous mutterings over the southern 

*A41uUnt General's Report. 

29 



486 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

portions of the country. It is doubtful whether hope or fear predominat- 
ed in the minds of the people as the day approached when Lincoln was 
to be inaugurated, but the hope and expectation of the great majority was 
that in his grasp, the serpent of secession would be strangled, as Jackson 
had done before in the case of the "NuUifiers." It was in this state of 
vacillation between hope and fear, that the reverberations of Fort Sum- 
ter's guns assailed the ears of the eager North. It was this explosion, 
echoing round the world, that united the various political elements, and 
made men Union or non-Union. Niceties of political distinctions were 
almost entirely lost sight of, and while the change of front was too sudden 
and radical to secure the adhesion of all to one party, Jasper County, in 
the main, presented but one sentiment, and that for the support of the 
Union. 

There existed, however, a disloyal feeling at the North that was 
especially prominent in the State of Indiana. The first burst of patri- 
otism which led men to struggle for the honor of defending the country 
in her armies, silenced all disposition to give expression to this feeling, 
but when the disastrous result of McClellan's futile campaign gave pause 
to the nation's enthusiasm, it sprang up hydra-headed to work its dis- 
graceful mission, concisely stated in the Adjutant-General's report: "It 
showed itself strong enough to take Indiana out of loyal hands in 1862, 
and leave her nothing but the iron will and unfailing sagacity of her 
Governor to prevent her own soil being made the scene of endless and 
ruinous local war. It was strong enough to endanger the loyal control 
of Congress. It was widespread enough to cripple the army by en- 
couragement of desertion, and to provide protection for deserters in every 
township. It organized secret societies in the interest of the rebellion, 
of which the members were sworn to resist the just demands of the Gov- 
ernment and obstruct the prosecution of the war. It murdered draft- 
officers, and destroyed enrollment papers. It distributed arms for treason- 
able uses, and plotted the destruction of Government arsenals and store- 
houses. It conspired to release rebel prisoners and arm them for a raid 
upon our own soil. It created riots in nearly every county of the North- 
west, and in the East it excited the most inhuman and dastardly mob 
ever known in this country. * * * * The righteous wrath of loyal 
men for awhile awed it into silence, if not into inactivity. But the dis- 
asters of the Government, and the failures of men whom its own influence 
had awakened or depraved, encouraged it to show itself again within a 
year." 

Jasper County shared in this general state of things to some extent. 
Opposition to the general course of the State and National administrations 
was strongly manifested by a minority, though no violent demonstrations 
were made here, as in many other counties in the State. One episode 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 487 

only served to mark this period here. In 1862, H. H. Dodds, of Indi- 
anapolis, made a violent speech, denouncing the policy of the nation, 
which 80 aroused the indignation of the loyal element ' of the county seat 
that they caused his arrest. This was probably a hasty and ill-considered 
action, and the speaker was subsequently unconditionally released; but 
the hot-headed sympathizers among the political minority in the county 
organized a band of vindicators with avowed intention of burning the 
town. There was a show of force sufficient to alarm the citizens, and for 
two or three weeks a cordon of pickets was maintained in the suburbs of 
the village to resist any efforts that might be made to carry out such in- 
tentions. The "besiegers" appeared in some force at two points several 
miles distant, and several camp-fires about the town served one night to 
give a show of reality to the raid ; but the event passed without signif- 
icant result, and the story of " Dodds' Raiders " is told simply to illus- 
trate the decided difference of opinion that existed in this county in 
1862. 

Saturday, April 13, 1861, Fort Sumter fell. The rumors of the 
night before was confirmed on Sunday, and on the 15th Gov. Morton 
telegraphed to the President his tender of 10,000 men "on behalf of 
the State of Indiana." On the same day, the President issued his proc- 
lamation calling forth the militia of the several States of the Union to the 
aggregate number of 75,000 men. The quota of Indiana was subse- 
quently fixed at six regiments of infantry, comprising in rank and file 
4,683 men, to serve for three months, if not sooner discharged. No mi- 
litia existed in fact, and on the 16th inst. Gov. Morton issued his proc- 
lamation, in which, after stating the cause, he called " upon the loyal and 
patriotic men of this State, to the number of six regiments, to organize 
themselves into military companies, and forthwith report the same to the 
Adjutant General," etc. The response from every part of the State was 
prompt and unanimous. The .day after the call there were 500 men in 
camp; on the 19th there were 2,400 men, and in less than seven days 
more than 12,000 men had been tendered. Contests to secure the accept- 
ance of companies were earnest and frequent, and all seemed anxious to 
discharge this perilous duty of citizenship. The response from Jasper 
County to the Governor's call was prompt and enthusiastic. A grand 
rally brought the citizens together from every township. R. II. Milroy 
took the lead, and called for volunteers, who crowded forward and filled 
the ranks of one of the earliest companies in the State. 

The first call for troops by the President was April 15, 1861, for 75,- 
000 men for three months' service; the second was May 3, 1861, for 
42,034 men for three years' service ; the third call was August 4, 1862, 
for 300,000 men for nine months' service; the fourth call was June 15, 
1863, for 100,000 men for six months' service ; the fifth call was October 



488 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 



17, 1863, for 300,000 men for three months' service ; the sixth call was 
July 18, 1864, for 500,000 men for one, two and three years' service, 
and the seventh call was December 19, 1864, for 300,000 men for one, 
two or three years' service. Up to the sixth call, Indiana furnished her 
quota of troops without resorting to draft, but under this demand some- 
thing over 12,000 men were conscripted. The record of Jasper County 
under this call is as follows : 



TOWNSHIPS. 



Hanging Grove Township. 

Gillam Township 

Barkley Township 

Kankakee Township 

Wheatfield Township 

Keener Township 

Walker Township 

Newton Township 

Marion Township 

Jordan Township 

Carpenter Township 

Totals 











■^ 












CREDITS 




<o 










5 


BY VOLUN- 




Id 












TARY EN- 




.3 










Vi 


LISTMENT. 




a 










ea 




^ 


w 










n 








.Q 










o 




a 




2P 




i 


0) 




^ (O 


w 




s. 


^-^ 


>^ 


>* 


<B 




^cS 






T3 


^§ 






a. 




H 


'A 


2 


2 


H 


O 

5 


H 

2 


H 

17 


O 


80 


20 


24 


6 


29 


19 


6 


3 


28 


5 


1 


22 


1 


40 


26 


11 


3 


40 


7 


1 


32 




13 


10 




2 


12 


2 




10 




4 
3 
6 


3 
4 
3 






3 

4 
4 






3 

4 
3 


1 
"2' 












1 


1 




26 


18 




6 


24 


7 


1 


16 


2 


75 
10 
24 


23 


42 




93 

7 
23 

262 






93 

5 

16 


"3' 

1 


1 
4 


1 
3 










259 


184 


61 


17 


32 


9 


221 


16 



18 



19 



Under the last call, the quota of this county and its credits were as 
follows : 





6 


•a 
a 

1 

as 

«« 


CREDITS 
BY VOLUN- 
TARY EN- 
LISTMENT. 


i 

« 

1 
<-> 

4 


p 

a 

a 
W 
t». 

11 

6 
9 


a 


11 
6 
9 


i 




i 


0) 

■3 
<a 

a> 
Q 




TOWKSHIPS. 


'3 

n 
« 

7 
6 
9 


a 

<u 


I- 
5 




11 

8 
9 
2 

2 










2 




Barkley Township > 




















2 






1 




1 


2 


2 
















2 




3 

10 
7 
3 
5 

60 






2 
2 

"'3* 


2 

2 

11 

4 

4 

51 


2 

2 

10 

4 
4 

50 






1 

8 

















Marion Township 


10 
1 
4 

38 


1 






4 




1 








1 
14 





Totals 


1 


12 




1 


7 








Note.— The total number of soldiers credited to Jasper County is 935. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 489 

But little difficulty was felt in obtaining volunteers during the first 
two years of the war, and no eflbrt was made by the county to stimulate 
enlistments by the offering of bounties. In fact, the financial condition 
and resources of the county would not permit any extravagance, however 
urgent the necessity. In August, 1862, an order was passed by the 
County Commissioners to pay a bounty of $25, but was subsequently 
rescinded. On November 24, 18(38, tiie subject was again brought forward, 
and an order passed to pay $60 to volunteers credited upon the quota of 
the county under the call of October 17, 1863, and this amount was 
increased in the following month to $100, which resulted in the payment 
of $4,900 as bounties by the county. Various measures of relief for the 
families of soldiers were introduced, which were carried out at an expense 
of $4,641.77. The various townships, in .their independent capacity, 
added to the general expenditure for both objects, as follows: 

TOWNSHIPS. BOUNTY. 

Hanging Grove Township $ 2,700 00 

Gillara Township 1,950 00 

AValker Township 25 00 

Barkley Township 5,900 00 

Marion Township 5,050 00 

Jordan Township 200 00 

Newton Township 200 00 

Keener Township 30 00 

Kankakee Township 100 00 

Wheatfield Township , 323 00 

Carpenter Townsliip 600 00 

County Commissioners 4,900 00 

Totals $21,978 00 |6,141 77 

The ladies also formed a Soldiers' Aid Society at Rensselaer. This 
was not completely organized, nor auxiliary to the city organization, but 
patriotic ladies, with earnest hearts and willing hands, busied themselves 
in providing such articles as the hospitals and the boys in the field stood 
in greatest need. The society met at the residence of its members, and 
worked up the material that some member, or the donation of some mer- 
chant, had provided. Donations of the usual kind were solicited in the 
country and town ; *' boxes " were sent to volunteers of the county ; con- 
tributions to general hospitals were made, and wherever tiie <lein md 
seemed most urgent, the labor and contributions of those ladies were 
freely given. The amount thus expended cannot be estimated, but there 
is no doubt but that it would compare very favorably with the amount of 
the "'relief" fund expended by the county treasury. 

Nintli Infantry. — In the Mexican war, the State had five regiments, 
and to avoid historical confusion, the regiments raised for the war of the 
rebellion were designated by numbers, beginning with six. The Ninth 



RELIEF. 


5 400 00 


500 00 


300 00 


200 00 


100 00 


4,641 77 



490 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

was therefore the third regiment organized, for the war of 1861-(35. This 
regiment was organized and mustered into the service for three months, 
at Indianapolis, on the 25th of April, 1861, with Robert H. Milroy as 
Colonel. In this regiment Jasper County was represented by a full com- 
pany, the original officers of which were Robert H. Milroy, Captain; 
Gideon C. Moody, First Lieutenant ; and Edward P. Hammond, Second 
Lieutenant. In the organization of the regiment, this company was ranked 
G; the Captain promoted to the Colonelcy of the regiment, and the regu- 
lar promotion of the Lieutenants, placing Albert G. Guthridge in com- 
mission as Second Lieutenant. Company G may be said to be the 
nursery of Jasper County's military renown, as from its organization rose 
one General, three Colonels and a number of line officers. 

The Ninth was the first regiment that left the State for Western Vir- 
ginia, departing from Indianapolis on the 29th of May, and arriving at 
Grafton on the 1st of June. From this point it marched toward Philippi, 
in the column commanded by Col. Kelley, and took part in the surprise 
of the rebel camp at that place on the morning of the 3d of June. This 
march of twenty-two miles over muddy roads, in an intensely dark and 
stormy night, was the first introduction of the regiment to the drudgery of 
army life. The affair at Philippi was but little more than a skirmish, 
the enemy, after a momentary resistance, making a precipitate retreat. 
The expedition returned to Grafton, when the Ninth was assigned to Gen. 
Morris's brigade. By July 4, 1861, the army at Grafton, under the im- 
mediate command of McClellan, numbered 30,000 troops, and operations 
were at once begun against the enemy who had taken position at Laurel 
Hill. Here the rebels made a more vigorous resistance, but, greatly out- 
numbered, they gave way in a disorderly retreat, not, however, before in- 
flicting a loss of some fifty killed and wounded upon the Union forces. 
"Here Company G lost one man killed. Retreating across Cheat River, 
the commander of the rebel forces turned at bay at Carrick's Ford. From 
this position the enemy was promptly dislodged after short resistance, and 
pursued by a part of the army under Gen. Hill. This closed the cam- 
paign of the Ninth under their three months' term of enlistment, and in 
the latter part of July, the regiment returned to Indianapolis and was 
discharged. 

On its return, the regiment found the early idea that the war would 
be over in ninety days exploded, and promptly re-enlisted for three years. 
The new organization was completed at the rendezvous, at Westville, 
La Porte County, under command of Col. R. H. Milroy, and mustered 
into the service at La Porte September 5, 1861. The Jasper County com- 
pany retained its original position, promotions and re-organization, how- 
ever, making considerable changes in its officers. The original officers 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 491 

under the re-organization were, Captain, Joshua Healey; First Lieutenant, 
William H, Rhoades; and Second Lieutenant, Benjamin R. Farris. 

Soon after its organization, the regiment was moved to Western Vir- 
ginia, proceeding by rail to Webster, where it disembarked and marched 
to Elkwater Valley, and from thence to the scene of its former exploits, 
going into winter quarters on Cheat Mountain summit, where it remained 
until January 9, 18G2. In the meantime, the regiment participated in 
the engagements at Greenbrier October 3, and at Allegheny Decem- 
ber 13, 1861. It then marched to Fetterman, Va., where it remained 
until it was transferred to Buell's army, February 19, 1862, being trans- 
ported by rail to Cincinnati, and thence to Nashville by boat. Here it 
was assigned to Gen. Nelson's division, and marched on the 29th of 
March for the Tennessee River, reaching there in time to participate in 
the second day's fight at Shiloh. On the opening of the fight on the 
morning of the 7th of April, 1862, Nelson's division on the left of Buell's 
army and near the center of the line, attracted the fire of half the en- 
emy's forces for several hours, and lost 739 men out of 4,541 on the di- 
vision. From thence the regiment moved with its division to Corinth, 
Miss., and after its evacuation took part in the pursuit as far as Booneville. 
From thence the regiment marched to Nashville by way of Athens, Ala., 
and Franklin and Murfreesboro, Tenn. From thence it moved to 
Bowling Green, Ky., and back again to Nashville. From the lat- 
ter place the Ninth marched to Louisville, Ky., and from there in the 
pursuit of Bragg, through Bardstown, Perryville, Danville, Camp Dick 
Robinson, Crab Orchard and London to Wild Cat Mountains, and re- 
turned to Nashville through Crab Orchard, Somerset, Columbia and 
Glasgow. During this march the regiment was engaged in the battles of 
Perryville, Danville and Wild Cat Mountains. The Ninth then marched 
to Murfreesboro, where it participated in the battle of Stone River De- 
cember 31, 1862, and 1st and 2d of January, 1863, after which it 
marched across the Cumberland Mountains and the Tennessee River to 
Chattanooga. On the 19th and 20th of September, it was engaged in the 
battle of Chickamauga. After its return to Chattanooga, it participated 
in the battles of Lookout Mountain, November 24, and Mission Ridge on 
the 25th, after which it marched over the Cumberland Mountains to 
Bridgeport, Ala., and from there to Whiteside, Tenn. 

At the latter place the Ninth re-enlisted as a veteran organization, 
on the 12th of December, 1863. The regiment returned to the State on 
veteran furlough, and on February 21, 1864, left Valparaiso, Ind., for 
the front, passing through Indianapolis, Madison, Louisville, Nashville 
and Chattanooga to Cleveland, Tenn. In the spring of 1864, the Atlanta 
campaign was commenced, the Ninth participating in all the marching of 



492 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

that campaign, through Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Kingston, Calhoun, 
Cassville, around the Allatoona Mountains, through Ackworth, Big 
Shanty, Marietta, the investment of Atlanta, in the flank movement 
around Atlanta, through Jonesboro and Lovejoy, and back again to At- 
lanta, taking part in the skirmishing on the route and in the engage- 
ments at Taylor Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca, Casaville, 
Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree 
Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy. It then participated in the ret- 
rograde movement in the pursuit of Hood's army, to Dalton, and thence 
through Suramerville, Ga., Galesville, Bridgeport, Stevenson and Hunts- 
ville, to Athens, Ala. From thence it marched to Pulaski, Tenn., arriv- 
ing there on the 1st of November, 1864. Falling back before Hood's ad- 
vance, on the 26th of November, it was engaged in the fight at Columbia, 
in the heavy skirmishing that followed on the route to Franklin, and in 
the severe engagement at that place. On the 1st of December, the Ninth 
entered Nashville, and on the 15th participated in the battle of Nash- 
ville, after which it joined the pursuit of Hood as far as Huntsville, Ala., 
when the pursuit was abandoned. At this point the regiment remained 
from January 6 to March 13, 1865, when it marched into East Tennes- 
see, beyond Bull's Gap and back again, reaching Nashville on the 25th 
of May. Soon after it was transferred to the vicinity of New Orleans, 
and subsequently to Texas, where it remained as a part of Sheridan's 
army of occupation until September, 1865, when it was mustered out 
of service and returned to Indiana. 

Fifteenth Infantry. — When the six regiments, under the first call for 
troops, were organized, Gov. Morton, unable to stay the tide of 
volunteers within the limits of the three-months service, tendered to the 
Secretary of War six additional regiments, engaging in case they were 
accepted to organize them within six days. Communication with Wash- 
ington City by telegraph being cut off, no response to this offer was re- 
ceived, but the Governor determined to anticipate the further calls of 
the Government, and to this end, to organize on his own responsibility 
as the Commander-in-Chief of the militia, five regiments of twelve months' 
volunteers for the defense of the State, or for general service as the future 
might require. There were at this time twenty-nine companies at the general 
rendezvous, Camp Morton, besides sixty-eight companies that had been 
raised and tendered to the Governor for active service. On the 7th of 
May, 1861, orders were issued for the organization of suflScient of these 
companies to form six regiments, the Legislature having indorsed the 
action of the Governor, and added one more regiment to the number, the 
camp rendezvous of the Fifteenth being established at Camp Tippecanoe, 
La Fayette. On the 11th of May, five regiments were reported as having 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 493 

the full complement of men, with a surplus of six companies in camp from 
■which with new enlistments to form the sixth regiment. In the meanwhile 
the second call, of May 3, 1861, had been received, and the question of 
entering the United States service for three years was at once submitted 
to tlie State regiments. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and 
Seventeeth Regiments promptly accepted the proposition, except a few 
hundred who declined to volunteer for three years, and were at once 
discharged. 

In the Fifteenth Regiment, Jasper County was represented by a full 
company, which was assigned the designating letter " H." its original 
oflficers being Samuel Miller, Captain; Horace K. Warren, First Lieu- 
tenant ; Alex S. Burnett, Second Lieutenant. The regiment was mus- 
tered into the United States service at La Fayette, on June 14, 1861, 
with George D. Wagner as Colonel. Soon after, it moved to Indianapolis, 
from whence it proceeded by rail on the 1st of July for Western Vir- 
ginia, stopping at Cincinnati until the 4th of July. Proceeding by rail 
to Clarksburg, it marched thence to Rich Mountain, where it arrived on 
the 11th, while the battle was in progress, and next day formed apart of 
the pursuing force, assisting in the capture of many prisoners. The regi- 
ment was afterward stationed in Elkwater Valley, where it remained until 
November 19, taking an active part in the operations of Gen. Reynolds 
that season, among which were the repulse of Gen. Lee and battle of 
Greenbrier. The Fifteenth left Huttonsville on the 19th of November, 
and reported to Gen. Buell, at Louisville, the last of the same month. 
It took an active part in the campaign under Gen. Buell, arriving at 
Shiloh on the second day of the fight ; was constantly on duty during the 
siege of Corinth, and took part in the closing scenes of the battle of 
Perryville. In the pursuit of Bragg toward Cumberland Gap, the duty 
was arduous, forced marches and skirmishes being the daily rou- 
tine for some time. In November, 1862, the regiment marched to Nash- 
ville, where the army was re-organized under Gen. Rosecrans, Col. Wagnef 
being appointed a Brigadier General on the 29th of November, and Lieut. 
Co). Wood being commissioned his successor. In the march toward 
Murfreesboro which followed, the regiment participated, and in the battle 
of Stone River, on December 31, 1862, and January 1 and 2, 1863, 
it bore a conspicious part, losing 197 officers and men killed and wound- 
ed, out of 440 engaged. After this, the Fifteenth remained at Murfrees- 
boro until June 24, taking part in the various expeditions sent out from 
that place. It then marched to Tullahoma. where as part of Crittenden's 
corps, it aided in turning the rebel position on the left, compelling the 
evacuation of the place. The Fifteenth then remained in camp at Pelham, 
Tenn., until August 17, when the army advanced on Chattanooga, 



494 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

Gen. Wagner's brigade, of which this regiment was a part, being the first 
to enter the city. Here the regiment performed post duty from Sep- 
tember 9 until shortly before the battle of Mission Ridge, in which 
engagement it participated, suffering heavily. Its loss was 202 out of 
334 engaged, being over sixty per cent. The day after the battle it 
marched, with other troops, to the relief of Gen. Burnside, at Knoxville, 
marching the whole distance, over 100 miles, in six days — a great many 
of the men without shoes, and all on very short rations. The regiment 
remained in the vicinity of Knoxville, on very severe duty, without 
b.iggage or tents, and with very little to eat, until February, 1864, when 
it was ordered to Chattanooga to do garrison duty. While there, a por- 
tion of the regiment re-enlisted on the 15th of February. It remained at 
that place under Gen. Steadman until the 16th of June, 1864, when in 
obedience to orders from Gen. Thomas it left for Indianapolis, to be 
mustered out of the service, its time having expired on the 14th 
of June. 

Seventeenth Infantry. — A detachment of veterans and recruits were 
left behind at Chattanooga by the Fifteenth, when it returned to Indiana 
to be mustered out, and these were transferred by order of Gen. Thomas 
to the Seventeenth (Mounted) Infantry. Of these, thirty were from 
Company H. The Seventeenth had re-enlisted in January, 1864, and 
while in Indiana on veteran furlough, the regiment was allowed to pur- 
chase horses, and from that time forward acted as mounted infantry. 
When reached by the Jasper County veterans, the Seventeenth was with 
Gen. Sherman at Kenesaw Mountain. From this time forward the regi- 
ment was conspicuously engaged at Marietta, Chattahoochee River 
(being the first troops to cross this stream). Stone Mountain, Flat Rock, 
New Hope Church, Rome, Coosaville, Leesburg and Goshen. On 
the 1st of November, 1864, after turning over its horses to Kilpatrick's 
cavalry, the regiment left Rome, Ga., for Louisville, Ky., where, on the 
24th, it was re-mounted. Moving from Louisville on the 28th of Decem- 
ber, it reached Nashville on the 8th of January, 1865, from whence it 
marched to Gravelly Springs, Ala., arriving there on the 25th. Here 
it remained until the 12th of March, when it marched with Gen. Wilson's 
cavalry command into the interior of Alabama. On the 1st of April 
the commands of Roddy and Forrest were overtaken and attacked at 
Ebenezer Church, on Rogue's Creek, twenty-nine miles from Selma; the 
Seventeenth participated and charged the rebels gallantly, capturing 100 
prisoners and one gun, and losing eight killed, eleven wounded and five 
missing. On the 2d, it participated in the engagement at Selma, and in 
taking the rebel works surrounding the town; the Seventeenth first drove 
the enemy into these forts and then out of them, and afterward drove 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 495 

them from the interior works and their position behind the railroad em- 
bankment into the town, taking all the forts from No. 18 to the river on 
the west side of town. Four pieces of artillery and about 300 prisoners 
were captured. Out of 421 officers and men engaged, the regiment lost 
twelve killed and eighty wounded. After the battle, the regiment moved 
to Montgomery, and from thence to Columbus, Ga., from which point it 
marched to Macon, near which place it engaged the enemy on the 20th 
of April, and drove him into the city, saving two important bridges, 
which the rebels were in the act of firing. By a ruse, the enemy were 
led to believe that our force was but the advance of two divisions of 
cavalry, and the city was surrendered. With the city fell into our hands 
four Generals, 3,000 troops, including officers of all grades, five stands of 
colors, sixty pieces of artillery, and 3,000 small arms. The Seventeenth 
had in the action during the day 451 officers and men, of whom one was 
killed and two wounded. Camping near the city for a month, it moved 
into Macon on May 22, where it did post duty until the 8th of August, 
18*35, when it was mustered out of the service. Leaving Macon soon 
after, the regiment reached Indianapolis August 16, with 675 men and 
twenty-five officers, and on the following day was accorded a public recep- 
tion. A few days later rt was discharged. 

Forty-eighth Infantry. — In this regiment, Jasper County was repre- 
sented by Company K, which drew its full complement of officers and 
men from this county. Its original officers were David S. Snyder, Cap- 
tain ; Albert J. Guthridge, First Lieutenant, and John Miller, Second 
Lieutenant. The Forty-eighth Regiment was organized at Goshen, on 
the 6th of December, 1861, with Norman Eddy as Colonel, and left for 
Fort Donelson, via Cairo, on the 1st of February, 1862, where it arrived 
the day after the surrender. It then moved to Paducah, where it re- 
mained until May, when it moved up the Tennessee River and engaged 
in the siege of Corinth. After the evacuation, it was assigned to the 
First Brigade, Second Division of the Army of the Mississippi, and took 
part in the marches and counter-marches in pursuit of Gen. Price. 
On the 19th of September, it participated in the battle of luka, losing 
116 men in killed and wounded out of 420 men en^a^ed. On the 3d 
and 4th of October, it was engaged in the second battle of Corinth 
(under Rosecrans), and lost twenty-six killed and wounded. The 
regiment next moved down the Mississippi Central Railroad as far 
as Oxford, Miss., and on its return marched to Memphis, where, in Janu- 
ary, 1863, it was assigned to the First Brigade, Seventh Division of the 
Seventeenth Army Corps. After remaining here two months, it was 
transported down the Mississippi, and, joining the army of Gen. Grant, 
marched with it to the rear of Vicksburg. During this campaign, the 



496 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

regiment participated in the skirmish of Forty Hills on the 3d of May ; 
the battle of Raymond on the 13th, the battle of Jackson on the 14th, 
and the engagement at Champion Hills on the 16th of May, losing 
in the latter battle thirty-three killed and wounded. It was actively 
engaged in the trenches during the long siege of Vicksburg, - and took 
part in the assault on the 22d of May, losing thirty-eight in killed 
and wounded. 

After the surrender of Vicksburg, it remained in that vicinity until 
August, and then moved up the river to Memphis, and from thence 
marched across the country to Chattanooga, and while in the vicinity 
engaged the enemy at Tunnel Hill. From the latter place, it marched 
back to Huntsville, Ala., and while stationed there, in January, 1864, 
the regiment enlisted as a veteran organization, and returned home on 
veteran furlough, reaching Indianapolis, February 6, with 369 veterans, 
and on the 8th were publicly received by Gov. Morton and others. 

After the expiration of its furlough, the Forty-eighth proceeded to 
Huntsville, Ala., where it remained until June. It then moved to Car- 
tersville, Ga., and was kept on duty in that vicinity, looking after guer- 
rillas and protecting Gen. Sherman's railroad communications during the 
campaign against Atlanta. It was continued on this duty until Hood's 
invasion, when it joined Sherman's army and marched with the First 
Brigade, Third Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, in its campaign 
from Atlanta to Savannah. From Savannah it first moved to Beaufort, 
and then on the campaign through the Carolinas, going through Colum- 
bia, Cheraw, Fayetteville and Goldsboro to Raleigh. From this place 
it moved northward, after the surrender of Johnston's army, making the 
distance from Raleigh to Petersburg, 165 miles, in six days. From 
Petersburg, the Forty-eighth went to Washington, but soon after its ar- 
rival was transferred to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out of 
service on the 15th of July, 1865. 

Eighty-seventh Infantry.* — The Eighty-seventh Indiana Regiment 
entered the service at a most discouraging period of the conflict. Men en- 
listing at that time did not anticipate a brief holiday parade and then 
a discharge without severe and trying service. They knew that long 
weary marches were to be made, hard battles to be fought, and all 
the privation and suffering of a soldier's life to be encountered. No 
permanent advance had been made by the Army of the Poto- 
mac. The roar of rebel artillery was plainly heard in Washing- 
ton. The ensign of treason flaunted defiantly in front of our national 
capital. Buell had left his position near Huntsville, Ala., and with his 

* The sketch of this regiment is taken from an historical address of Judge E. P. Hammond, at the 
first re-uuion of the regiment in 1869. * 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 497 

army was making his way to the Ohio River, as was also his antagonist, 
Gen. Bragg. Mr. Lincoln issued his call for 500,000 more troops. In- 
diana, always prompt, was first to fill her quota. The Eighty-seventh 
was organized at South Bend, in August, 1862. It was composed of 
three companies from Fulton County, three from La Porte, one from 
Miami, one from St. Joseph, one from Pulaski and one from Jasper 
(Company A). On the 29th of August, 1862, the regiment moved to 
Indianapolis ; was there mustered in and armed on the 31st, and moved 
immediately by rail to Louisville, Ky. Great numbers of troops, mostly 
newly formed regiments from this State, were then concentrating at 
Louisville, to repel an apprehended attack of Bragg on that city, and to 
form a part of the army intended to operate offensively against him. We 
formed a part of Gen. Burbridge's brigade, remaining in the vicinity of 
Louisville one month, but not being idle by any means. The long marches 
and counter-marches by night and day, made in all conceivable directions, 
to meet rumored advances of the enemy ; the dry, hot weather and the 
suffocating dust were indesci-ibably severe to the new troops and must 
long be remembered by them. Buell's army arrived about the 25th of 
September. The Eighty-seventh was placed in the Third Brigade, under 
Gen. Steadman, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and on the 
17th of October, moved with the army in that wearisome but fruitless 
campaign through Kentucky. On the 6th of that month the regiment 
skirmished with the enemy at Springfield, and on the 8th was engaged 
in the battle of Perryville. It is unnecessary to follow the movements 
of the regiment during the balance of that campaign under Gen. Buell. 
The soldiers have a painful recollection of it ; and to those who were not 
there, it will be sufficient to state that it followed the movements of the 
main army. Buell was succeeded in command by Rosecrans about the 
30th of October. 

Rosecrans found the array seriously deplete 1 and demoralized by 
exhaustive marches and indecisive conflict. The campaign was fol- 
lowed by wet, cold, disagreeable weather, producing among the new 
troops, whose endurance had bean already overtaxed, a fearful amount of 
disease. Nearly all were sick, humlreds died. Our regiment, like the 
others then recently formed, lost fearfully. The close of the campaign 
found the regiment near Gallatin, Tenn., where it remained until the 
middle of January, when it moved to Triune, one of the principal out- 
posts of the army, fifteen miles south of Nashville. The good weather of 
the spring brought health to the regiment. We became well drilled and 
thoroughly prepared for the approaching campaign. The whole army 
was in splendid condition, having unbounded confidence in its new 
leader, Gen. Rosecrans, whose appearance among the troops always ex- 



498 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

cited the wildest enthusiasm. The Eighty-seventh marched with the 
army on the 23d of June, and engaored in the campaign against Tulla- 
homa ; was under fire at Hoover's Gap, and was with that part of the 
army that entered TuUahoma close on the heels of the retiring enemy. 
It then marched to Winchester, Tenn., and thence over the mountains to 
the mouth of Battle Creek, on the Tennessee River. It participated in 
the great flanking movement that drove Bragg from Chattanooga, and bore 
a conspicuous part in the battle of Chickamauga on the 19th and 20th of 
September, 1863. As it was, perhaps, the most important event in the 
history of the Eighty-seventh, and which it is one purpose of this meet- 
ing to commemorate, it deserves more than a passing notice. We are 
justly proud of the part taken by our regiment in that terrible and mem- 
orable engagement. Its loss in that battle was much greater than that of 
any other regiment in the whole army ; and if there was one regiment 
that did more than any other to save the army from destruction, that 
regiment was the Eighty-seventh ; not because others did not do their 
whole duty, for all did as well as they could ; but because, at a favorable 
moment, it was thrown right in the place where it formed a part of the 
column that repelled the charge of the enemy, which, had it been suc- 
cessful, would have been attended with the most direful consequences to 
our army. 

After the evacuation of Chattanooga, Bragg was greatly re-enforced 
from the rebel army of the East, so that his army considerably outnum- 
bered that of Gen. Rosecrans. He determined to retake Chattanooga, 
and, if possible, destroy the Union army before it could recross the Ten- 
nessee River. This he hoped to accomplish by turning the left of our 
army, and cutting it off" from any practicable line of retreat. As a con- 
seqence, the right of the rebel army was greatly strengthened. Bragg's 
re-enforcements not being anticipated, the different corps of our army, in 
their operations to flank the rebels out of Chattanooga, and in their 
preparations for further flanking movements, had become greatly scat- 
tered. Rapid movements were required to bring them together to meet 
the designed attack. We marched all night before the commencement of 
the battle, and formed nearly on the extreme left of the army. At day- 
light, after eating a hastily prepared breakfast, we moved a short distance 
to the front and engaged the enemy. During the first day of the battle, 
the fighting along our part of the line was decidedly in our favor, hav- 
ing met and repulsed the enemy in three different charges, with great loss 
to his force. The Ninth Ohio and Eighty-seventh Indiana made a bayo- 
net charge, breaking the enemy's lines and retaking two pieces of artillery 
previously captured from one of our batteries. The sun went down on 
a hard day's fight, and on many a lifeless form, pierced and riddled with 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 499 

bullets, through whose veins the stream of life but a few hours before 
flowed with vigor and promise. Yet it was evident that the battle was 
not over. Weary and exhausted, the soldiers lay down to sleep, to dream 
of dear ones at home, thousands of them to be numbered on the mor- 
row with the slain. On the next morning — the same being Sabbath — 
Col. Van Devere's brigade, of which the Eighty-seventh formed a part, was 
placed in reserve ready to go when and where the emergency should re- 
quire. That emergency soon came. Bragg, still intent on turning the 
left of our army, and interposing between it and Chattanooga, moved 
Breckinridge's divison during the night to his extreme right. The rebel 
leaders intended to make the attack at daylight, but were prevented from 
doing so by a dense fog, which rendered all objects indistinguishable at a 
few yards' distance. At half past 8, the fog having risen, Breckin- 
ridge, followed by all the rebel right, pushed heavily against the left of 
our army, outflanking it, and by a desperate charge gaining possession of 
the road leading to Chattanooga. At that critical moment, upon which 
it might almost be said the fate of our army was suspended. Col. Van 
Deveer's brigade (the Eighty-seventh forming the left of the first line) 
moved forward and took position in line of battle on the extreme left con- 
fronting the advancing troops of Breckinridge. 

Our retreating and breaking battalions, falling back from the rebel 
charge, were allowed to pass ; on came the rebels with a murderous fire 
of shot, shell and musketry, striking our brigade severely on the left. A 
well-directed volley brought them to a halt ; the conflict for several min- 
utes raged fearfully, when the brigade, with the Eighty-seventh still on 
the left of the front line where it was subjected to a terrible enfilading 
fire, charged the enemy's lines and, pursuing his scattered forces, re- 
gained the Chattanooga road. Greeley, in his " American Conflict," 
gives our brigade the credit of this movement, as does also a work entitled 
" The Soldier of Indiana." The credit is properly given ; but it more 
immediately belongs to the Eighty-seventh. From its position on the 
left, it received the great weight of the rebel charge, and in engaging in 
the charge made by the brigade it was brought in nearer contact with the 
enemy than the other regiments of the brigade. Had the rebel charge 
on our left been successful, it is difficult to say what would have been 
the fate of the Union army. The right of the army was already thrown 
in confusion. Had the left given way and yielded the possession of the 
Chattanooga road to the rebels, it is impossible to conceive a different fate 
for Rosecrans' army than that it would have been captured or driven 
pell mell into the Tennessee River. After making the charge just spoken 
of, the Eighty-seventh took position with the troops under Gen. Thomas, 
on a slope of Mission Ridge, where desperate fighting continued during 



600 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

the balance of the day. The rebels made the most persistent and deter- 
mined efforts to dislodge our men from that position, but without success. 
Again and again they hurled their columns against our force, but were 
every time broken and scattered with great loss. 

During the sanguinary encounters that terminated the battle of Ghicka- 
mauga, the battle-flag of the Eighty-seventh, as usual, waved in the front 
line. The distinguished part taken by it in that memorable battle was 
attended with a deplorable sacrifice of life and limb. No regiment in 
the whole army — and they were all hotly engaged and lost heavily — suf- 
fered so severely as ours. Our losses, too, were, in killed and wounded, 
not missing, an item that not unfrequently swelled the losses of regiments 
in battle — often meaning those actually captured, but as frequently em- 
bracing the skulkers, who, retiring at an early part of an engagement, 
failed for several days thereafter to put in an appearance ; and while en- 
joying some safe retreat in the rear, were, in the reports made immedi- 
ately after the battle, accounted for as " missing." Now, the missing of 
the Eighty-seventh in the two days' battle was but a small part of the 
loss, and they were actually captured. The regiment went into the fight 
with twenty-two officers and 340 men. Of this number, eight officers 
and thirty-two enlisted men were killed on the field, and four officers and 
138 enlisted men were wounded and eight missing — in all 190, or more 
than one-half of all the officers and men engaged. Troops were never ex- 
posed to a more galling and destructive fire, and yet the regiment not only 
held its own ground, but twice charged and repelled the foe. Its unflinch- 
ing conduct at such a trying time makes our old regiment peculiarly dear 
to us. We are proud we belonged to such a gallant command ; and while 
we live, each returning anniversary of the battle of Chickamauga will be 
as sacred to us as the Sabbath on which was fought the hardest and blood- 
iest fray of the conflict. 

The regiment was at Chattanooga during the siege of that place. In 
the re-organiz^ation of the army, it formed a part of the Second Brigade, 
Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. It was at the storming of 
Mission Ridge, advancing in the first line of battle, and was among the 
first that entered the rebel works — losing, in killed and wounded, sixteen 
men. It followed in pursuit of the enemy to Ringgold, Ga. On the 22d 
of February, 1864, it engaged in the expedition against Dalton, and 
skirmished with the enemy in front of Buzzard's Roost Mountain, near 
that place. It then went into camp at Ringgold, where it remained until 
the 7th of May, 1864. 

In the great campaign against Atlanta, under Gen. Sherman, it was 
constantly at the front, skirmishing every day, and participating in the 
battles of Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 501 

Creek, and before Atlanta. It charged and carried the outer works at 
Uttoy's Creek, in front of Atlanta, on the 4th of August, 1864, losing, 
in killed and wounded, seventeen men. It was engaged in the battle of 
Jonesboro, on the 1st of September, after which it moved into Atlanta. 
The campaign against Atlanta, considering the rugged mountains, deep, 
narrow ravines, and thick, primitive woods, over and through which it 
was fought, the enemy contesting with determined obstinacy every foot of 
the ground, was the most difficult and laborious undertaking of the war. 
For 100 days the fighting was continuous, day and night. The firing 
between the heavy skirmish lines on each side was incessant, filling the 
air with whizzing, death-dealing bullets.- The skirmishers relied for pro- 
tection on ''gopher holes," as they called them, dug in the ground ; and 
frequently, men had to remain in these for twenty-four hours at a time, 
the exposure being so great that it was impossible to send others to re- 
lieve them, except in the darkness of the night, and then at great peril 
of life. As usual, it was the luck of the Eighty-seventh to get into 
warm places. Its battle flag, upheld and defended by unflinching men, 
always waved where there was danger and hard fighting. 

On the 3d of October, 1864, the regiment left Atlanta with the 
Fourteenth Corps, in pursuit of Hood, who was making a raid to the rear 
of Sherman's army. It followed the enemy northward, passing over the 
ground then recently fought over, to Kesaca, and thence through Snake 
Creek Gap, or rather over the mountain to the Chattanooga Valley. It 
went as far as Galesville, Ala., and then returned to Atlanta, by way of 
Rome and Kingston. Leaving Atlanta on the 16th of November, 1864, 
it "marched with Sherman down to the sea," passing through Decatur, 
Covington, Shady Dale, Eaton Factories, Milledgeville, Sandersville, 
Louisville, Reynolds, Thomas' Station and Waynesboro, and reaching the 
defenses of Savannah on the 10th of December. The march was diver- 
sified by tearing up railroads, heating and twisting the iron so as to make 
it useless, skirmishing with the enemy, foraging and living sumptuously 
on fat pigs and poultry, sweet potatoes and sorghum molasses. 

The regiment made the campaign with the army through the Caro- 
linas, going to Goldsboro, N. C, where it remained until the 10th of 
April, 1865. It then proceeded to Smithfield, which was held by the 
enemy. Forming on the left of the road, the One Hundred and First In- 
diana on the right, it entered the town under the fire of the retreating 
foe. There we heard the last rebel bullet. May it no more ever be 
heard in this land ! From thence the Eighty-seventh proceeded through 
Raleigh to a place near Holly Springs, where it remained until after the 
surrender of Johnston's rebel army. Thus a mighty army, which had 

30 



502 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

encountered our forces at the Ohio River, menacing an invasion of the 
North, after being pursued and fought for three long years, laid down its 
arms in the presence of the victorious legions of the Union, and abandoned, 
as the "lost cause," that for which it had so long and persistently bat- 
tled. It was a proud day to the Union soldier ; his cause was triumph- 
ant — his labors and privations were passed, and visions of home, loved 
ones and peace were approaching reality. The regiment then moved to 
Richmond, Va., and thence to Washington City, where it participated in 
the grand review of Sherman's army. It was mustered out on the 10th 
of June, 1865, and proceeding to Indianapolis, it was on the 22d of that 
month publicly welcomed home by Gov. Morton, at a reception meeting 
held at the Capitol grounds. 

The total casualties of the regiment, during its term of service, were : 
Killed in action, 47 ; wounded in action, 198 ; died from wounds and dis- 
ease, 214 ; total 459. 

I have thus partly recounted some of the principal movements and 
engagements of the regiment. I have not pretended to follow it in all 
its marches and skirmishes, or to give anything more than a mere sketch 
of the movements to which I haye referred. To have done more would 
have occupied too much of your time. As an instance of how little I 
have presented of the movements of the regiment — I will state that the 
general course of its march as I have pointed it out, indicates a distance 
not greater than 1,200 miles, when the distance actually marched by it 
exceeded 3,500 miles. 

Twelfth Cavalry [One Hundred and Twenty-seventh). — Com- 
pany K of this regiment was made up, principally, of volun- 
teers from Jasper, Newton and Pulaski Counties, and was organ- 
ized with the following ofiScers : Captain, Daniel M. Graves ; First 
Lieutenant, Henry H. Graves ; Second Lieutenant, William Chittenden. 
This regiment, known as the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regi- 
ment Indiana Volunteers, was organized at Kendallville, Ind., on the 1st 
of March, 1864. Eight companies were recruited in the Ninth Congres- 
sional District, by Col. Edward Anderson, in the fall and winter of 1863, 
and were rendezvoused at Michigan City ; and four companies were 
recruited in the Tenth Congressional District, at the same time, and were 
rendezvoused at Kendallville, for the purpose of completing the regimental 
organization, and Col. Anderson was made the Colonel of the regiment. 
Early in May, 1864, it left camp at Kendallville, and proceeded to 
Indianapolis. On the 6th, the regiment left the State capital for 
the field, under orders to proceed to Nashville, Tenn. But six companies 
of the regiment were mounted, and all of the companies were armed as 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. . 503 

infantry, for want of cavalry arms, until the regiment arrived at Louis- 
ville, when the infantry arms of the six mounted companies, and cavalry 
arms were issued instead. The mounted portion of the regiment, with 
the mounted portions of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry regiments, marched 
from Louisville to Nashville, under the command of Col. Anderson, while 
the dismounted portion of the regiment proceeded to Nashville by rail, 
under the command of Lieut. Col. Alfred Reed. 

The regiment remained at Nashville in camp of instruction for about 
three weeks, when it was ordered to Huntsville, Ala., for which place it 
started on the 29th of May, the dismounted portion proceeding thence by 
rail, under the command of Col. Anderson, and the mounted portion march- 
ing from Nashville, under the command of Lieut. Col. Reed. Col. Ander- 
son was assigned to the command of the railroad defenses from Decatur, 
Ala., to Paint Rock, a distance of about sixty miles, and to the command 
of all that district of country lying between the Tennessee River and the 
Memphis & Charleston Railroad, that region being, at that time, 
infested with several bands of guerrillas and ''bushwhackers." 

The dismounted companies were assigned to the especial defense of 
the railroad, and to the erection of block-houses, under the command of 
Maj. Orris Baker. The mounted companies (which were the only mounted 
cavalry then at or near Huntsville), under the command of Col. Anderson, 
were employed very actively in fighting and ridding the country of guerril- 
las, in which numerous skirmishes and engagements were fought, and quite 
a large number of the regiment were killed and wounded. 

For about a month after the arrival of the regiment at Huntsville, the 
headquarters of the regiment were at that place, when they were removed 
to Brovvnsboro, where they remained until the 15th of September, 
1864, when the regiment was ordered to Tullahoma, Tenn., to garrison 
that post, where it arrived on the night of the same day, and reported to 
Maj. Gen. Milroy. Col. Anderson was assigned to the command of the 
post, and also retained command of the regiment. During the stay of 
the regiment here, it was constantly employed in watching the move- 
ments of the rebel Gen. Forrest, who, with a large force, was then 
threatening Tullahoma, and several other points along the Nashville & 
Chattanooga Railroad, getting into several spirited skirmishes in the 
meanwhile. 

Three mounted companies, C, D and II, stationed at Huntsville, un- 
der command of Capt. Williams, of Compiiny C, participated in defense of 
that place with the Thirteenth Cavalry, on the 1st of October, 18t>4, 
against the attack of a portion of Forrest's command. These companies 
subsequently joined the regiment at Tullahoma, and on the '2Gth of No- 



504 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

vember, upon the evacuation of that post, the regiment proceeded to Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn., and participated in the battle of Wilkinson's Pike and 
Overall's Creek, and was employed in the several skirmishes in the defense 
of Mux-freesboro against the command of Forrest, in December, 1864. 
Soon afterward, the regiment proceeded to Nashville, and went into winter 
quarters ; received new arms, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, 
Seventh Division, Cavalry Corps. 

February 11, 1865, the regiment embarked, under orders to proceed 
to New Orleans, but, by subsequent orders, landed at Vicksburg to engage 
in a raid along the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. These orders were subse- 
quently countermanded, and the regiment, newly armed and mounted, 
embarked for New Orleans, where it arrived on the 12th of March, 1865, 
where it proceeded to Navy Cove, Mobile Bay. Under Gen. Canby, the 
regiment participated in the operations against the forts and defenses of 
Mobile, a portion of the regiment acting as escort to the General. The 
balance of the regiment engaged, also, in running a courier line into Flor- 
ida, from near Fort Blakely, Ala. 

After the fall of Mobile, the regiment reported, on the 17th of April, 
to Maj. Gen. Grierson, and participated in the raid of over 800 miles 
through Alabama into Georgia, and then across the State of Alabama to 
Columbus, Miss., where it arrived on the 20th of May, 1865. The regi- 
ment was highly and specially complimented by Gen. Grierson in a 
letter to Gov. Morton for its gallant conduct and military discipline. 
Here the regiment remained until about the middle of July, when a 
portion of the regiment proceeded to Grenada, Miss., where the head- 
quarters were established. Companies D, K and L proceeded to Austin 
on the Mississippi River, in command of Capt. D. M. Graves, where 
they remained about two months, employed in protecting Government 
cotton and other property. These companies then rejoined the detach- 
ment at Grenada, where this part of the regiment remained until orders 
were received for muster out. 

The remaining six companies remained at Columbus, Miss., and vicin- 
ity, engaged in guard duty, until they were ordered to Vicksburg, to re- 
join that portion of the regiment which had preceded them. Here, on 
November 10, 1865, the regiment was mustered out, and subsequently 
left for Indianapolis, where it arrived on the 16th inst., and was paid off 
and discharged, November 22, 1865. 

Fourth Battery, Light Artillery. — This organization was mostly re- 
cruited in La Porte, Porter and Lake Counties, though Jasper had a con- 
siderable representation in its ranks. The battery was organized at In- 
dianapolis on the 15th, and mustered into the service on the 30th of Sep- 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 505 

tember, 1861, with Asahel K. Bush as Captain. Soon afterward it pro- 
ceeded to Louisville, and then joined the army of Gen. Buell. During 
the winter it remained in camp in the vicinity of New Haven, Munford- 
ville and Bowling Green, and wiien the forward movement of the army 
was commenced, it moved with it to Nashville. From there it marched 
to Savannah, on the Tennessee River, with Buell's army ; but for lack 
of transportation did not cross the river in time to take part in the en- 
gagement at Shiloh. 

During the siege of Corinth, the battery marched with Buell's army, 
and participated in the subsequent campaign through Northern Alabama 
and Middle Tennessee, reaching Nashville late in the month of August, 
1862. Falling back into Kentucky, and to the Ohio River, at the time 
of Bragg's invasion, it moved out from Louisville with Rousseau's divi- 
sion of McCooks corps, and took part in the cimpaign that resulted in 
driving that rebel General from Kentucky. In this campaign the battle 
of Chaplin Hills, near Perryville, was fought on the 8th of October. The 
Fourth Battery and Stone's Kentucky Battery were placed on a high 
ridge on the extreme left of Rousseau's division, ar^d extending diagonally 
to the front. To support these batteries, the First Wisconsin was placed 
on the ridge, and the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania on another ridge run- 
ning almost at right angles with the one on which the batteries were 
planted. This formation gave a cross fire, and proved of great value in 
maintaining that all-important position during the day. Gen. Rousseau, 
in his official report, says of this movement: "These formations were 
made in great haste, and in a few moments, but without the least confu- 
sion or disorder, the men moving into line as if on parade." The opera- 
tions at this point saved McCook's left, and secured to the army the Max- 
ville road, upon which stood the entire ammunition train and ambulances. 

After this campaign, the Fourth Battery marched to Nashville, and 
upon re-organization of the array under Rosecrans, it was assigneil to 
the Third Division of Gen. McCook's corps, of which Gen. Sheridan 
was the division commander. In December, the division marched with 
the right wing of the army toward Murfreesboro, then the headcjuarter.') of 
Gen. Bragg. On the morning of December 30, the battery moved 
near the enemy's lines at Stone River, and by order of Gen. Slieriilin, 
opened fire on a rebel battery at 1,500 yards range, and drove it under 
cover. About 10 o'clock, it moved across the open field near the woods 
occupied by the enemy, when a rebel battery opened fire on it from the 
woods, at aboyt 600 yards range, an'l Gen. Sill ordered Capt. Bush to 
place his battery in position in the woods, and silence the opposing bat- 
tery. This was accomplished after a sharp contest of about two hours, at 



506 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

450 yards range. As a result, about one-half the horses of the enemy's 
battery were killed, one of his gun carriages disabled, one of his Lieu- 
tenants and twelve men killed, and several others wounded, besides the 
killing and wounding of a number of the infantry supports, which lay 
near. The Fourth Battery lost in the contest four men killed and 
three wounded. After dark, the battery was posted about 300 yards fur- 
ther to the right, in open ground, where it remained till next morning. 
About daylight on the 31st, the enemy began the attack. The battery 
replied with canister at short range, until the division was flanked and 
obliged to retire, the battery moving to the rear of its brigade, and firing 
canister as it fell back. On reaching the first position of December 30, 
it made another stand, and fired canister from its howitzers and 6-pound 
smooth-bores in the enemy's front, and with its rifles drove two of the 
enemy's pieces from position. In reaching this position, one caisson was 
lost, every horse drawing it being shot down by the enemy's musketry. 
Retiring from this position, it moved to a point 800 yards to the left, ad- 
joining Hegley's division, near which point it remained until its ammu- 
nition was expended, and then retired to the left. In crossing a dense 
cedar woods, near the Murfreesboro pike, the infantry were driven rap- 
idly past the battery, causing the two rear guns to be captured by the 
enemy. These were not abandoned, however, until all the horses except 
four had been killed, and one piece had become fastened among the 
trees, and the enemy within forty yards of the two guns. On reaching 
the pike, Capt. Bush moved his battery a short distance to the rear, and 
obtained a supply of ammunition, and then reported to the front with 
three pieces for duty. By order of Gen. Rosecrans, the battery was then 
placed in park in front, and on the left of the pike. The next morning. 
Gen. Sheridan placed it in position, where it remained until the morning 
of the 2d of January, 1863, without further casualties. The total loss 
to the battery in this battle was six killed, seventeen wounded, two pa- 
roled by the enemy, and one missing. 

Encamping near Murfreesboro until June, 1863, it then moved with 
its division in the campaign against Tullahoma, engaging the enemy on 
the 24th at Hoover's Gap. After the occupation of Tullahoma, it 
marched with the army toward Chattanooga, crossing the Tennessee River 
at Bridgeport, Ala. Passing over Lookout and Sand Mountains, the en- 
emy was encountered at Dug Gap, where a brisk engagement ensued. 
On the 19th and 20th of September, the battery participated in the en- 
gagement at Chickamauga, rendering eS'ective service on both days. It 
fired fewer shots than at Stone River, but with much greater efi'ect. Af- 
ter the battle, it fell back to Chattanooga until the 21st of September, 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNT!. 



507 



1864, when the .veterans and remaining recruits were transferred to the 
Seventh Battery. The non-veterans proceeded to Indianapolis, where 
they were mustered out of the service. 

On the 14th of October, 1864, the re-organization of this battery 
was authorized by the War Department, and on the 28th its organiza- 
tion was perfected with Benjamin F. Johnson (one of the First Lieuten- 
ants of the old organization) as Captain. In a few days afterward, the 
battery joined the Army of the Cumberland, at Nashville, and after the 
battle at that place was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Rosecrans, at 
Murfreesboro, where it remained to be mustered out. It returned 
to Indianapolis, and was mustered out of service and finally discharged 
August 1, 1865. 

Jasper County was represented in other organizations in the army, 
but concerning whom there is no reliable information. To notice the es- 
pecial achievements of the volunteers from this county would be a pleas- 
ant but an impossible work. Even to note the individual experiences of 
companies formed in the county has been found impracticable. A brief 
sketch of the regiments of which they formed a part is all that has been 
attempted, and if this shall show that Jasper County was not wanting in 
patriotism and sacrificing devotion when demanded by the nation's peril, 
the object of the foregoing pages will have been reached. 




508 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 



GROWTH OF VILLAGES. 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER. 



THE development of Jasper County from one to thirteen political 
divisions has been noted in the foregoing pages, and the dates of 
their organization is a fairly correct measure of the growth of the com- 
munity. In 1840 (the county then embraced the present territory 
of Newton, Benton and Jasper), the number of polls assessed was 188, 
and the amount of taxable property was placed at $20,347. This is the 
financial statement for an area of about 1,300 square miles — equal to the 
State of Rhode Island. In 1844, the whole amount of revenue of the 
county, Benton having in the meanwhile been struck off, was $457.87. 
In the State Gazetteer of 1850, is found the following: "Jasper is the 
largest county in the State, and contains about 975 square miles ; but 
Beaver Lake, the Kankakee Marshes and the Grand Prairie occupy so 
large a portion of it, that its settlement and improvement have hitherto 
proceeded slowly. It is divided into eight townships, viz. : Iroquois, 
Newton, Marion, Barkley, Jordan, Beaver, Jackson and Gillam. The 
population in 1840 was 1,267, it is now about 3,.000." In 1856-57, the 
county revenue was over $9,000, and the taxable property was reported 
at $1,540,000. In 1882, the income of the county, shorn of the terri- 
tory which is now Newton, was $111,738.11. This in a brief way shows 
the progress that has been made since 1839. 

Five settlements divided the early community that settled within the 
present territory of Jasper County. Among these, the one most advan- 
tageously placed, though not the strongest, was the one at the rapids of 
the L-oquois. The Iroquois, or the Rockwise, as the earlier settlers knew 
it, was a famous stream among the Indians and among such trappers and 
hunters as found their way her« before the treaty. Its waters were 
famous for the fish it contained and the fowl they attracted, while the 
game along its course gave this region the reputation of the hunter's El 
Dorado. These rumors were not lost upon the settlers of the frontier in 
White County, and in 1831 or 1832 Royal Hazelton, accompanied by 
Levin Willis and W. J. Wright set out in search of the " bold rapids of 
the Rockwise." They struck the head of the stream, followed its course 
as closely as the state of its margin would allow, to a point which is now 
the site of the iron bridge east of the county seat, and there gave up the 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 509 

search and returned. Not satisfied with this bootless errand, Hazelton, 
after failing to enlist the enthusiasm and company of the others, started 
out alone in a second quest of the rapids. Providing himself with two 
large "corn-pones," a few cooking utensils, his lariat, and accompanied 
with his five dogs, he set out on horseback for the noted place. He 
struck the river about twenty-five miles south from the rapids, and then 
following up the stream came upon the rapids. The place did not meet 
his expectations. An impassable marsh bordered either side of the 
stream, and while it afforded all that the savage or hunter might desire, 
it presented a very discouraging site for the settling of a claim, and he re- 
turned after a seven days' absence without any desire to exchange Mootz 
Creek for the Iroquois. 

The solitude of the rapids seems to have remained undisturbed by the 
white man until 1834, when they were visited and rejected by Randle and 
Gulp, and later accepted by Joseph D. Yeoman and Nowels. In the fol- 
lowing year, the family came and pitched their tent about in the geograph- 
ical position, now known as Liberal Corner. On this spot the family re- 
mained while the permanent home of logs was reared. Mrs. Yeoman 
chose the site for this structure which was placed on the site of the bridge 
which crosses the mill race on Washington street. It was nearly winter 
when the last weight-pole was placed on the top course of clapboards 
that formed the roof of the new cabin, and the family found it necessary 
to take possession without waiting for fire-place or door. A log heap in 
the middle of the room furnished the necessary warmth and light, while 
a few displaced clapboards allowed the smoke to escape. This served un- 
til further improvements could be added. The nearest resident in the 
county at that time was David Phegley who then lived about five miles to 
the eastward of the county seat, on the Crockett farm. The family re- 
lied upon their own resources in raising the cabin, Mrs. Yeoman man- 
fully doing her share in the heavy work. 

In the spring following, Mr. Yeoman was under necessity of going to 
the Wabash for provisions with an ox team. During his absence, 
Mrs. Yeoman with two children were left alone, and while thus unpro- 
tected a party of fifty Indians came down to the rapids to fish. They 
camped about where the grist mill now stands and caught wagon loads of 
fish. Their method was to throw the fish out with paddles, made for the 
purpose, with one hand, while holding a torch in the other. None but 
dog-fish were preserved for their own use, however ; a bass or pickerel 
being brought to the cabin to exchange for bread. The savages were 
very docile, and offered her no discourtesy, though it may be imagined 
that the solitude was preferable to the presence of such visitors. 



510 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

Mr. Yeoman made a farm upon the site of Rensselaer, extending from 
the ravine which reaches the river at the mill on the south to the Western 
Grove on the north. Here he lived and improved his claim without near 
neighbors for three years. The family heard of the advent of the Forks' 
settlement, but the impassable character of the stream between the two 
locations prevented any communication. 

The first accession to the little settlement thus begun, if the father 
W. J. Wright be excepted, was William Mallatt. He located his claim 
across the river from Yeoman, and broke ten acres of ground covering 
the site of Mr. Thompson's residence and others westward toward the 
bend of the river. He was not allowed to rest long in the possession of 
this site, as it was taken by a " float" owned by a W, M. Kenton. This 
was a peculiar way the General Government had of disposing of its 
lands, and very often worked grave injustice, as in two cases, at least, at 
the rapids. To discharge certain obligations, the Government granted a 
warrant for a certain amount of land to be located at the option of the 
holder on any land belonging to the United States. Until 1837, lands 
could not be bought here, and settlers made claims with the intention of 
perfecting their title at the first opportunity. This was sometimes neg- 
lected, and while their "claim" was proof against any similar demand, 
it was powerless before a "float." In this case Mr. Mallatt was obliged 
to forsake his improvements, and removed to the Blue Grass settlement. 

In the meantime, the county seat had been changed to the Rapids of 
the Iroquois, and the pi ice named Newton. Mr. Yeoman had determined 
in his own mind to lay out a village here, and was flattering himself upon 
the outlook, when he found himself ''floated" out of his prospects by 
James Van Rensselaer. The latter had been a merchant in Utica, N. Y., 
where he had failed in the panic of 1837, and becoming the owner of a 
" float" issued to some of the Indians, he came West, with this capital to 
repair his fortunes. The site at the rapids seemed to offer the opportunity 
he sought, and he soon became the possessor of a good farm, considerably 
cultivated, and a portion of it well-fenced. More than this, the site of a 
village was foreshadowed at this point, and for all these advantages there 
is no evidence that he allowed his predecessor a dollar for his improve- 
ments. It is said that there was a decided opinion entertained as to the 
equity of the proceeding, and it was marked as an instance of poetic jus- 
tice that a certain well-fenced corn-field seemed to be the especial prey of 
all the stock that grazed on the prairies. Donahue's cattle were fre- 
quently found to have strayed to this distant point, and superior to 
fences, were found rioting in the standing corn. 

On June 12, 1839, the original plat of the town of Newton was filed, 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 511 

The specifications accompanying the plat explain that " the town of 
Newton is situated at the Rapids of the Iroquois River in Jasper County, 
Ind., on Section 30, Town 29 north, Range 6 west. The Blocks 1, 2, 
3, 4, 5 and 6 are each 390 by 300 feet; the remaining whole blocks are 
each 300 feet square. Block 25 is 295 by 300; Block 26 is 295 by 
300 feet. The lots are each 50 by 150 feet, except the middle lots in 
Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ; they are each 45 by 150 feet. The lots in 
fractional blocks vary according to the shape of the blocks. There are 
twenty-six blocks besides the Public Square ; the Public Square is 300 
feet square. The streets around the Public Square are each 75 feet 
wide ; Susan street is 63 feet wide ; Mill street is 50 feet wide ; the street 
immediately south of Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, is 50 feet wide till 
its junction with Mill street, where it expands to 56 feet wide; the rest 
of the streets are 66 feet wide. It is not intended that Front street should 
be laid out as a public street more than 50 feet wide, although it is 
believed it will always remain open to the river. From the junction of 
Front and Angelica streets westward, it is QQ feet wide." The town thus 
laid out was divided, commancing on the river by Mill (Short street, 
near the site of the old mill, near the foot of the rapids), Front, Van 
Rensselaer, Cullen and Weston streets, and at right angles to these by 
Susan, Angelica, Cornelia, Washington, Harrison and Rutsen streets. 
This street was laid out in the name of Van Rensselaer's wife as his pecu- 
niary liabilities would not permit him to hold property in his own name. 
A public sale of lots was held some time in this year, the first one being 
disposed of to J. D. Yeoman for a consideration of ^100, and is described 
as Lot 6 in Block 1. The location of the county seat here gave the growth 
of the town an impetus, bringing several families, among which was that 
of George W. Spitler. But the growth of the village was destined to be 
slow. The proprietor came from the old Dutch stock, once prominent in 
New York, and impressed with certain aristocratic notions and an exag- 
gerate<l idea of the natural advantages of the site, he refused to sell lots at 
what they were really worth, or at an approximate price. He labored 
also under the disadvantage of a la(Jk of money to develop his property, 
and at the same time sought to monopolize every possible avenue of 
trade. The result was that the little town stagnated, and for years made 
no progress. The mill-race was built in 1838-39, and a mill erected at 
the ravine near the foot of the rapids. This was a combined saw and 
grist mill, and was among the earliest of its kind in this part of the State. 
For various reasons, however, it was forced to lie idle a gooil deal of the 
time, and other mills were erected. One about a mile further down the 
river was built by a Mr. Peck, to which Mr. Van Rensselaer took exceptions 



512 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

as infringing upon his right to monopolize the milling business, and 
resulted in a series of law-suits involving Peck in nominal damages and 
serious bills for costs, which finally put an end to his business. 
The "Alter Mill" in Union Township occasioned an ineffectual remon- 
strance from the proprietor of the county seat, as the dam there was 
supposed to interfei-e with the advantages of the mill at the rapids, Mr. 
Van Rensselaer, while conservative in his policy, and greatly circum- 
scribed in his action by his lack of means, is remembered with respect by 
those who knew him. After his death, March 12, 1847, his family 
returned to the East ; the only survivor of the family, now an old man, 
resides in the city of New York, and still holds a considerable of the orig- 
inal place with all the tenacity of the old policy of his father. 

Among the families connected with the early history of the village, in 
addition to those mentioned, were the Stewarts, Irwins, Barrs, Sparlings, 
Clarks, etc. Dr. Josiah Clark was the first physician in the county, and 
settled in the village in 1839. The death of Mrs. Ezra Stewart was the 
first to occur here, though the first burial was that of Mrs. Irwin, some- 
time later. The first birth was that of J. J. Yeoman : the second that of 
Joseph Sparling. The first marriage is said to have been that of Edward 
Dryer to Mrs. Elizabeth Barr, which was celebrated in the house where 
the first court was held, and where the second was not held because of 
the bed-bugs. 

The social dissipations of this period were confined to an occasional 
meeting, a quilting or a Fourth of July celebration. The first of the 
latter occasions was held in 1843, and combined the three classes of 
diversion in one. The programme was projected by Mrs. Spitler, and 
consisted of a two-story quilting party, to which the whole town was 
invited. The ladies divided their forces, and worked on two quilts one 
up-stairs and the other below. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the com- 
pany repaired to a large oak that stood near the corner of Washington 
and Van Rensselaer streets, and listened to a discourse by Rev. Mr. 
Hopkins, of the Christian Church. His topic was doubtless suited to the 
occasion ; at all events, it did not seem unfitting to close the day with the 
round of games that were the usual finale of the quilting party. Thus 

" Far from the maddina; crowd, 
They kept the quiet tenor of their way." 

In 1850, the town contained " three stores, two physicians, one 
lawyer and fifteen dwelling houses," the first of the stores being opened 
by Harper Hunt. 

There seemed to be a settled opinion that the progress of the town 
was greatly retarded by the exorbitant price demanded for lots by Mr. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTV. 513 

Van Reusselaer, and as early as 1844, the original town's name having 
been changed to Rensselaer, a neiv town of Newton was platted by Will- 
iam Ivers. This consisted of twenty-four blocks (four of half size) of 
eight blocks each, and a public square. Some lots were sold, but the 
prestige was in favor of the older town, and this did not solve the prob- 
lem. It was subsequently sold to Mervin Clark and Arazi Stanley, who 
had the old plat recorded in June, 1851, just as it was originally sur- 
veyed. It is orenerally known now as "Newton's Addition," though it is 
incorrectly stated. The specifications of the plat set forth that '"the 
town of Newton, Jasper Co., Ind., is situated on the northwest half of 
the northwest half of Section 30, in Township 29 north, in Range 6 west. 
The northeast corner of Block No. 9 is situated directly south (allow- 
ing for the variation of the needle) of the northeast corner of said lot of 
land, 5 poles, 14 links. The southeast corner of the town identifies with 
the corner of the forty acres on which it is situated. The town lies with 
the range and section lines, to wit, north and south, east and west. 
The blocks are each 276 feet square. The lots are 6Q feet wide ; the 
alleys 12 feet wide." The streets which divide this plat running east 
and west are South, Jackson and Harrison streets. The streets at right 
angles to these are Washington, Elza and Jefferson streets. In the same 
year, Mr. Van Rensselaer added a block on the west end of the first plat 
and another on the eastern end, which consisted of six lots and a public 
park. The latter was never improved by the town and was forfeited. 

December 8, 1858, L. A. Cole, R. H. Milroy and fifty others signed 
a petition to the County Commissioners, for the incorporation of the 
town, with the following boundaries: "Commencing at the southwest 
corner of Section 30, Township 29 north, Range 6 west, thence north 
32.34 rods; thence east 85.55 rods ; thence north 2,300 feet; thence east 
162 rods ; thence south 2,300 feet ; thence east 80 rods ; thence south 
321.34 rods; thence west 325.55 rods to point of beginning." The 
area thus included comprised about 791 acres, and contained a popu- 
lation of 467. An election for the purpose was ordered by the 
Commissioners and the village legally incorporated, but then the enthu- 
siasm of the projectors of the enterprise ceased. The war ensued and 
public attention was centered upon national affairs. In the meanwhile, 
the charter was allowed to lapse, and public enterprise sank to a low ebb. 
In 1866, the incorporation was revived through the efforts of Simon 
Thompson, Esq., and public matters began to mend. Since then an 
efficient system of board sidewalks has been projected and constructed ; 
a part of Washington street, through the business part of the town, has 
been improved by macadamizing with gravel ; and several of the princi- 



514 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

pal streets have been provided with tile drains, part on one side and part 
on both sides of the roadway. At present a grade is being established 
and a project is on foot to ultimately improve Washington street to the 
depot. Stock is restrained with unusual strictness, though cows are al- 
lowed the freedom of the streets during the summer months. 

The revival in public affairs of the town marked also the business im- 
provement, and the consequent improvement in the business houses and 
dwellings in the village. The Union of October 2, 1879, reviews this 
period as follows: " It was said in these columns last week that no busi- 
ness man of Rensselaer had gone into bankruptcy since 1868 or 1869, 
and the fact spoke emphatically for the integrity of the people. It is 
also pretty good evidence that Rensselaer is a pretty good trading point. 
Other equally strong testimony may be adduced to sustain this proposi- 
tion. Within the last two years, while people all over the United States 
wei'e complaining of stringent times, the people of central Jasper County 
have paid out $75,000 taxes and voluntary donations to build a railroad ; 
within the same period those who live in Rensselaer have built dwelling 
houses and business blocks of the value of the entire improvements of 
this character in the town previous to that time — that is to say, within 
three years the value of the improvements in the town of Rensselaer has 
been doubled. Not another town in the State of Indiana can truthfully 
say as much. There is no excitement, no speculation — all is legitimate 
and calm. The improvements spoken of are all of good, substantial char- 
acter. Two and three story brick dwellings and business blocks, that no 
town of 1,000 or 1,200 inhabitants need be ashamed of — indeed such 
blocks as the Nowel's Hotel, Alfred Thompson's dwelling, and Willey & 
Sigler's Opera House, are not inferior to the best buildings of their char- 
acter found in cities of 10,000 population." This does not seem to be an 
exaggerated statement of the case. The completion of the railroad to 
Chicago in 1881, gave additional assurance to the future of the town, 
and the spirit of improvement is still manifest in the plans made for the 
coming year. 

THE FORKS SETTLEMENT. 

This settlement, which was early formed in the forks of the Iroquois 
and Pinkamink, while not developing a well-defined village that has re- 
mained to the present, did develop a community that early disputed the 
leading place in county influence with the settlement at the Rapids and 
had not the natural advantages of the situation prevented, would have 
probably secured the honor of furnishing the site for the county seat. 
The first settlers, Randle and Gulp, came from Virginia in 1833, and 
settled in White County. They had secured a stack or two of prairie 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 515 

hay and prepared to make a claim there when a prairie fire destroyed 
the result of their labor, and they set out to see the Rapids, of which they 
had heard. As before noted, they chose a site in the " forks " of the 
river, and were soon joined by others. In the summer of 183G, Royal 
Hazelton returned to this section and joined this settlement, but soon 
afterward sold his claim to John G. Parkinson. The latter was a son-in- 
law of Simon Kenton, famous in the border wars of Kentucky and Ohio. 
The widow of Kenton came with her daughter to this settlement, where 
she died in 1856. Henry Barkley, Sr., came in soon afterward and gave 
his name to the township of Barkley. Others joined the settlement as 
noted in preceding pages, and the community rapidly grew in importance. 
Here was one of the earliest points visited by itinerant ministers, Mr. 
Gulp's house furnishing a place of worship. The first marriage was that 
of J. M. Iliff to a daughter of Mr. Parkinson, and the first death was 
that of an infant son of Mr. Randle. In this settlement also was the first 
blacksmith shop, store and schoolhouse in the county. 

Mr. A. J. Guthridge opened the store here in a little log cabin situ- 
ated a half a mile north of William Parkinson's place, on the farm of Mr. 
Casad. His stock was confined to the actual necessities, but which be- 
came almost impossible luxuries when only acquired by a long, tedious 
journey. His patronage, though not large, was drawn from the Kanka- 
kee to the Monon River. The blacksmith shop opened by Henry Fresh- 
aur, in 1839, was patronized from far and near, until that of Rial Ben- 
jamin and others south of the Iroquois and Pinkamink, divided his 
trade. In this settlement, also, was the first brick dwelling in Jasper 
County, which was erected by Thomas Randle. This was placed with 
the cornel's toward the northeast and southwest, as he feared the strength 
of the furious storms which swept over the country. It is related that 
the Indians were especially attracted this dwelling, and often came on 
begging errands, much to the discomfiture of Mrs. Randle, who could 
never learn to bear their presence with equanimity. Her corn cakes 
were their especial admiration. It was their habit to wait their cooking, 
and take them warm from the griddle, showing their appreciation and 
approach to civilization, however, by laying down a quarter, and leaving 
in silence. The squaws were frequent visitors, and it was not an infre- 
quent thing to see two or three papooses stood up against the outside of 
the house while the mothers were inside. 

Of the early members of this settlement, none are left to repeat the 
story of their experiences. They were earnest, influential men, and left 
their impress upon the character and institutions of the county. Pleas- 
ant Grove, a post oflBce station, is all that distinguishes it from the less 
favored political divisions in the northen part of the county. 



516 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY, 

Saltillo, Davidsonville. — The settlement in what is now Gillam 
Township was the earliest one in Jasper County, and while of marked 
importance during the first years after the county was formed, it did not 
maintain its early prestige after the organization of the county. Until 
that period, however, it was the point for voting, and Donahue held the 
oflBce of Justice of the Peace for several years, which made it 
the seat of justice for the time. The families of John Gillam 
and Joseph McJimsey came about 1836, and others soon after. 
The State road from Williamsport to Winamac went through this settle- 
ment, which gave a slight impetus toward the growth of a village. The 
weekly mail, which was carried through the village, gave color 
to its "manifest destiny," and Saltillo came into being. It was a spon- 
taneous growth, but never became a matter of record. A house or two 
and a post ofiice were all that gave importance to the location, the site of 
which is now only marked by the old bridge grade, nearly two hundred 
yards south of where the Rensselaer & Francesville road now crosses 
the Pinkamink. 

Davidsonville was laid out by Moses E. and Lewis Davidson, the plat 
of which was recorded June 18, 1850. This village was located a short 
distance up the stream from the crossing at Saltillo, and consisted of two 
blocks, one street and an alley. It attained the prominence of a mill, a 
grocery, a shop or two, and several dwellings. If the Continental Line 
Railroad had reached it, the village might still have retained a place in 
the geography of the county, but fate was unkind, and its site is now 
marked by the ruins of the old mill and a house or two. A short lived 
still threatened to change the name of the place, and it is locally known 
now by Haddox Mill Pond, or Haddoxville, from the proprietor of the 
still. Saltillo and Davidsonville, are still to be found marked on the old 
maps, though with so much variation in location as to satisfy the claims 
of any one ambitious to claim its vicinity. The early community which 
settled within the present limits of Hanging Grove Township was closely 
allied to that of Gillam, from the necessity of their natural surroundings. 
The name of the township originated in a grove of oaks, which by a freak 
of nature drooped their branches almost to the ground. Here the fami- 
lies of Robert Parker, Robert and William Overton, eame in March of 
1837. These families were natives of Pennsylvania, but came here from 
Rush County, in this State. In May following, John Lefler came 
here with a drove of cattle to graze, and subsequently came here to live. 
Donahue came to this section in July of this year, and in the latter part 
of the year, Joseph Oosley came here from Kentucky. Michael Lefler 
came in 1889, and the settlement gradually increased until it became in- 
dependent under township organization. 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 517 

BLUE GRASS SETTLEMENT. 

The settlement in Newton Township is another community, '' proud 
in that strange spell — a name." The Indians congregating in large 
numbers at the village in Newton Township had run out the wild grass, 
the blue grass coming in natural order to replace it, gave the distinctive 
name to this community. The Benjamins, Lewis Elijah, the Thomas 
family, Alvah Yeoman, William Mallatt, and others, formed a community 
that was early in securing the advantages of the church and school, but 
made no attempt to found a village. One of the earliest " corn-crack- 
ers " was erected here by S. H. Benjamin. This was a peculiar con- 
trivance of principally home invention. It stood on the stumps of two 
trees cut off about eight feet from the ground. Its custom came from ten 
or fifteen miles around, and served until hotter milU were established. 
The distinctive name of the settlement is still maintained, though it is 
now generally appropriated by the schoolhouse in the vicinity. 

The settlement of Jordan Township was rather an adjunct of Rens- 
selaer than independent. Its principal members came in about 1836, 
and were, in addition, Mr. Jordan, Samuel Sparling, his wife, father and 
mother and brother, Samuel Benson, wife and child, and John Franklin, 
wife and two children. These all came together in two wagons, from Al- 
legany County, N. Y., drawn here by the representations of Augustus 
Bingham, a brother-in-law of Sparling, who had settled in Newton County 
in 1835. Sparling settled near the Iroquois, at the " cut off," to which 
point the river was reported as navigable at that time. Franklin settled 
four or five miles further down the river. Sparling subsequently moved 
to the county seat, and was one of the early families here. 

TOWN OF REMINGTON. 

When the railroad was constructed here, the country was a broad, un- 
inhabited prairie, but this improvement opened up new possibilities, and 
in 1860 Jesse II. Fordice laid out the village. At Carpenter's Creek, 
the railroad authorities had established a station and the new village took 
the name of Carpenter, which was subsequently changed to Remington, 
after one of its citizens who kept the second store in the' village. The 
village is situated in what is known as the Grand Prairie ; it possesses a 
fine, fertile soil well adapted to the successful cultivation of all the cereals 
usually grown in this latitude. No better corn region can be found in the 
world; oats and flax produce large crops; barley is very profitably grown, 
and fruits of all kinds mature early and yield immensely. The grass 
crop is one of the never-failing resources, and for stock-raising it is hard 
to conceive of a section that is better adapted for that business. This 

31 



518 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 

region is noted for its fine stock of all kinds — horses, cattle, sheep and' 
hogs. Almost entirely free as it is from diseases which make such inroads 
upon the profits of stockmen elsewhere, stock breeders are sure of good 
returns for their investments. Such a thing as scarcity of water to that 
extent as to deprive stock of a necessary supply was never known. Even 
in the drought of 1881, so general over so great a portion of the United 
States, no trouble was experienced in procuring a plentiful supply of good 
water, where it was necessary to sink wells. These wells now are in favor 
with stock-raisers, because of the purity of the water and for the reason 
that they can choose their own location. Furnished with wind pumps, 
they are but little trouble, as stock can go at any time of day and drink 
their fill. The soil is a rich black loam of good depth, resting upon a clay 
subsoil, and the surface is sufficiently rolling as to be easily susceptible 
of thorough drainage, either by open or tile drains. Where proper atten- 
tion is paid to keeping the outlets of the water-ways open, there is nO' 
trouble about cultivation in the wettest of seasons, and from the nature of 
the soil, it takes a very severe drought indeed to injure the crops. School- 
houses and churches have been built at convenient points, and it is very 
rare that a long distance must be traveled to reap the benefits of educa- 
tional or religious institutions. As a rule, schoolhouses have been erected 
upon every alternate section each way, making them but two miles apart 
in every direction. A very large portion of the surrounding country was 
before the advent of the railroads pre-empted or bought from the Govern- 
ment by capitalists. Many of the farms were sold to actual settlers, 
while many more were leased for a term of years, in consideration that 
the tenant should improve and fence. These leases have expired and the 
lands are now in market and offered for sale. Situated upon one of the 
great thoroughfares between the East and the West, the Pittsburgh, Chicago 
& St. Louis Railroad, Remington has become the point from which 
immense amounts of grain of all kinds and vast numbers of cattle, sheep 
and hogs are shipped both to the East and Chicago. Being in direct 
communication with Chicago, Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus, Pittsburgh^ 
and all Eastern cities, gives facilities for taking or sending produce to 
market, or importing such articles as are of necessity brought from abroad. 
Although the prairie is thickly dotted with fine farms, there are still some 
unimproved lands for sale of excellent quality and desirably located. 

The growth of the village has been slow, and has depended for its 
business upon the grain trade which has sprung up with the farmers in 
the surrounding country. In 1870, Church & Hartley erected the first 
elevator, and two years later the Hathaway Bros, erected a second one. 
In 1879, James Irvin built the third, and these do an increasing business 



HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY. 519 

each year. The northern part of Benton and the southern part of Jasper 
find this point a good market for grain and hay, and a good point for the 
shipment of stock. With a population of some 900, audits complement 
of good stores, churches and private residences, Remington is a pleas- 
ant village, but with no great probability of large growth. 

Jasper County is now losing a good many of its citizens by the spirit 
of emigration that seems to have seized all classes. Their places are 
largely filled by foreigners, of which there is a large element, especially in the 
northern part. In Walker Township there are some seventeen Norwegian 
families, and in Keener there are some fifty Hollanders. The extreme 
northern part, while principally in the hands of private persons, and 
generally fenced, is not cultivated, and but sparsely settled. With 
extensive drainage it is likely to be taken in small parcels by foreign im- 
migrants, and the county will take a long stride forward. The more 
sanguine of the citizens place that happy period at not more than ten 
years distant. 




BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

JASPER OOUJSTTY. 

TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MARION TOWNSHIP. 

JAMES T. ABBETT, County Recorder, is a native of Johnson County. Ind., 
was born August 30, 1850, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah A. Abbett, the former 
born in Kentucky September 4, 1824, the hxtter in the same State, February 11, 
1825, both of whom j'et live, and are parents of eleven children, of whom eight are 
living. Our subject was educated at Franklin Academy, Johnson County, until 
sixteen years old. April 25, 1880, he married Miss Orrie E., daughter of Samuel and 
Anna (Johnson) Thomas, the former a native of Carroll County, Ind., the latter of 
Virginia. Mrs. Abbett is also a native of Carroll County. This marriage gave is- 
sue to two children — Earl R. and Myra L. Mr. Abbett was elected to the office of 
County Recorder in 1878, and in 1882 refused to accept a second nomination, intend- 
ing to enter Garret Bibical Institute at Evanston, 111., at the expiration of his term 
of office, for the purpose of taking a course in theology, preparatory to entering 
the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Cluu'ch. lie has been identified Avitli this 
church for a number of years, and has always been an energetic worker in all of 
her interests. March 25, 1883, he was licensed to preach and expoimd the word of 
God. Mr. Abbett is well known and respected in Jasper County, having lived an 
exemplary Christian life among its people for several years. 

DR. M. B. ALTER, County Treasurer, is a native of Greenfield, Hancock 
Co., Ind., and was born in 1838. His father, Simon Alter, was born in Westmore- 
land County, Penn., in 1810, and when twenty-one years old moved to Hancock 
County, Ind., where, in 1836, he married Nancy Braddock, from Washington Coun- 
ty, Penn., a descendant of the old Gen. Braddock stock. Simon Alter was a physi- 
cian and a graduate of the JelTer.son Medical College of Philadelphia, having prac- 
ticed his profession and also dealt inland in Pennsylvania. He came to this county 
in 1849, and practiced medicine until his death. He had been Treasurer of Jasper 
County, and was a man of great iiitluencc. He reared a family of six cliildren — 
Moses B., John Q. A., Sarah E., David il., Xancy II. and Isaac B., all of wiiomare 
living. Dr. M. B. Alter, after preparatory schooling, took a course of medicine in 
the Rusli Medical College, during 1H.")8 and is.")!*, and began practice at Itens.si.-laer. 
Septeml)er 10, 1861, he married ]\Iiss Elizabeth, daughter of Jonatiian Peacock, of 
this county. Four children cemented this iinion— Flora B., Olive H., Anna L. and 
Floy B. Dr. Alter is a Republican, and was elected County Treasurer in 1880 and 
1882. He is also Deputy Grand Master of the Odd Fellows. 

N. S. BATES was born in Butler County, Ohio, in the year 1843, and is a .son 
of Ozro and Mary (Ilartmnn) Hates; tiie former a native of Vermont, the latter of 
Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Lal)an Bates, was of English descent, a mechanic, 
who lived in Vermont, emigrated to Cincinnati about sixty-five years ago, and came 



524 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

down the Ohio River on a raft. His father, Ozro Bates, was reared on a farm. 
His parents died of cholera about 1818. He moved to this State in 1848, purchased 
land in Marion County, and settled there. He reared a family of seven children. 
Our subject was married to Mary H. Havens, daughter of Rev. George Havens, 
which union was blessed with the gift of three children — Glen, Lessie and Mary. 

F. W. BEDFORD is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and was born June 8, 1828. 
His father, Elias Bedford, was a Colonel in the war of 1812, was twice made a pris- 
oner, and four times wounded, the last time at Lundy's Lane, by a bayonet stab, 
after which a silk handkerchief was thrust into said wound, and he continued to 
fight. After the war he lived at Genesee County, N. Y., and married Mary Maria 
Scott, niece of the late Gen. Scott. He was a prominent Mason, and belonged to the 
lodge said to have the dastard William Morgan ; he once ran a flat-boat on the Ohio, and 
had an interest in the first steamboat that ruffled that river; he was one of the found- 
ers of Lafayette, Ind., where he died thirty years after, and from the remote effects of 
the wound at Lundy's Lane, F. W. Bedford was fourteen years old when his father 
died. September 15, 1857, at La Fayette, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of 
John and Sarah Phillips. Mr. Bedford has a steam power brick and tile manufac- 
tory, which turns out 250,000 brick and 200,000 tile annually; he also has a general 
store in Rensselaer. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, and is a Republican; he 
is strictly temperate, a very prominent man in the county, and foremost in every 
cause of advancement and general benefit. Mrs. Bedford is a native of Preble 
County, Ohio, a member of the Christian Church and a most estimable woman. 

RIAL BENJAMIN was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1809. His father 
Jarcd Benjamin, was of English descent, a native of Vermont, and emigrated to 
New York, where he married Miss Nancy Hemingway, of Scotch ancestry, said to 
date back to Sir Walter Scott. This marriage was productive of the following is- 
sue: William, Saloma, Rial and Charles. Mrs. Benjamin died in 1814, Jared Ben- 
jamin next married Polly Yeoman. They reared a large family, and removed to 
Ohio, where he and the Yeomaus purchased a large tract of land. He was a soldier 
of the war of 1812, and died from causes contracted in that war. Rial Benjamin 
was reared in Ohio, and apprenticed to a blacksmith, who taught him his trade. 
He there married Sarah Ann, daughter of Dr. Joshua Clark; her mother was a daugh- 
ter of Rev. John Dailey, a Methodist minister. To this union were born twelve chil- 
dren— Mary Catharine, Ruth Ann, Joshua C, Eliza, Drusilla and Mary Jane (twins), 
Sarah Elizabeth, Charles R., Margaret Amelia, Clara, Rial P. and Caddie (deceased). 
Charles was a soldier in the late war, in the Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, and 
was wounded at Vicksburn". Our subject came to this county in 1841, and worked 
at his trade for twenty-five years, in addition to farming. Mr. Benjamin is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes active part in religious and edu- 
cational matters. 

PHILIP BLUE, proprietor of the McKeever House, Rensselaer, Ind., was born 
in Kosciusko County, Ind., December 13, 1846, and is the son of David and 
Sarah (Bohrer) Blue, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Virginia, and of En- 
glish and German extraction. Mr. Blue enlisted July 20, 1863, in Company G, One 
Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. H. A. White 
and Col. George W. Jackson. Was located in East Tennessee; kept on detached 
duty, and hence withheld from engagements. He was discharged March 1, 1864, 
and came to Jasper County in 1876. Philip Blue was married, July 13, 1867, to Belle 
Baylor, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Stacker) Baylor, natives of Pennsylvania, 
and of German descent. Four children have crowned this union — LuellaJ., born 
November 29, 1868; Charles M., born May 17, 1870; Leroy, born May 21, 1876; 
Pearlie, born January 11,1880. Mrs. Belle Blue was born February 13,1847. Mr. Blue 
is a member of the IVIasonic fraternity, an active Republican, a wide-awake and gen 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MARION TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 525 

aal gentleman. He is a man iu the right place— proprietor of a first-class hotel in 
Rensselaer. 

GEORGE H. BROWN, ex-membor of the Legislature, was born in Jackson 
County, Ohio. May, 1816. His father, Zephaniah Brown, was born in Vermont in 
1789, and removed with his parents to Cayuga County, N.Y., where he was reared and 
educated, subsequently removing to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he married Miss 
Elizabeth Headlcy, a resident of that State. They had eleven children. He removed to 
Tippecanoe County, Ind.,in 1827. His wife died in 1842. 'llo married again, and bought 
a large tract of land, on which our subject was reared. Zephaniah died in the spring 
of 1875. George H. Brown came to Jasper "County in 1840, and settled in Barkley 
Township, where he entered a quarter-section in Section 84. This he improved and 
exchanged; he now owns 1,895 acres, which he has obtained by unremitting toil and 
good management. He has also given his children as much land as he now owns. 
He was educated at the common schools, and in 1844 married Miss Nancy Welch, 
by which union they had one child, which died in infancy. Mrs. Brown died 
a few years after, and he next married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of George W. Nich- 
ols, who came from Ohio to tliis county in 1842. By this marriage they have had 
the following children— Caroline, Evaline, Cecilia, George H., La Fayette (de- 
ceased), Rebecca, Margaret M , Elizabeth, Isabella and Rachel A. Mr. Brown is not 
a member of any party, but votes for the man. In 1878, he was elected to the Legis- 
lature on an independent ticket; his majority was about 500 in the county. He was 
opposed by Mr. M. F. Chilcote, a Republican. He is principally self-educated; has 
acquired considerable wealth, and is a member of the Christian Church. 

GEORGE W. BURK, County Commissioner, was born in Tippecanoe County, 
Ind.,July31, 1883. His father, John Burk, was a native of Jamestown, Va. ; was 
reared a farmer, and came with his parents to Tippecanoe County, where he after- 
ward married Miss Sarah E. Philips, whose father, Simon Philips, settled in said 
county in 1823. He had served as Captain in the Revolutionary war, and died 
aged sixty-eight. John Burk's family were Lavina J., George W., Maria L., Jo- 
seph. Mary A., Delilah A., Cornelius, Clarise F. and Charles. Our subject, Febru- 
ary 19, 1857, married Miss Amanda J. Kenton, born in Champaign County, Ohio, 
January 1, 1838, to which union succeeded six children— Sarah E., born December 
14, 1857, married David B. Nowels; Lilly Ann, born November 25, 1859, married 
Wallace Robinson: Eva A., born November 25, 1861; Edmond J., born September 
7, 1863: George M., born August 9, 1875, and Bessie A., born February 9, 1879. The 
Kcntons (originally 0"Canton), emigrated from Ireland to Virginia. According to 
an old record in possession of Mr. Burk, Mark O'Canton was born in Ireland in 1701, 
and died in Pittsburgh, Penn., on his way to buy land in Kentucky, October 16, 1783. 
His son, William Kenton, was born in Fautiuier County, Va., September 20, 1737; 
married Mary Clelland, Decemlx-r 15, 1763, and died after fasting for forty days. 
The record also has : Mary Clelland, wife of William Kenton, died in 1788. Ed- 
mond C, Eliza, William H., Rebecca F., Elizabeth Ann, Mary J., and Benjamin 
F., were the children. Edmond C. was the father of Mrs. George Burk, and died 
July 16, 1852. George Burk is an industrious and worthy farmer, a strong advo- 
cate of education, and a friend to every enterprise that promises good. His own 
education was much neglected, but he made up for that deprivation by diligent and 
systematic study. His farm lies in the north uart of the township, and is well im- 
proved. 

MORDECAI F. CHILCOTE. one of the leading attorneys and counselors at 
law of Rens.selaer, and son of Monlccai and Elizabeth (Culbertson) Chil(i>te, was 
born in Wayne County, Ohio, Novemlier 4, 1H40, where his early life was spent on 
llic farm, and where he received a fair school education. Moved by a desire for 
knowledge, and purpose to be and do something, he made the best use of such lim- 



526 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ited facilities as were afforded for storing his mind with useful information. Thus, 
like many others who have risen to eminence, he studied at home, and memorized 
rules and definitions while at work. In this way he added to the little gained in the 
short terms of the schools, until by the time he had reached the proper age to sup- 
port himself at school, he had acquired a fair knowledge of the primary branches of 
learning. After the removal of his parents to Michigan, he attended the seminary, 
and at the age of eighteen entered Olivet College in that State, at which time Mr. 
Fairchild, who was after elected Lieutenant Governor of the State, was President. 
After his graduation, he taught several terms of district schools. At the breaking- 
out of the war in 1861, he enlisted for three months' service in the Ninth Indiana 
Infantry, and at the call of the President for more troops, he joined the Forty- 
eighth Regiment, and after six mouths was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and 
came home Captain; he served in the department of Tennessee and West Virginia, 
and was with his regiment in all its marches and engagements. At the 
close of the war, he taught school, and afterward engaged in the practice of law in 
Rensselaer. In September, 1865, he married Miss Lizzie H., daughter of Nathaniel 
and Hannah (Sering) Hammond, and sister of the Hon. E. P. Hammond, all of 
this State. The result of the union was three children — Fred L., Gaylord H. and 
Mary T. Nathaniel Hammond was born in Blue Hill, Me., in 1786, and died in 
1877; his wife, formerly Hannah Sering, was born in Ohio in 1803. 

JOHN COEN was born in Knox County, Ohio, March 14, 1824, and is a son of 
John and Asenath (Mills) Coen, the former a native of Washington County, Penn., 
born in 1793, the latter of the same State, born in 1794, and of Irish and Welsh de- 
scent. These parties removed in the early times to Knox County, Ohio, where they 
reared a family of nine children— Marilla A. (widow of James A. Porter), Isaac, 
Joshua (deceased), Rachel (deceased), John, Rhoda (deceased), Thomas, William S- 
and Hugh E. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Isaac Mills, served seven 
years as a Revolutionary soldier. John Coen, our subject, was reared a farmer, and 
was married, in 1844, to Sarah, daughter of Jame3 Miller, of Ohio, whose mother, 
Mary McCabe, is said to have been the first white child born in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
To this union were granted the following children: TesziaP., Charles F. (deceased), 
Mary McCabe (deceased), Jennie Marrilla, Rosilla and Hattie W. Mr. Coen came 
to this county in 1852, and purchased 160 acres two miles northwest of Rensselaer; 
he is now proprietor of one of the finest nurseries in the countj', keeps a variety of 
the best bearing trees, and is located one-quarter of a mile north of Rensselaer. 

F. L. COTTON, of the firm of Cotton & Patton, grain, lumber and live stock 
merchants, was born in West Virginia in the year 1849; his father, W. R. Cotton, 
was likewise a native of Virginia; he is still living, aged sixty-four. F. L. Cotton 
was married October 6, 1869, to Miss Lee A. Patton, who was born in Greene County, 
Penn. To these parents were born three children — Ella May, Homer and Don. of 
whom the two first are deceased. Richard Patton, father of Mrs. Cotton, is also a 
native of Greene County, Penn. ; he has reared a family of three girls and one boy. 
Elvira married George A. Nolan, Chief Examiner in the patent office at Washington, 
who died in 1873, and his wife a few hours later on the same day, leaving one child, 
George, who is now in the keeping of his Grandfather Patton. Mr. Cotton has been 
in business near Rensselaer for almost seven years, and is an energetic and respected 
citizen. 

THOMAS H. DAVISSON, Postmaster at Pleasant Ridge, was born in John- 
son County, Ind., in 1836, and is a son of M. E. and Mahala J. (Early wine) Davis- 
son, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Kentuck}^ Our subject's father 
moved to Johnson County many years ago, where he bought land, farmed for a 
time, sold the same and came to this county in 1844, where he bought a claim of 
160 acres in Barkley Township, which he improved, sold, and then built a mill. 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MARION TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 527 

which he sold to John Hiiddocks, as afterward known bj- his nanu-. He also built 
other mills, and now resides in Pulaski County, where he is a Justice of the Peace. 
His family comprises three girls and five boys, three of whom died in the hite war — 
Daniel and Jesse at Na.shville. and Hezekiah at Louisville. Thomas 11. Davis.son 
was a member of Company G, Ninth Reyimeni Indiana Volunteer Infantrj', and 
was wounded at the battle of Stone River December 81, 1HG2, from which i»e is yet 
crippled. He was wedded, March 4, \^64, to Helen M. Draper, who died in October, 
1876, and was next^narried, in 1N77, to Xancy McColley, of this county. 

JOHN W. DUVALL, livery keeper, is a native of Darke County, Ohio, and 
was born January 9, 1827. Hi.^ father was Daniel Duvall, a native of Pennsylvania, 
who died in 184.'), leaving seven children, of whom but three survive. Daniel Du- 
vall was an early settler of Ohio, whence he removed to Kosciusko County, Ind., 
about 1835, and from there to Jasper County in 1842. John W. Duvall was married, 
Julj' 15, 1850, to Rebecca Ann, daughter of Crawford Anderson. Mrs. Duvall died 
August 20, 1867. In 1868, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edmond Kenton, of 
this county, and a native of Jasper County, to which union succeeded two children 
— Edmond D. and Ora. Mr. Duvall engaged in the liver}- business, in compauj' with 
a brother, Samuel O., in 1856. but now carries on said business alone. Mr. Duvall 
is an enterprising, benevolent gentleman, upon whose shoulders fell tiiemain support 
of his brothers and sisters. The children born to his first marriage are Martha J., 
Cyrus W., Samuel H., Mary D., Jennie and Albertie. 

ROBERT STARBUCK DWIGGINS was born November 12, 1834, in Clinton 
County, Ohio. His father. Daniel Dwiggins. moved to Grant County, Ind., in 1836. 
The country was then wild, there being many Indians and much game. In March, 
1858, he came to Rensselaer, where he has since resided. He was born in 1807, and 
married Mary Starbuck, born in 1811; they are both living in good health. Their 
ancestors came from the Island of Nantucket, Mass. Edward Starbuck, great-great- 
grandfather of our subject, was one of the original purchasers of that island in 
1659. Robert attended the common schools, and when seventeen years old went to 
Antioch College, Ohio, but, being afflicted with inflamed eyes, was unable to con- 
tinue his studies for five years. He worked on a farm until twenty-four years of 
age, and in March, 1S59, came to Rensselaer, and entered the law office of R. H. 
Milroy (Gen. Milroy), and commenced practice in 1860. In 1861, he enlisted in the 
Ninth Indiana Regiment, under Capt. Milroy, for three months, and served through 
the West Virginia campaign. In 1862, Gov. Morton commis.sioned him a recruiting 
Lieutenant; he enlisted over 200 men for the Eighty-.seventh Indiana Volunteers, 
and also a company for the Ninety-ninth Regiment, but, being taken sick, and the 
(juota of the State being full, he did not again enter the service. He continued 
practicing law until 1879, when he and his brother Zimri organized the Citizens' 
Bank of Rensselaer, in which he is still engaged. He was elected Prosecuting At- 
torney in 1H60, and appointed Inspector of tobacco, snuff and cigars in 1867. He 
was Presidential Elector on tlie Republican ticket in 1868, and elected to repre- 
sent the counties of Jasper. Benton, New ton. White and Pulaski in the State Senate 
in 1870; he was an Abolitionist before the organization of the Repuitlican party. 
One of his brothers died from sickness contracted in the army. In 1H62, Mr. Dwig- 
gins married Miss Fannie Travis, born in Clarion Count}^ Penn., May 1, 1836. They 
have two sons — Elmer, aged nineteen, now at Michigan University; and Jay, aged 
sixteen, now at the Military Academy at Orchard Lake, Mich. ; they had also one 
daughter, Gertie, who died when two years old. He is a member of the Church of 
God. and holds a letter from the Indiana Conference, recommending him as a pro 
daimer of the Gospel. 

R. FENDIG, merchant, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, was born in 1836, 
and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Abraham) Fendig, the former a native of 



528 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Germany. These parents had seven children, three of whom are deceased. Our 
subject emigrated to America in 1854. He went first to Hartford, Conn., for two 
years, thence to Macon, Ga.. in which State and in Alabama he resided and did 
business six years, and in 1862 removed to New York, dodging the rebel forces on 
the way. He was in business at Chicago nntil 1870, when he came to Rensselaer 
and became a partner with Mr. Leopold, and afterward began general mercantile 
business on his own account. Mr. Fendig was married in Milwaukee to Miss Ruble, 
from whicli union descended five children — Tillie, Benjamin, .Albert, Louis and 
Samuel. Mr. Fendig has been successful, although utterlj- without means after 
coming to the United States. He is Treasurer of a Masonic Lodge, and has been 
School Trustee. He is a liberal, enterprising man, and greatly esteemed in the 
community. 

BRAZILLER F. FERGUSON was born in Randolph County, N. C, May 31, 
1850. His father, George W. Ferguson, was a native of the same county, was 
reared a farmer, and married, in North Carolina, Miss Nancy Miller, with an issue 
of four children — Eliza S., Braziller F., William H. and one deceased. Mr. Fergu- 
.son was a school teacher up to 1863, and about 1865 engaged in mercantile business 
in Tippecanoe County, where Mrs. Ferguson died Januar}^ 35, 1865, aged thirty-six. 
In September, 1865, Mr. Ferguson married Miss Malinda Clevinger, and died Octo- 
ber 9, 1869. Our subject finished liis schooling at Battle Ground and commenced to 
work when about thirteen years old; taught school, studied theology, entered the 
ministry, and preached at Badger's Grove, Francesville and Rensselaer. In 1874, 
he engaged in the lumber trade, and did business also at Francesville, and in the 
same year he married Miss Martha Robinson, who died January 2, 1881, leaving one 
child— George W. March 7. 1883, Mr. Ferguson married Miss Hattie Coen, of 
Rensselaer, daughter of John Coen. The parents of Mr. Ferguson were Methodists, 
but he is a Baptist. 

DANIEL GRANT was born in Fauquier County, Va., in 1797. When a boy, 
he emigrated to Kentucky with his parents, where he was reared, meagerly edu- 
cated and afterward married Rebecca Hale, born in Fleming County, that State, in 
1803, daughter of Abraham and Amelia (Pickerel) Hale. Daniel Grant, fatlier of 
the above, was for seven j-ears a Revolutionary soldier, and was the parent of nine 
children, of whom Daniel was the only survivor. Our subject's family are: James 
W., born in Fleming Count}% Ky., in 1821, and in 1848 married America, daughter 
of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gin) Bautham, of Wabash County, in this State, which 
union produced six children — Leslie C, Laura E., Serepta (deceased), Charles B., 
Amanda and Thomas W. ; Mrs. America Grant died in 1869, and Mr. Grant married 
Eliza James, daughter of Daniel James. Thomas H. married, in 1847, Martha, 
daughter of John and Catharine (Coon) McDaniel, of Wabash County; to this union 
were born five children — Livonia, Rebecca C, Daniel F., John A. and Schuyler C; 
Mrs. Grant died in 1860, and Mr. Grant married, in 1863, Hannah Hemphill, for- 
merly of Ohio. Washington S. was born in Kentucky in 1826; married Lovina 
Hurley; he has sixty acres of good land, and five children living — Josie, Harvey, 
Delia, Rollie and Warner. Francis Marion was born in Kentucky in 1826, and mar- 
ried in this county in 1846 to Phebe Morland, daughter of Joseph and Almond 
(Hayes) Morland, residents of this county, to which union were bestowed five chil- 
dren — Lucy G., U. S., Nellie, Edmund H. and Grace. Ruth married Fleming Phil- 
ips. Evaline C. (deceased) was the wife of David Carr. Amelia (deceased) was the 
wife of Jacob Troxel. Josie is the wife of Norman Warner. Alton was born in 
Wabash Countj^ Ind., in 1839, and married, in 1875, to Miss Maggie Dilon, whose 
parents were old settlers of that county, and now deceased; the fruit of this uniou 
was two children — Charlie and Garland. Shelby was born in Wabash County in 
1843, served a period of two j^ears in the late war, and was married, in 1869, to 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MAl'JON TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 529 

Caroline Israel, a native of Indiana, born in 1844, daughter of Archibald and Amy 
(Parr) Israel, formerly of Tennessee. Daniel Grant is one of the best farmers in 
this section. He emigrated to Rush County in 1M27, to Wabash County in 1834, 
and to Jjisper County in is,")!), where he purchased 600 acres of land. Mr. Grant 
made his way by energ}', having begun life poor. He is well preserved, mentally 
and physically, and is now in his eighty-si.xth year. Fifty children and grandchil- 
dren celebrated his anniversary in 1802. 

KEV. D. T. HALSTPLVD is a native of the State of Ohio, was born in 1823, 
and came to this State with his father in 1831; they settled in. La Porte County, 
where they rented a farm, and afterward entered land in Lake Count}'. "" His father, 
Samuel Halstead, was born in Kings County, N. Y., in 1797. His mother was Susan 
Webster, likewise a native of New York, who came to Oliio with lier parents when 
very young, where she and Mr. Halstead were married. These parties were parents 
of the following children : Letta, D. T., Merrymau (deceased), William, Micah B., 
and one who died in infancJ^ In 1.S39, Samuel Halstead moved westward, 
since which nothing has been heard from him, and it may be supposed that he died 
there, and was unknown. Mrs. Su.san Halstead died near Ottawa, 111., in 1838. 
D. T. Halstead came hither in 1854, and was elected Auditor in 1859. He has taken 
care of himself since the date of his mother's deatii, has doiie worthily, and is a 
universally esteemed gentleman. 

EDWIN POLLOK HAMMOND, Judge of the Tiiirtieth Judicial Circuit, was 
born at Brookville, Franklin Co., Ind., November 26, 1835. His father, Nathaniel 
HaTnmond, was born in Maine November 2, 1786. and died in Jasper County, Ind., 
February 2, 1874. He was a temperate, industrious man, and was blessed with a 
happy old age. He left four sons and live daughters, among the former Abram A., 
formcrl}' Governor of the State, and William P., once a representative of the State 
in the Indiana Legislature from i^Iorgan ('ounty. and aftenvard a prominent lawyer 
at Albia, Iowa. The widow of Nathaniel and mother of Judge Hammond is now in 
her eightieth j'ear. Her maiden name was Hannah H. Sering. Our subject, in early 
life, engaged in farm and other labor. He had fair .school advantages, and with dili- 
gent application obtained a good education. He became a law student in 1855, in the 
office of his half-brother, Abram A. Hammond, and Hon. John Thomas H. Nelson, in 
Terre Haute. In the winter of 1856-57, he was admitted to the Senior Law Class of the 
Asbury University at Green Castle, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of 
Laws. In 1858, Mr. Hammond located at Rensselaer, and opened a law office. Upon 
the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted under Capt. (afterward Gen.) Robert H. 
Milroy, in Company G, Nintii Indiana Volunteers. He was commissioned Second, 
and afterward First, Lieutenant, and .served in the three months' campaign in West 
Virginia. He was with the force tiiat surprised the rebel camp at Philippi, and in 
the engagement at Carrick's Ford, in which the confederate Gen. (4arnett was 
killed. Returning to his home in Rensselaer, he resumed the practice of the law. 
In October, 1861, he was elected, without opposition, as Representative in the Legis- 
lature from the counties of Newton, Jasper and Pulaski. In August, 1862, he 
assisted in organizing Company A, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, and was com- 
missioned as Captain of the comjjany. He was promoted, March 22, 1863, to the 
rank of Major, and November 21, 1863, as Lieutenant Colonel. In the battle of 
Chickamauga, the regiment lost 190 in killed and wounded, out of 363 officers and 
men. Col. Newell Gleason, the head of tlie regiment, having been placed in charge 
of the brigade, Lieut. Col. Hammond commanded tlie regiment during the last year 
of the war. They were at Chattanooga, and at the siege of Atlanta, and with 
Sherman on his nuirch to the .sea. Mr. Hammond enjoyed the respect and good- 
will of tlie officers and men under his command, and the confidence of his superior 
officers. At the close of the war, for gallant and meritorious services, he was 



530 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

appointed by the President to the brevet rank of Colonel in the United States 
Volunteers. Col. Hammond again entered into the practice of the law at Rensse- 
laer, and at once had a profitable business. In March, 1873, Gov. Thomas A. Hen- 
dricks appointed Col. Hammond to be Judge of the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit. This 
appointment was ratified by the people at the next October election. In October, 
1878, the Judge was unanimously re-elected. May 14, 1883, he was appointed Judge 
of the Supreme Court from the Fifth District, by Gov. A. G. Porter, to fill the 
vacancy caused by Judge W. A. Woods, who was appointed Judge of the District 
Court of the United States for the District of Indiana, to succeed Judge Gresham, 
who had been appointed Postmaster General. Previous to the war. Judge Ham- 
mond was a Democrat, but since then has been a Republican. He was a delegate 
to the National Convention in 1873, which nominated Gen. Grant for his second 
term. He has been an Odd Fellow twenty-three years, and a Mason twenty years. 
His first wife was Miss Lucy J. Sayler. She died a few months after the marriage. 
She was a daughter of David and Ann Sayler, who were early residents of Rensse- 
laer. His present wife, Mary V., whom he married in 1864, is a daughter of Col. 
George W. and Malinda Spitler. Mrs. Hammond is an amiable and accomplished 
lady, and highly cultivated in vocal and instrumental music. By this marriage 
there are five children — Louis, Birdie, Eddie, Jean and Nina Van Rensselaer. The 
Judge is still in the prime of life, and there are probably many years of usefulness 
before him. 

FRANK HENGESBACH, manufacturer of brick and tile, is a native of Ger- 
many, born in 1839, and came to the United States in 1863. He received an 
academic education in his native country, after which he studied architecture, and 
which was his first business in this country. While residing at Chicago, he became 
interested in the business of tiling, and was the first person to begin a tile factory 
in Barkley Township; he is also interested in the same business with F. W. Bed- 
ford, at Rensselaer, in one of the largest factories of the kind in Northern Indiana. 
Mr. Hengesbach is one of the enterprising men and valued citizens of Jasper 
County, and a successful business manager. 

HORACE EDWARDS JAMES was born in Evansport, Ohio, May 2, 1841. 
His father, Reuben B. James, was born in Deerfield, N. H., July 17, 1810. His 
mother was Miss Sarah Norton, born in New York December 25, 1830. These par- 
ents moved from Ohio to Michigan in 1847; to Erie County in 1849, and to Rens- 
selaer, Ind., July 31, 1854. The elder James was a pioneer settler of Northwestern 
Ohio, where he held several offices, among which were Postmaster and Associate 
Judge. He abandoned the profession of law to become a minister in the Baptist 
denomination. After moving to Indiana, he lived on a farm, and taught school. 
He held the office of County Surveyor a term or two. When the war broke out in 
1861, he was among the first to enlist, carrying a rifle during the three months' cam- 
paign, although over fifty years old. A few months after this, he received a com- 
mission as Commissary of Subsistence, with rank of Captain, and was assigned to 
duty on the staff of Gen. Cooper, of East Tennessee, in Gen. Schofield's Army of 
the Ohio, and served as such until the close of the war, when he was mustered out 
with the rank of Brevet Major. Three of his sons were in the army during this 
period. Returning to Rensselaer, Maj. James bought the material and good will 
of the local newspaper, and published the Prairie Telegraph from 1865 to 1868. He 
moved to Crawford County, Kan., in 1870, and died there March 29, 1877. He was 
a vigorous thinker, a ready debater, a voluminous writer, a man of progressive 
ideas and strong convictions, especially in religion and politics. His character was 
bold and aggressive, and he left his impress upon the society of every community in 
which he lived. The work of which he was most proud— the great work of his life, 
as he termed it — upon which were spent his best years, is a religious volume en- 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MARION TOWNSfHP— JASPER COUNTY. 531 

titled "Prophetic Revelations," now out uf print. The entire edition, witli tlie ex- 
ception of perhaps a few do/cn copies, was destroyed by lire directly after publica- 
tion, and he never afterward found means to issue another edition. Maj. James' 
family consisted of four sons and four daughters, who lived to years of maturity. 
Horace E. was the first born. (Jwing to the semi-uomadic life led by the family, 
which kept them upon the frontier settlements, and the itinerant clergyman's slen- 
der purse, the schooling of this tiock of children was not extensive; still the train- 
ing of the parent was such that at the age of sixteen years this oldest child pro- 
cured a license and taught a successful term of district school. This occupation was 
followed in winter, with employment on the farm in summer, until he was twenty 
years old, when the war broke out and he enlisted in Company G, Ninth Regiment 
Indiana Volunteers. He re-enlisted as a veteran, and was in the service from 
August, 18G1, until October, 1865. In February, 1865, he was granted a furlough. 
This occasion was improved to secure for a wife Miss Frances J. A., daughter of 
Chauncey and Julia (Jenks) Wilson, of Lake County, Iiid., and a native of New 
York. Upon receiving his discharge, Mr. James took a position at a casein his 
father's printing office. Three years afterward, October 1, 1868, he bought the 
office material and formed a copartnership with Col. Joshua Healy, who was then 
conducting a rival paper in the town, and the Rensselaer Union was thus established. 
The firm of James & Healy was dissolved in the summer of 1875, Col. Healy retir- 
ing. Soon afterward Charles M. Johnson brought over the material of the Repub- 
lican office and the two papers were consolidated. During the j^ear, Mr. Johnson 
withdrew. In 1878, Mr. James was made chairman of the Republican Committee 
of Jasper County, and was also elected a member of the Republican State Committee 
of Indiana, representing the Tenth Congressional District. In the same year. Presi- 
dent Hayes sent his name to the Senate for United States Consul to Turks Island, 
which nomination was confirmed, but the honor declined. In March, 1N79, he was 
appointed Postmaster at Rensselaer, and entered on duty on the Isl of April fol- 
lowing. In October, 1880, he sold the Union newspaper and retired after eleven 
years of editorial life. February 14, 1881, he was commissioned Postmaster for a 
term of four years. In the Indiana State Republican Convention of June, 1880, he 
received the second highest fiumber of votes for nomination for Secretary of State. 
Mr. James is the father of three daughters and three sons. The sons only are liv- 
ing. Their names are Francis H., Chase M. and Otto D. The subject of this 
Bketch is an extensive reader and a hard worker; is liberal in thought and progress- 
ive in ideas rather than conservative. He has been a member of the Board of 
School Trustees of his town, and for 1880, 1881 and 1882 was Secretary of the Jasper 
County Agricultural Society. 

ABRAHAM LEOPOLD, merchant, was born in C.runstadt. Bavaria, in 1836. 
Bimon Leopold, his father, was also a native of Bavaria, where he died in 1873. 
His mother, Sarah (Stanfeldts) Leopold, was born in the Duchy of Darmstadt, and 
also died in 1873. Our subject came to America and landed at Philadelphia in 1850, 
•where he clerked for a time, then went to Pittsburgh, and thence to Cincinnati, 
where he clerked two years. Afterward, he removed to La Porte, Ind., where he 
kept a store for three years. He then went to Iowa, and thence to Rock Island. 111., 
and opened a confectionery store; thence he went to Francesville, where he engaged 
in mercantile business with one Heidelberg, which was continued until 1862, when 
he removed his stock to Rensselaer. Mr. Leopold married Miss Amelia, daughter of 
Philip Eltzbacher, and a native of Prussia. This union was productive of ten chil- 
dren — Milton, Rachel, Simon, Bernhart, Isaac, Louis, Moses, Sadie, Julia and an 
infant (decea.sed). When Mr. Leopold landed in this country, he had but 95 cents. He 
commenced business at Francesville with a capital of $800, and now has one of the 
finest stores in the town, besides seventy acres known as Leopold's Addition to 



532 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Rensselaer. This is now laid off in lots, and the streets named for his children; he 
has also much other property. Mr. Leopold has been School Trustee. 

JAMES W. McEWEN, editor and proprietor of the Democratic Sentinel, is a 
native of Lewistown, Mifflin Co., Penn., born December 10, 1831. He is the eldest 
of seven children born to John S. and Isabella (Hylands) McEwen, both natives of 
Pennsylvania, where they reside. James W. McEwen received a common school 
education in youth, and at the age of seventeen began learning the printer's trade 
in his native town on the True Democrat, afterward on various other local papers 
imtil 1856, when he became editor of the Clinton, Penn., Democrat. In 1857 and 
1858, he conducted the Independent Press, of Lewistown, Penn., and in March, 1859, 
emigrated to Indiana and assumed control of the White County Democrat, of which 
he remained editor and proprietor for eighteen years. In February, 1877, he re- 
moved to Rensselaer, established the Democratic Sentinel, and has since remained 
engaged here in journalistic work. (For history of Democratic Sentinel, see " Press 
of Jasper County," to be found in this work.) Mr. McEwen is an unswerving sup- 
porter of the principles of the National Democratic party, and, in religious princi- 
ples, a member of the Presbyterian Church. September 11, 1855, he married Sarah 
J., daughter of Henry and Ann (Willard) Jenner; she was born in Rochester, N. Y., 
July 16, 1837. Five children have been the result of this union — Cordelia Q.. Will- 
iam H., George B., Anna B. and Frances E., only the last two named being now 
among the living. 

GEORGE E. MARSHALL, editor and proprietor of the Reniis,G\2iQv Republican, 
was born in Will County, 111., October 5, 1850, and is one of eight children, six of 
whom are living, born to George and Margaret (Paddock) Marshall, who were na- 
tives of the State of New York and of English descent. George E. Marshall was 
reared in his native State, receiving the major part of his schooling at Joliet, Engle- 
wood and Champaign. He read law about two years, but gave this up in order to 
pursue some branch of business more suitable to his disposition. For a number of 
years he was engaged in various occupations, teaching principally in Illinois and 
California, but in 1881 he came to Rensselaer and purchased an interest in the Re- 
publican. In August, 1882, he became sole proprietor, and at present has the only 
Republican paper in Jasper County. Mr. Marshall is a Republican, a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and the U. W., of Rensselaer. 

DAVID NOWELS, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, and the pioneer of Jas- 
per County, was born September 15, 1831, and is the seventh son in a family of eight 
sons and three daughters born to John and Hetty (Vulgamen) Nowels, natives of 
Kentucky and Ohio, respectively, and of English and German descent. John Now- 
els was among the pioneers of Ohio, and a3 a hunter in that State and Indiana 
became justly celebrated. He removed with his family to the "Hoosier State" 
when our subject was three years old, and selected for his home the town of Portland, 
on the Wabash, then county seat of Fountain County. Here Mrs. Nowels died about 
1830, and in 1834, together with his daughter and her husband, Joseph Yeoman, and 
David Nowels, our subject, he removed to what is now Jasper County, and became 
the first settler. They made homes where Rensselaer now stands, but afterward moved 
to the northern part of the township, where Mr. Nowels died May 21, 1865, aged 
over ninety-five years. David Nowels has made Jasper County his home since 
1834. He received no educational advant ages, and in his youth and early manhood 
participated in the hardships of all pioneers. He purchased his time of his father 
when seventeen years old, went to Cass County, and obtained a position as mail 
carrier from Logansport to Iroquois County, 111. After three months, he returned 
to Jasper County, and March 10, 1842, married Phebe A. Benjamin, daughter of 
Jared and Mary (Yeoman) Benjamin. Mrs. Nowel's parents were born in Connecti- 
cut and New York State respectively, and were of English descent; this family 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER ANI> MARION TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 533 

removed to Ohio in 181 1. After tlie deiith of Mr. Bctijamin, the widow and the 
family, in 1838, emigrated to Indiana, and settled in this county. David Nowels 
has been ^engaged in farming and stock-raising since his marriage. He began life 
without means, but with industry and good management has secured a competence. 
Besides giving to each of his six children about 340 acres of improved land, he has 
retained some eighty lots in Ronssehier, the Nowels House, and other valuable busi- 
ness property, forty acres of land in Jasper County, and 700 acres thirty-two miles 
from Little Rock, Ark. Mr. Nowels, throughout his long life in this county, has 
acquired many friends; he and wife are living retired in Rensselaer. Mrs. Nowels 
is a member of the Baptist (!hurch. They have had nine children born to them in 
this order: Jared. born August 29, 1843, died December 29, 1843; Ezra C, born Jan- 
uary 30, 1845; William R., August 2, 184B; Charles D.. November 14, 1847; Mary 
H., November 9. 1849; Eliza Jane, born July 1, 1852, died April 22, 1854; Eliza Jane, 
born April 1, 1854, died March 30, 1860; David B.. born in 1856; and Ida A., Janu- 
ary 14, 1859. The mother was born February 22, 1819, in Ohio. In politics, Mr. 
Nowels is a Democrat. 

EZRA C. NOWELS, County Auditor, was born in this county January 30, 1845. He 
was reared a farmer, and has followed the same the greater part of his life. He received a 
practical education, and began doing for himself on attaining his majority. October 
25, 1868, he married Sarah J., daughter of Andrew J. and Americus (King) Busey, 
and to this union have been born six children — Myrta E., who died, aged nine 
years; Everette M., Lucy M., Trellyen E., Lennie E. and Odessa L. The mother 
was born April 5, 1852, in Miami County, Ind. Mr. Nowels is now serving as 
Auditor of the. county. He is owner of 400 acres of good land, is a Democrat, and 
a member of Iroquois Lodge, No. 143, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Nowels is a member of the 
Baptist Church. 

WILLIAM R. NOWELS was born in Marion Township, Jasper County, August 
2, 1846, and was educated in the common schools and at Tippecanoe College. He 
was married, in 1868, to Miss Emma Rock, daughter of William and Eliza Rock, 
who reside in Tippecanoe County. Mr. Rock was formerly from Pennsylvania. 
Their union has been blessed with the following children: Charles E., Maybelle, 
Adelma Vernon, Gaylord, Bertha and Lillie. Mr. W. R. Nowels owns 391 acres of 
fine land in Section 36. 

CHARLES D. NOWELS was born in Marion Township, Jasper Co., Ind., 
November 14, 1847, and has made Jasper Couutj' his home. At the age of eighteen, 
he began doing for himself, although remaining with and assisting his parents until 
twenty-three j'ears of age. September 23, 1870, he married Miss Margaret J. Burns, 
daughter of Oliver S. Burns, of Carroll County, Ind.; and the month of March 
succeeding this event, moved to a farm on Section 1 in Marion Township, and 
remained there nearly eleven years, actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. 
He then removed to Rensselaer on account of the ill-health of his wife. For about 
a year, he was engaged in the lumber and coal trade at this place, then sold out the 
lumber interest, and has since dealt in coal exclusively, besides attending to his 
stock interests. Mr. Nowels secured an academical education, has taught three 
terms of pultlic school in Jasper County, and at present owns a good farm of 320 
acres in one place, and in another 240. He is a Democrat, and he and wife are 
members of the Baptist Cliurch. They are parents of two children — Arthur S. and 
Floy Latrue. Mrs. Nowels was born October 9, 18,50. 

D. B. NOWELS was born in Jasper Count}' in 1856, and rtnisiied his education 
at Lebanon, Ohio. He began teacliing at tiie age of eighteen, and taught five years. 
In 1879, he married Miss Sarah E. Burk, daughter of George Burk. They have one 
child — Auburn. Mr. D. B. Nowels was chosen County Commissioner in June. 1879. 
He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and reside on the old homestead. 



534 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

JOSEPH V. PARKISON was born in Logan County, Ohio, May 16, 1829, and 
is a son of Jolin and Matilda (Kenton) Parkison, both natives of Kentucky. John 
Parkison came to tliis county about 1837 and purchased land. He was the father of 
ten children — Eliza Ann, William, Anderson, Juliet, Margaret, Joseph V., Emma, 
Mary J., Isabel, and Frank, who died in the volunteer service of the late war. Mrs. 
Matilda Parkison's father was the celebrated Indian fighter, Simon P. Kenton, a 
native of Virginia, who in consequence of a love imbroglio at home, was compelled 
to flee to Kentucky, where, in association with Daniel Boone, he engaged in a 
wild life, but was afterward engaged in surveying that State. He received much 
land from the Government for thinning out the troublesome ''redskins," and also 
was largel}^ remunerated for locating the lands of others. Joseph V. Parkison was 
reared a farmer, and when of age was given 240 acres by his father. About 1852, 
he married Miss Fannie Kenton, whose father was one of this country's early pio- 
neers. Their union was graced by seven children — Mary M., born October 9, 1852; 
William W., born November 5, 1854; Eveline, born January 1, 1857; Amanda E., 
born November 14, 1858; Josephine, born January 1, 1862; Margaret, born October 
9, 1865. and Jaley A., born April 24, 1868. 

BERRY PARRIS is a native of Clark County, Ky., was born in 1825, and is a 
son of James and Anna (May) Parris, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter 
of Virginia. They reared the following family : Sarah, John, Nancy, Fannie, 
Stephen, Joshua, Mary, Berry, Asa, Amanda, James M., Harrison, George, Eliza 
and Pamelia. Mr. Parris died in Highland County,iOhio, and was a soldier of 1812. 
Berry Parris was brought to Highland County, Ohio, as a child, but afterward re- 
turned to Kentucky and remained nine years, when he moved to Grant County, 
Ohio, lived to manhood, and married Sarah, daughter of Daniel and Mary Starbuck, 
natives of North Carolina. Mr. Parris is an enterprising farmer, and has a good 
farm near Rensselaer, all the acquirement of his industry and thrift. He is also a 
much esteemed citizen. 

SIMON PHILLIPS w\as born in Darke County, Ohio, in 1823, and is a son of 
Valentine and , Abigail (Crawford) Phillips. Valentine Phillips was a native of 
Maryland, who emigrated to Ohio at an early day, and there married. In 1825, he 
removed to Rush County, Ind., where he died in 1842, and Mrs. Phillips in 1845, 
'leaving the following issue : John, Susan and Simon. Valentine Phillips was a 
soldier of the war of 1812, as were also his two brothers— John and Simon, the lat- 
ter having been a Captain. Our subject came to this county in 1847, where he mar- 
ried Miss Nancy Irvin, daughter of Alexander and Charity Irvin, to which union 
succeeded eight children — William, Elza, Abigail, Emily, Nancy, Robert, Agnes and 
Augustus. Mr. Phillips first located in Hanging Grove Township, then on a farm near 
Rennselaer, which contained the only stone quarry in the county. He was Cap 
tain of the vigilance committee in the early time, and was a terror to horse-thieves 
and such people; he was made Sheriff in 1856, and in 1882 a keeper of the county 
house. The grandfather of Mr. Phillips was a Revolutionary soldier, and was 
wounded by a bayonet thrust from the knee to the groin. 

CHARLES H.. PRICE, Circuit Clerk, was born in Portage County, Ohio, in 
1849. His father, William B. Price, was born in Canada in 1820, and came to Jas- 
per County, Ind., in 1867. He was elected Commissioner in 1876, and re-elected in 
1878, was an able officer, and gave great satisfaction. Charles H. Price was edu- 
cated in the common schools, and subsequently took a collegiate course at Stock- 
well, Ind. He was married in 1874 to Miss Lizzie A. Jones. Tiiej" have two chil- 
dren — Max and Don. Mr. Price, on the paternal side, is of Irish, and on the mater- 
nal side is of Scotch progenitors. He is a Knight Templar in the Masonic order, 
an Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias, and in the last two has passed the chairs; he 
is also a charter member of the Knights of Pythias at Remington, and Grand Guar- 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MARION TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 535 

dian of the State, having organized the lodge in Itenssehver. In 1H74, he was elected 
Circuit Clerk, and reelected in ISSO. Mr. Price is an clHcient oflicer, and a fine 
orator. He was a delegate to the convention which nominated Weaver for Presi- 
dent; also Secretary of the Greenback County Central Committee. 

J. T. RANDLE, retired farmer, is a native of Hampshire County, W. Va., and 
was born in 1831. His fatlier and mother, Thomas and Nancy (Culp) Randle, were 
natives of the same county, the former born in 1798, the latter in 1802, and were 
married in their native county. Thomas Handle, in company with a brother-in- 
law, came to this State, having been induced so to do by a brother of Mr. 'Randle, 
who had previously located on the Wabash River. They came in four-horse wagons, 
and were twenty-seven days on tlie journey. Mr. Randle entered a half section in 
this county, on which he lived until his death, in ISTO. Mrs. Randle died in 1853. 
They were the parents of eleven children, eiglit of whom are living — James. Mary, 
Isabel, Henry, Jolin, Nelson, Nanc)' and Savia. J. T. Randle wns married in 1854, 
10 Miss Mary E. Overton, who died in 1877. He afterward married Mrs. Ruth A. 
Harris, by which union they have five children — Robert, Thomas, John. Emeline 
and Edward. Mrs. Randle is a daughter of Rial and Sarah Ann Benjamin. 

NELSON RANDLE was born in Jasper County, Ind.. December 22,1844. In 
1865. he was married to Miss Caroline Brown, born in 1848. daughter of George 
H. and Elizabeth (Nichols) Bi-own. They had a family of five children — Edward, 
Virginia (deceased), Juliette, Addie May (deceased), and James, Mr. Randle is 
owner of 500 acres of land in Section 36, Township 30, Range 6. Mrs. Handle's 
father, George H. Brown, was a pioneer settler, and was twice elected to the Leg- 
islature from Jasper County. 

JOHN G. REYNOLDS was born in White County, Ind., in 1845. His father. Ben- 
jamin Reynolds, was the second settler inWliite County, where he resided thirty-nine 
years, and died June 6, 18G9. He was one of the most sympathizing, determined and 
remarkable men of his time. He was a kind husband and father, whose motto was 
equity. He left a wife and nine children, with innumerable friends to mourn for 
him. A Logansport paper said: "Benjamin Reynolds, Esq., of White County, 
died at his residence after an illness of some days. Mr. Rej'nblds was one of the 
oldest settlers in this section, having come to Indiana in 1830, and has long been 
identified with the progressive interest of that portion of the State. Mount Jack- 
son, the home of Mr. Reynolds, was known far and near, and no one knew better 
how to entertain after the old-fashioned, hospitable manner, and none made his 
guests more at home, than did ' Uncle Ben.' as he was familiarl\' called, lie leaves 
a large property, that he accumulated through economy and industry, to a family of 
nine children, and is gathered to his rest in the fullness of his years. May he rest 
in peace!" 

CHARLES RHOADES, eldest child of Rufus and Tabitha (Reynolds) Rhoades, 
was born at Winslow, Kennebec Co., Me., in 1813. His father, Rufus Rhoades, was 
born in Massachusetts, and married in Winslow, Me., where he reared a family, and 
died in 1873. Charles was reared and educated in his native county, and married 
Mi.ss Mary Ann Duren, who was born in 1814. They reared seven children, all 
living except two. Their names were William, Charles (killed at Cheat Mountain in 
the late war, and was a musician), Marshall I), (all three members of the same reg- 
iment), Amanda, Edward, Caroline, and one who died in infancy. Our subject 
came to Indiana twenty-eight years ago, to attend to business for Charles DeLaney, 
a large land owner here. He started a harness .shop, a trade at which he had worked 
from his fifteenth year. He and his .son William are associated in business. They 
sell harness, robes, whips, organs, .sewing machines, and have one of the best stores 
in the town. William graduated at Bryant «.t Stratton's Commercial College, and 
taught two terms in the Union School at Lockport. He enlisted in the Ninth Indi- 

32 



536 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ana Infantry for three months, and again joined the same regiment. He was pro- 
moted to Lieutenant, and also served as Adjutant. He was married in 1865 to Miss 
Fannie O. York, of Indianapolis, daughter of John G. and Susan (Howard) York. 

JAMES RITCHEY was born in Erie County, Penn., June 6, 1804. When nine 
years old, he was brought by his parents to Butler County, Ohio, where he was 
reared and educated. He afterward studied medicine, and attended the Ohio Medi- 
cal College at Cincinnati. In 1829, he located at Franklin, Johnson County, Ind., 
where he remained until 1865, when he came to this county and purchased 400 acres. 
November 2, 1829. he married Miss Sarah, a daughter of William Vanhise, who 
died in 1831, leaving one son — Leander. His second marriage was to Miss Leuisa A. 
Huntington, who died in 1849, leaving four children — Emily, Angeline, Louisa and 
Clara. His third marriage was to Mrs. Catherine Williams, at Franklin, with the 
following issue: Omar C, Kate, Ella, Anna and Irene. The father of our subject, 
John Ritchey, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he practiced medicine, and mar- 
ried Mary Coney. Their children were James, Jane, Samuel W., Powers, John, 
Lucinda, Clarinda, Lawrence P., Louisa, Andrew J. and Sarah. James Ritchey was 
elected to the Legislature from Johnson County in 1840, by the Democrats; was 
two years in the House and three in the Senate, and was chairman of educational 
affairs; was the first to make a report favorable to the Insane Hospital at Indianapo- 
lis; was a delegate to the National Conventions that nominated Polk, Lincoln and 
Fremont; was a Cass elector, for whom he stumped the State, and was a member of 
the Constitutional Convention of 1851. He is now a Liberal Republican, refined in 
manner and affable in intercourse. 

JOSEPH ROBINSON was born in New York January 2, 1815, and is the son 
of Edward and Martha (Capron) Robinson, natives of Rhode Island. Edward Rob- 
inson removed to Washington County, Ohio, where he married, and subsequently 
went to Medina County, then to Summit County, where he died in 1834, aged forty- 
nine years. He had the following children: Welcome, Jedediah, Simeon, Orlan, 
John. Daniel, Barton, Lydia, Rosalind and Joseph. Our subject worked in Ohio as 
a cooper, also farmed in Summit County, and then bought sixty-seven acres at 
Montrose. In 1837, he married Miss Gretta, born September 8, 1818, a native of 
Susquehanna County, Penn., and daughter of Levi and Waitsell Aldrich, both natives 
of New Hampshire, and parents of six children. The marriage of Joseph resulted in 
a family of five: Charles L., born July 29, 1838, killed at Port Republic June 9, 
1862; he was a member of the Twenty-ninth Ohio Regiment; Jane M., born July 
3, 1840; George M., Sheriff of this county in 1876, re-elected in 1878, and Auditor 
in 1882; he married, in 1868, Miss Mary E. Catt, with a result of eight children; 
Oliver P., born December 7, 1845, and Deputy Sheriff for seven years; and Welcome 
Dewitt, born October 16, 1848. Mr. Robinson came to this county in 1864, and pur- 
chased 100 acres, on which he now resides. In 1882, Mrs. Robinson, at the age of 
sixty-four, wove more than 800 yards of carpet. 

FRANCIS J. SEARS was born in Connecticut September 15, 1827, and is a 
son of Elijah C. and Ann B. (Hill) Sears, both natives of Connecticut. Elijah 
C. Sears was born June 23, 1805, and was a farmer. His wife, a daughter of David 
Hill, a native of Connecticut, was born in 1807, and died in 1860. Both were mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. Francis J. Sears was reared and educated in Orleans 
County, N. Y. In May, 1846, he came to McHenry County, 111., and in 1849 moved 
to Warren County Ind., and taught several terms of school. In 1855, he opened a 
grocery store at Rainsville, and in 1859 moved to Milford, 111., where he continued 
merchandising. In 1860, he took a partner, and opened a dry goods store at Wat- 
seka. 111., remaining there nine years. During that time he was three times Town- 
ship Trustee, also Supervisor of Middleport Township, and Overseer of County 
Farm. In 1869, he and partner sold, moved to Chicago, and opened a wholesale- 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MAItlON TOWNSHH' — JASPER ('or.NTV. 537 

store on Lake street, wberf.' they remained until October 9, 1871, when all the hard 
earnings of twenty-two years were swept by fire. In 1872, Mr. Sears went to Clin- 
ton, Iowa, opened a dry goods store, and stayed there two years; then came to 
Rensselaer, and was in the dry goods business until 1879, when he .sold to John Pur- 
cupile, and opened a furniture and carpet store. Mr. Sears has served two terms 
in the Town Council, and is now County Coroner, lie was married, Januar}- 1, 
1848, to Mary J. Denney. who died Jidy 2S), 1850, leaving two girls— Mary F. J. and 
Sarah Ann: the latter died September 17, 1850. July 3, 1855, he married Mattie J. 
Freeman, who died December 8, 1(S71. leaving four children — Willie E., Char- 
lie G., Hattie and Sallie; the two girls are deceased. August 12, 1872, Mr. Sears 
married Arabelle Coats, widow of J. W. Coats. Bj' this union there was one child, 
born February 2, 1880, died August 21, 1882. 

GEORGE SIGLER was born in Lake County, Ind., in 1840. His father, Sam- 
uel Sigler, a native of Maryland, waft born February 13, 1816, the third of eight 
children born to Samuel and Nancy (Taylor) Sigler. Samuel Sigler, Sr., was a 
merchant, and later a reed-maker, and of Dutch descent. His father (great-grand- 
father of subject), Adam Sigler, was for fifty years a preacher in the Methodist 
Eyiiscopal Church. Samuel, Jr., at the age of six years, went with his parents to 
Clarksville, Va., and in 1834 the family settled in Elkhart County, Ind., near Go- 
shen, and three years later on IfiO acres of land in Hobart Township, Lake County. 
March 21, 1837, Samuel married Nancy Stockdalo, a native of Washington County, 
Penn., by whom he had four children— jNIrs. Margaret A. Arnold, George, Mrs. 
Eliza Willey and John N. In 1859, he located at Wheeler, and engaged in mercan- 
tile pursuits. In 1866, he was appointed Postmaster, succeeding hi's son George. 
Mr. Sigler has been a successful man. Besides town property, he owns sixty-five 
acres near Wheeler. He is a Republican, an active temperance advocate, and dur- 
ing the war was a member of the Union League. He and wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has been identified over forty years. 
George Sigler came to this county March 1, 1809, and was married in 1864 to Miss 
Jane Willey. They have two children— Annie and Joseph. Mr. Sigler is a mem- 
ber of the firm of Willey & Sigler (Trade Palace); they have a fine store and are 
doing a good business. 

C. D. STACKHOUSE was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1828. The Stack- 
houses (two brothers) came to America from Wales, and settled near Philadelphia, 
where they married Dutch women, and where the father of our subject was l)orn. 
He emigi-ated from Kentucky to Ohio in the early days, and there ended his life. 
In 1852, C. D. Stackhouse married Delilah Obernchain, which marriage was pro- 
ductive of two children, a boy and a girl. Mrs. Stackhou.se died in 1856, whereupon 
our subject married Jane Obernchain, sister of his former wife. To these nuptials 
were born eight children — Alice, Venriek, ^lilroy, Clara Elizabeth. Byron, Willnrd, 
Lucy and George. Mr. Stackhouse came to this county in 1851, and purchased 120 
acres near where he now resides, on which land was an abandoned log cabin. His 
first settlement in the State, however, was in Montgomery County, at a period when 
game and wild cats were alike abundant. Mr. Stackliouse is a good farmer, a gen- 
erous, clear-headed gentleman, and has a fine farm and residence. 

CHARLES C. STARR, merchant, is a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind., was 
born October 6, 1S40, and is a son of Henry and Lydia P. (Webb) Starr, the former a 
native of Botetourt County, Va. Henry Starr was an early .settler of Tippecanoe 
County, where he died when our subject was six years old. Charles C. Starr at- 
tended the common school, and afterward a high school in Bartholomew (!ount}-. 
After working some time on the home farm, he clerked for Mr. Austin. In lN(il, he 
enlisted in the P^ighty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, but by rea.son of sickness was 
discharged after six months' service. After his return, he became a partner witli 



538 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Mr. Austin, under the firm name of Austin & Starr; tliis partnership continued 
one year. In 1863, lie married Lucy C. Warner, who died in 1879; he was next 
married, in Augu.st, 1881, to Miss Emma E. Rhoades, with an issue of one child, 
Feme. In 1864, Mr. Starr engaged in business alone, and now continues the same, 
with a stock valued at from $5,000 to $7,000, and does a }'early business of from 
125,000 to $35,000. 

SIMON P. THOMPSON, counselor at law, was born in Hancock County. 
Ohio, May 8, 1838, and is a son of David M. and Eliza (McCoy) Thompson, the 
former a native of Virginia, the latter of Columbiana County, Ohio. Our subject 
began attending school when four yea'-s of age, and began teaching at the age of 
fifteen; he afterward attended an academy for one term, and Otterbein University 
one year, and graduated at the Southwest Normal School in 1859; he is also a grad- 
uate of the School of Law at Ann Arbor, Mich. While a student, the recent civil 
war was inaugurated, and he enlisted, but did«ot serve; he afterward taught school 
in Rensselaer, and has served three terms as School Examiner. In 1873, he was 
made Prosecuting Attorney of this circuit for four years. In 1876, and again in 
1880, he was a candidate for nomination at the Congressional Convention, and since 
that time has been engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he holds a 
prominent rank. 

NORMAN WARNER was born in Rush Count}^ Ind., March 15, 1838; he is 
the son of Daniel K. and Elizabeth (Phillips) Warner, the former a native of Con- 
necticut, the latter of Ohio. Daniel K. went to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1843, and was 
married in Rush County, Ind., and reared the following children: Norman, Martin, 
John, Marshall, Chauncey, William, Sarah, Lucy and Elizabeth. He was a carriage- 
maker by trade, and carried on the business in Cincinnati until his return to his 
native State. In 1849, he went to California. Norman commenced learning car- 
riao"e-making in Cincinnati, and finished at La Fayette, Ind. February 34, 1857, he 
came to this county, started a small shop and married Miss Josephine, a daughter 
of Daniel Grant. They reared three boys — D. G., Norman Hale and Charles C. 
The two first named are with their father in the hardware business. Charles is a 
student at Greencastle. Mr. Warner is the leading hardware merchant in the town, 
and is doing a fine business, having begun the same in 1871; he has worked his way 
up from nothing, and is much liked by his fellow-citizens. 

MARSHALL P. WARNER was born in the montli of April, and the year 
1889; his father, Daniel Warner, was born in the year 1806, and removed to Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, in 1841. In 1849, he went to California, but afterward returned to the 
States and came to Rensselaer, where he died in 1856; his first settlement in this 
State was in Rush County, whence he removed to Connecticut, thence to Cincin- 
nati, and thence to California. Our subject, Marshall P. Warner, was brought to 
Rensselaer when six years old, where he was brought up. In 1859, he removed to 
Colorado, but returned in 1873, went back in 1874, and returned to Rensselaer finally 
in 1881, where he is located and engaged in the grocery business. Mr. Warner is an 
agreeable gentleman, a successful merchant and estimable citizen. 

I. B. WASHBURN, M. D., is a son of Moses L. and Susanna (Brown) Wash- 
burn, natives of Ohio, the former born in Brown County, April 3, 1815, the latter 
in Preble County in 1814; she was daughter of Mercer Brown. Dr. Washburn was 
born in Cass County, Ind., in 1838; was reared on his father's farm, trained in the 
county school, and later sent to Franklin College, Ind., where he took a scientific 
course. On leaving college in 1857, he taught school in Fulton and Pulaski Coun- 
ties during winter and worked at farming during summer. In March, 1858, he 
bean reading medicine with Dr. Thomas, of Cass County, with whom he remained 
two years; afterward read with Prof. Powell, of Chicago, for a time, and attended 
two courses of lectures at Rush Medical College, from which he graduated January 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MARION TOWNSUir— JASPER COUNTY. 539 

25, 1861, as third in :i class of thirty-six. In November, 1802, he enlisted in 
the Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteers, and was detailed for field hospital serv- 
ice; in December, he was made Assistant Surgeon, and one year later appointed 
Surgeon. After his discharge. December 28, 1864, he located at Star City, Ind. In 
1870, he was elected to the House of Representatives from Pulaski, Jasper and 
Newton Counties. In 1873, he resumed practice at Logansport, and remained until 
November 1, 1877, when he removed to Rensselaer and was at once appointed 
County Physician. He was made a Ma.^on in 186."), and an Odd Fellow in 1861. He 
is a Republican, and a member of tlie Christian Church. Dr. Washburn was mar- 
ried, July, 1864, to ]^rattie A., daughter of (i. B. and Mary (Beckley) Moore. Dr. 
Washburn's paternal grandfather was from Scotland, settled in New Jersey, and 
later removed to Virginia and Kentucky; his maternal grandfather was from Wales, 
and lived some time in Georgia. 

HENRY H. WATSON was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., in the year 1840, 
and is a son of Charles M. and Amanda (Babcock) Watson, the former a native of 
Virginia, born in 1808. At the age of nine years, he moved with his parents to 
Wabash, and later to Jasper County, where he was reappd to the plow. On the 11th 
of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, Col. Hammond, and served three years. He was in the Lexington cam- 
paign, in the pursuit of Gen. Hood, in all the battles of Atlanta, and with Gen. 
Sherman in his march through the State of (Georgia. In 1879, he married Mary 
Shortridge. by which union they iuid seven children— Dee, Daisy, Bernice, Frank, 
Harry, Lizzie Amanda antl Charles. Mr. Watsou has a productive and well- 
improved farm, and is a worthy man and esteemed citizen. 

JAMES F. WATSON is a native of Carroll County, Ind., was born June 23, 
1844, and is a son of Charles M. and Amanda (Babcock) Watson. Charles M. Wat- 
son moved to Jasper County in 1849, where three of his children were born, the 
whole number being Henry II., who resides on the original farm; Charles B., 
born about 1852, died in infancy; Amanda, born June, 1849, and James F., born 
1844. On his arrival in this county, Mr. Watson entered eighty acres, and after- 
ward purchased land adjoining. He died, aged about seventy-two years, at which 
time he was owner of 600 acres. He had previously been a resident of Greene 
County, Ohio. James F. Watson was married, in 1880, to Miss Kate Ritchcy, 
daughter of Dr. James Ritchey, who was once a member of the Legislature from 
Johnson County. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are parents of two children— Elsie, born- 
October 20, 1880. and Ella, born in April, 1882. 

JAMES WELSH was born in 1835, and in 1865 married Miss Mary, daughter 
of Dr. Samuel W. Ritchey. to which union succeeded two children— Carrie A., born 
1867. and George H., born 1875. Benjamin Welsh, father of our subject, was born 
in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1796. In 1821, in Adams County, Ohio, he 
married Mary Moore, born in Pennsylvania May 3, 1795. Mr. and Mrs. 
Welsh had the followini: children, beside James, our subject: Nancy, born in 
1822; Henry, born in 1828. and Rhoda, born in 1832. Mr. Welsh was by trade a 
millwright, and built the first cotton-L'-in in Arkansas; he also traveled through the 
West as a surveyor. In 1834. he moved to Tippecanoe County, in company with 
others, one of whom, John Compton, was a brother inlaw. After six years, Mr. 
Welsh removed to this county, and purciiased 720 acres of land. Prior to 1852, he 
was elected County Commissioner and Probate Judge; he was also elected ('..unty 
Surveyor. His daugliter Mary was the first person to be buried in the Welsh (Grave- 
yard in 1840. and for whom the cemetery was named. During the period of his 
service as Surveyor, his son James was Deputy, and was afterward appointed to 
that office. He has also served as As.sc-ssor and Ditc-h Conmiissioner. 

G. M. WILCOX was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1847, and is a .son of 
Jesse and Eveline Wilcox, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of ulilo. 



540 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Jesse Wilcox moved to Ohio with his parents many years ago, and purchased eighty 
acres; this he sold, and in 1854 came to this county and purchased 245 acres, which 
he yet owns. Mrs. Wilcox died in 1863. They had eleven children — Martha, Lewis, 
Jacob R., Josiah, Charles, G. M., Abner C, Zebedee, Mary, Mahala and Jehu. 
Lewis was a member of the Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, and was killed at 
luka. G. M. Wilcox was reared and educated in this county, was a soldier of the 
One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Indiana Regiment, and was married, in 1874, to Lucy 
Busey, from which imion descended three children — Ferry, Louis and Treaver. He 
opened a store at Surrey May 10, 1883. Mrs. Wilcox's parents were prominent set- 
tlers of Indiana. Her father, S. A. J. Busey, was a native of Kentucky, and mar- 
ried America King. They lived for a long time in the south part of what is now 
Miami County. During the land sales, he purchased land fourteen miles south of 
Peril, then the principal trading point for the Indians, where he lived until 1860, 
when he removed to this county. He had the following family: William H., Sam- 
uel Greenburg, John Franklin, Andrew Jackson, Mary Catharine, Lucy A. and 
Sarah Jane. Mr. Busey died in 1866, and Mrs. Busey in 1852. 

HARVEY W. WOOD is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, was born in 
1838, and there re as a farmer. His parents were John and Salome (Rasor) 

Wood. The family is of French and English descent. John Wood was born in 
1804, and m 1827 emigrated from Virginia to Ohio on horseback, where he bought 
\and. married and reared the following famil}^: Elizabeth, Sarah A., Aldeva, Eli H., 
H. W., Mary M., J. H., Amanda J., Clara H., Malissa E., Clayton, Charles W., 
Loretta and Justina. Mr. Wood died in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1871. Mrs. 
Wood's father, Daniel Rasor, was a man of wealth and influence, and once owned 
much valuable mill and other property near Dayton. He was the parent of ten 
children — Daniel, Salome, Susan, Elizabeth, David, Jacob, John, Abraham, Chris- 
tina and Maria. Mrs. Wood now resides with the subject of this sketch. Harvey 
W. Wood was married, in 1871, to Mary C, daughter of Mordecai and Caroline 
(Sampson) Crocket, as a result of which were four children — John P., Mabel, Van 
M. and Harvey. Mr. Wood was in the Ninety-third Ohio Regiment during the last 
war, and was wounded at Chickaniauga; his brother, I. H. Wood, was also in said 
regiment. Mr. Wood is a Republican, has been County Clerk and Treasurer, and is 
the owner of one of the best farms in this county. 

WILLIS J. WRIGHT was born in 1814, in what was then Union County, Ind. 
His father, Charles G. Wright, a native of North Carolina, moved hither in a wagon 
when a boy, where his father located on and entered land, which he improved and 
sold in 1830, at which time he removed to White County and purchased sixty acres- 
Charles G. Wright was married in the then Territory about the year 1808, and reared 
the following family: Jane, Andrew W., Willis J., James M. and Elizabeth A., of 
whom all except our subject and Elizabeth are deceased. In 1832, Mr. C. G. Wright 
came to this county and established a trading post at Rensselaer, where he died De" 
cember 22, 1845. Willis J. Wright was reared a farmer's boy, and when fourteen 
apprenticed to learn the carpentering, which he followed for many j'ears, and made 
the first frame house made in Rensselaer. In 1845, he married Miss Minerva Ferris, 
to which marriage were granted five children — Charles P., Truet P., Mattie M. and 
Mellie M. (twins) and Elizabeth. Mr. Wright served as Sheriff from 1855 to 1862. 
and was an efficient officer. His oldest son, Charles P., was a soldier of the Eighty 
seventh Indiana Volunteers during the late war, and served about two j^ears. He 
and one George Morgan were among the youngest soldiers in the service. 

D. H. YEOMAN is a son of Joseph D. and Sarah (Nowels) Yeoman, and was 
born in Jasper County, Ind., September 26, 1841. His parents were among the early 
settlers of the county, who came hither with a yoke of oxen and settled in what is 
now Rensselaer, where they planted a crop of corn. Joseph D. Yeoman was a 



TOWN OF RENSSELAER AND MARION TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 541 

school teacher in Ohio durina: his early days, and among his pupils was Sarah 
Nowels, whom he afterward married, and to which union descended the following 
family: Cynthia, Helen, Thomas J. (the first white child born in this county), D. H. 
and Sarah O. Mr. Yeoman came here with scarcely any means, but acquired a 
property of 200 acres of land. He was a man of i^reat enterprise and strong personal 
influence; he served some time as Justice of the Peace. Both were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and their remains lie in Blucgrass Cemetery in New- 
ton Township. D. H. Yeoman was reared on the farm of his father, and received a 
fair education in the schools of the county. October 5, 1865, he married Mary E., 
viaughter of James and Elizabeth (Hurshman) Morris, with a result of the following 
children: Effie L., Morris D., Pleasant Victor, Daisy, Ettie Belle, James F., Hattie 
M. and David V. Mr. Y'eoman is a man of prominence in the community. He 
enlisted in the recent war, was discharged from reason of sickness, but was after- 
ward valuably instrumental in raising troops, and was afterward First Lieutenant in 
the Eighty-seventh Indiana Regiment. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
His portrait is in the history of the State. 

LEWIS K. Y''EOMAN was born in the county of Fayette and State of Ohio, iu 
the year 1852. In the year 1875, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of A. C. and 
Elizabeth Norton, the former a native of Maine, born in the year 1810, and the lat- 
ter of Pennsylvania, born in 1810. 3Irs. Yeoman is a native of Indiana, born in 
the year 1853. Her parents moved to Vermillion County, 111., and reared a family 
of thirteen children— William, Mary A., Adaline, Harvey, Madison, Jeffers(m, 
James, Laura, John, Sarah, Zerenah, Rebecca and Lizzie. Ouf subject, Lewis K. 
Yeoman, has a good farm of eighty acres, solely obtained by his own industry, 
labor and economy. He is a highly respected citizen and a good farmer. 

JAMES A. Y'EOMAN was born February 2, 1855. His father, Eli Yeoman, 
was a native of Dryden, N. Y., and born in 1816. When young, he moved 
to Fayette County, Ohio, where he learned farming, married Jane Knox, and reared 
the following family: Joseph, Andrew, Jane, Robert, Ogle, Lewis. James A.. 
Charles, Frank and Marcus. In 1856, Mr. Yeoman built a sleigh, and removed 
therein with his family to this county. They were twelve days on the journey, dur- 
ing eight of which it snowed continually. On his aiTival, he purchased some land 
of James and Andrew Ferris. Most of the land was so wet that Mrs. Yeoman de- 
clared that she could, by springing up and down, shake the ground for several feet 
around her. Mr. Yeoman improved this land by ditching, as a result of which it 
became the most productive in the county. Mrs. Yeoman is still living on the home 
place, now farmed l)y her son James A., who in 1880 married Miss Amj', dauirhter 
of Whit and Frances (Kenton) Israel. Mr. and Mrs. Y'eoman are parents of two 
children— Guy and an infant unnamed. Mrs. Amy Yeoman's father was killed at 
the battle of Chickamauga, just previous to which event he had received a commis- 
sion as First Lieutenant of his company. He left two children— Amy and Maggie. 

LYMAN A. ZEA is a native of La Salle County, 111., and was born in 1849. 
His father, William Zea, was born in the State of New Y'orkin 1813, and his mother, 
Laura (Blakman) Zea, in Connecticut in 1813. These parties settled in La Salle 
County in the fall of 1847, where they entered land and lived for several years. 
They were parents of nine children, eight of whom are living— Jane. John, Cather- 
ine, James, Francis, Peter, Joseph and Lyman A. On the 15th of March, 1871, our 
subject married Stella Aldrich, daughter of Henry Aldrich, of this county. Mr. 
Zea was elected Constable in the j'ear 1^80. He began life's struggle as a poor boy, 
and acquired his property by his own unaided efforts, but has speculated to some 
•extent, and successfully. 



542 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



TOWN OF REMINGTON AND CARPENTER TOWNSHIP. 

LEWIS S. ALTER, County Surveyor, is a son of John and Mary Ann (Cham- 
berlin) Alter, and was born in Jasper County, Ind., June 22, 1851. His father was 
born in Westmoreland County, Penn., July 1, 1801, moved to Indianapolis in 1836, 
and to this county in 1848, where he entered a tract of land and died in 1876. He 
was well known as an early pioneer, and left the following record of the family : 
"Grandfathers on both sides were of Swiss origin. My father's father, Jacob Alter, 
was born in Lancaster County, Penn., and during the Revolutionary war made 
shoes for the army; he was afterward elected to the Legislature, and served fifteen 
years. My father was born in York County, Penn., and emigrated to Westmore- 
land County, Penn., in 1800. My mother's father settled in York County, followed 
the trade of a jeweler, and made a clock which played seven tunes. My grand- 
mothers on both sides were American born. My father removed his family on a 
farm. When twelve years of age, spent a few months in school to Uncle Abraham 
Alter, who was studying Greek under Alexander Campbell. My uncle and aunt 
united with the first organization of the Campbellite Church as disciples." 

D. H. BATES was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1846, and is a son of Ozro 
and Mary (Hartman) Bates. His parents moved to Marion County, Ind., when he 
was six years old, where they purchased land, and our subject assisted in the im- 
proving thereof. When twenty-one years of age, l>e began farming for himself on 
eighty acres. In 1873, he went to Texas, where he engaged in farming in Clay 
County, which county he assisted to organize, and lived there long enough to see 
the county seat grow to be a good town (Henrietta). While in said State, he was 
appointed Land Commissioner by Gov. Coke, an appointment wholly unsolicited by 
him, and one generally satisfactory. After two years, he returned to Indiana, and 
carried on the furniture and undertaking business, in connection with farming. In 
1881, he commenced buying grain, which he has continued as a business; he is also 
interested in fine stock, of which he has a full supply. Mr. Bates was married, in 
1876, to Miss Rachel Hughes, daughter of Michael Hughes, a descendant of the 
Calhoun family, of Kentucky. The Hughes family are descended from Robert 
Burns. 

G. F. BLOOM, Remington, was born in Bradford County, Penn., in 1828. He 
is a son of David and Mary Bloom, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and 
Scotch descent, respectively. David Bloom purchased land thirty-five miles south- 
west of Chicago, in 1834; this he improved and sold, thence removing to near Kan- 
kakee River, where he made a home, and died in 1876; his wife died in 1854; they 
reared a large family. G. F. Bloom was reared a farmer. At the age of twenty-one, 
he worked at civil engineering, and afterward as a clerk. In 1860, he began a store 
in Illinois, and later at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Some time afterward, he came to Rem- 
ington, and purchased grain; he finally engaged in the furniture and undertaking 
business. In 1870, Mr. Bloom was married to Miss Caroline E. Jones, of Raynliam, 
Mass., a union crowned by two children — EUery E. and Clara M. Mrs. Bloom's 
father, Samuel Jones, resides at Plymouth, where the elder Mr. Bloom first settled. 
The Jones family is connected with the Tildens, of New Yoi'k. Mr. Bloom is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, and a Democrat in politics. 

SAMUEL BOWMAN was born in Maryland June 17, 1849, and is the sixth of 
nine children born to Samuel and Mary Bowman, natives of Pennsylvania. His 
father died in Cumberland County, Penn., in 1866, and his mother five j'ears earlier. 



TOWN OF REMINGTON AND CAIU'ENTEU TOWNSHIP— JASPKR COUNTY- 543 

At eit^hteen years of ago, our subject began a three years' apprenticeship to the 
blacksmith's trade. In 1870, lie came to Remington, where (excepting about nine 
months) he has since resided. For some time after coming here, he worked by the 
day at his trade. In bS7-4. he began business for himself, and in 187G formed a 
partnership with his brotlier Ezra, which firm still carries on business. Mr. Bow- 
man was married. September 15». 187."). to Miss Frances E. Blood, a native of Erie 
County, N. Y., and daughter of Horace and Nancy Blood. They have two children 
— Fiorine E. and Charles. Mrs. Bowman is a member of the Christian Church. 
Mr. Bowman is a Republican, and would have cast his first Presidential vote for 
Grant (second term), but went on a visit to Pennsylvania. He has been successful 
in his business. When he came here, he possessed .$100, now he is worth ^3,000. 
He is an enterprising citizen, and an honorable man. 

EDWARD H. BRIGGS was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., September 1, 
1859, and is the only child of John M. and Mary H. (Bilyea) Briggs, natives of New 
York, and of Scotch descent. His parents oame to Remington in 1877, where his 
mother died in December, 1880. His father married again, and is now living in Al- 
bany, N. Y., engaged in mercantile pursuits. In February, 1881, our sul)ject began 
the drug business in Remington, and is now doing a prosperous trade. He has from 
15,000 to $6,000 invested in the business. Mr. Briggs was married, December 14, 
1882, to Miss ReneBranhan, a native cf Madison, Ind, and daughter of Edward and 
Fanny Branhan. He is a Dempcrat, and cast his first Presidential vote for Han- 
cock. He is an enterprising citizen, and a leading business man of Remington. 

JAMES BROADIE was born in Piqua, Ohio, June 16, 1831, and is the third of 
eleven children born to John and Elizabeth Broadie, natives of Delaware and Ohio 
respectively, and of Scotch descent. In 1836, his parents came to this State, and 
settled five miles from La Fayette, in Tippecanoe County. His mother died Sep- 
tember 8, 1855; his father, after residing in Tippecanoe County nearly half a cent- 
ury, is now living with his children. James Broadie attended what was known as 
" Frog Pond Schoolhouse," in Tippecanoe County: he now has a good business edu- 
cation. When twenty years old, he began farming for himself. August 18, 1853, 
he married Miss Mary Stidham, a native of Wayne County, Ind., and daughter of 
Thomas A. and Amelia Stidham. They have had four children— Elizabeth A., Em- 
ma J.. PrLscilla E. and John W. In 18,58. Mr. Broadie moved to Montgomery 
County, Ind.; remained two years, and then returned to Tippecanoe County. In 
1872, he came to this town.ship, four miles northwest of Remington; two years later 
he came to Remington, where he still resides. He is now a butcher and stock deal- 
er, and has been very successful. He is a Republican, and became a member of the 
Odd Fellows in April, 1882. Mrs. Broadie is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. 
Broadie is an influential citizen 

W. H. COOVER. is a native of Cumberland County, Penn., and was born 
April 18, 1847; his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were natives of 
Eastern Pennsylvania, on his father's side of French and German, and on his 
mother's of English, Scoteli and Irish descent. His father, Adam Coover, was iden- 
tified with the public schools and educational interests in Cumberland County, Penn., 
for twenty years; his mother, two sisters and two brothers are residing in Reming- 
ton, with one brother in Goodland. Ind.. and one in Dorrance, Russell Co., Kan. 
W. H. Coover lived on his father's farm, and worked and attended district school 
until he was sixteen years old, at whicli time he began teaching and attending the 
Normal School at Millersville, Penn., during the spring and summer; he taught six 
years in Pennsylvania, two years in Illinois, one year in Colorado in 1H79, and com- 
menced the boot and shoe business in Denver in 1880. Shortly afterward he came 
to Remington, Ind., and in 1881 began the publication of the Remington News. 
which, after about two years, he sold to O. B. Mclntire, and engaged with liini in 



544 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the grain business, but continued to manage the News. Mr. Coover has always 
been active in matters of education and public benefit, and is a prominent and re- 
spected citizen. 

HENRY C. GOLDSBERRY, was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., January 
15, 1836, and is of French and Irish descent; his parents were Jacob and Nancy 
(Bowsher) Goldsberry, both natives of Ohio, where they were married, and reared 
four children — Thomas, a physician, who resides in Kansas; Mary, deceased; Rachel 
deceased, and Henry. The father died in 1836, and the mother in 1875. After the 
death of his parents, he lived with his uncle, George Bowsher; he began clerking in 
Remington when twenty-three years of age, and is now one of the firm of " Golds- 
berry & Co.," who carry the best stock of goods to be found in the county. In 
1875, he was married to Miss Mary J. Coover, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth 
Coover; the former is deceased. Mr. Goldsberry began life in a poor state, but has 
made his way by energy and industry. He is a Freemason, an Odd Fellow, a 
Knight of Pythias; he is also a member of the Independent Order of Workmen 
and an expert business man. In politics, he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Golds- 
berry have one child — Opel E. 

A. G. HARDY was born in Carroll County, Ind., March 3, 1851, and is the 
third of eleven children born to Christopher and Elizabeth (Guss) Hardy, both na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, and of German-Irish descent. His parents came to Indiana 
in 1848, and settled in Carroll County. They now reside in this township. Our 
subject worked on his father's farm until twenty-two years old; then began on his 
own account; he was married, December 14, 1881, to Miss Mabel Besse, a native of 
Will County, 111., and daughter of G. H. Besse. They have one child — Bruce B. 
In March, 1879, Mr. Hardy came to Carpenter Township, where he still resides; he 
is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Grant; he is a farmer and one 
of the principal stock men in Remington, and an honored citizen. 

CHRISTIAN HENSLER was born in Ohio, March 13, 1836, and is the sixth in 
a family of ten children, and of German extraction; his parents, who were natives of 
Germany, came to America in 1830, and settled in Ohio; his mother died in Owen 
County, Ind., in 1844, and his father in this county in 1871. When our subject was 
fifteen years old, he began life for himself, working first by the month. He was 
married, February 15, 1857, to Miss Mary M. Wiggins (of Hardin County, Iowa, but 
a native of Ohio). They have had eight children — Lear C, George, Charles L., 
Matilda, Jacob A., Mary E., Clara C. and Rosa. Two of these children are de- 
ceased. In 1865, Mr. Hensler came to this township and settled in Section 2, where 
he has since resided; he owns 700 acres of good land. When he came to Jasper 
County, he possessed about $1 ,000, and is now worth at least f 16,000, all made by hard 
work and good management; he is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote 
for Lincoln. Mr. Hensler was elected President of the Jasper County Agricultural 
Association in 1883; he is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers, and is in all 
respects a " self-made man." 

HON. FREDERICK HOOVER, Remington, is a native of the county of Henry, 
Ind. ; was born December 3, 1837, and is of German descent. His father w,as born in 
Wayne County, Ind., in 1806, and died in August, 1869; his mother was a native of 
Henry County, Ind. Frederick Hoover began life as a clerk, in whicli role he contin- 
ued for five years; after he engaged in business for himself at Middletown, Ind. He 
now has a fine farm near Remington, where he deals in stock. Mr. Hoover has served 
as a member of the Board of Commissioners of this county, and is now a member 
of the State Senate, to which he was elected by the Democratic party. He is a 
very popular and influential citizen. He was married, January, 1859, to Miss Mar- 
tha Bowman, of Middletown, Ind. Four children have blessed this union — Adda 
M., Frank L., Charlie R. and Eva B. Adda M. died in 1866, aged six years. Frank 



TOWN OF REMINGTON AND CAHTKNTKR TOWNSHIP— .lASPEIl COUNTY. 545 

L. was married, November, 1882, to Adda Irwin, of Remington. Mr. Hoover was 
Director in the Northern Prison. 

J. S. IRWIN is a native of Carroll County, Ind. His father, Thomas Irwin, 
was born in Clark County, Ky., in 1809; moved to'Carroll County, Ind., about 
1832, and engaged in the mercantile business. Owing to the financial crisis of 
1837, he entered and improved some wild land, which he subsequently traded for 
a stock of goods, and opened a store in Rensselaer. In 1864 lie retired, and died in 
18fH5. He married Miss Sarah Rryson, in Carroll County, in 1838. Only one of 
their diildren — our subject — is living; two of them (Archiliald and Albert, brothers 
of our subject) were soldiers in the war of the rebellion, and botli died from disease 
contracted in that service. J. S. Irwin is located in Remington, where he has been 
dealing in grain since 1870. In 1872, he shipped over 200,000 bushels of corn, oats, 
wheat and flax. In 1878, he married Lucinda A. Conner, of Grant County, Ind. ; her 
parents are the earliest pioneers of that county, and were married when there were 
no county officers, the license being procured in an adjoining county. Both are liv- 
ing, and celebrated their golden wedding in 1881. Mr. Irwin's great-grandfather 
was of Scotch descent, and settled in Pennsylvania, whence he sent his son to Ken- 
tucky to purchase land, and who purchased a large tract where Lexington now 
stands, and located there. He was Surgeon General during the war of 1812, and 
was killed with a number of officers in battle. 

.TAMES F. IRWIN, son of William and Sarah A. (Cottingham) Irwin, was 
born in Hamilton County, Ind., August 3, 1842. He attended the Butler Univer- 
sit)' at Indianapolis, and also one year at the Greencastle School. In 1863. he 
moved to this county, where he has been engaged in general farming and stock 
dealing. In 1864, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-second Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry, for 100 days, after which service he resumed farming. In 
April, 1866, he married Mary Raven.scroft, of this county, to which union succeeded 
six children, three boys and three girls. Mr. Irwin was elected Trustee of this 
township in 1870; resigned in 1876, was re-elected six months later, and again in 
1882. He was also elected Clerk of Jasper County, term beginning May, 
1884. He is a member of Remington Lodge, No. 284, I. O. O. F. ; also of the G. A. 
R., Post No. 84. and of Lodge No. 88, A. O. U. W. Mr. Irwin is a Republican, and 
active in politics. 

.M. E. JORDAN Avas born December 28, 1826, in Virginia. His parents emi- 
grated to Indiana when he was a child, and settled in La Faj'ette, where his boy- 
hood was pas.sed. In 1844. the family removed to White County, where his father 
purchased land, and of which our subject assisted in the improvement. In the 
meantime, he gi-ew to manhood, and married Margaret Almon, who, in 18.~)2, died 
in the birth of a son William, who died in infancy. His second marriage, in 1876, 
was to Mollie Flake, bj- which union they have three children — Jacobs, Dora E. and 
Margaret E. William Jordan, father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1803. 
He married Catherine Sexton, and reared a family. He traveled from Virginia to 
La Fayette, Ind., in a wagon, and entered 120 acres, his possessions being one horse 
and ^7 in money. He afterward moved to White County, where he owned at his 
death, in 1876, l,9f)0 acres of the Ijest land in the count}-, all of which, except about 
300 acres, he divided among his children. 

OLIVER B. MclNTlRE, banker, Remington, was boan December 22. 1840, in 
Ripley County, Ind.. and is a son of Edward and Rachel A. (Bright) Mclntire, the 
latter a sister of the celebrated Jesse D. Bright, for eighteen years United States 
Senator from Indiana. His grandfather was one of the earlist settlers of JefFerson 
County. The parents of Oliver moved to Madison, Ind., when he was an infant. 
He attended Hanover College two years, ami returned to the farm to labor. In 
1864, he move<l to Jasper CouiUy. where he bought a farm, remained until 1871, 



546 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

then removed to Remington, and commenced mercantile business, and afterward 
real estate and banking, under the tirm of J. K. Shaw & Co. In 1876, he purcluiaed 
the interest of Mr. Shaw, and the business is now known as the Exchange Bank of 
Remington, where is done a regular real estate and banking business. Mr. Mclntire 
has been active and useful in building up his town, and has had a successful business 
career. He is a Democrat, a School Trustee and a member of the Christian Church. 
His marriage occurred February 25, 1864, to Margaret C. Hughes, daughter of M. C. 
Hughes, of Warsaw, Ky. They have one child, Jessie Hughes. Mr. Mclntire is 
also publisher of the Remington News. 

PATRICK MAGUIRE was born in Belfast, Ireland, June 17, 1850, and is the 
seventh of ten children born to Patrick and Elizabeth (McArdle) Maguire, l)0th 
natives of Ireland. His father died in his native country in 1861; his mother died 
in America in 1876. Our subject came to the United States in 1870; was in Youngs- 
town, Ohio, four years; and in New Brighton, Penn., one year; then in Marion, 
Grant County, Ind., six years. In June, 1882, he came to Remington, where he now 
resides. Mr. Maguire was married, October 4, 1875, to Miss Mary J. Costello, a 
native of Newcastle, Penn., and daughter of Michael and Ellen Costello. They 
have had three children— Ella E., Agnes M. (deceased) and Emma C. Mr. Maguire 
is one of the proprietors of the Remington Flax Mill, established in 1882. D. B. 
Sweetzer, of Marion, Ind., has a controlling interest in the enterprise. There is 
about $20,000 invested in the business. They employ twelve to fifteen men, at good 
wages. The establishment is one of the largest of the kind in West Indiana, and 
is a most valuable addition to the business interests of Remington and its vicinity. 
Mr. and Mrs. Maguire are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Maguire ii a 
Democrat, and an enterprising citizen. He possesses a good library, and is a con- 
stant reader, being well posted on all general topics. 

ROBERT W. MAY was born in Greenbrier County, Va., March 23. 1840, and 
is the fifth of eight children born to George and Mary (Yeager) May, natives of 
Virginia, and of English-German descent. When Robert was eight years old, he 
came with. his parents to Jasper County, Ind., where his father died in 1856, and his 
mother ten years later. At twenty years of age, our subject began doing for him- 
self. September 28, 1865, he married Miss Mary Guy, a native of Iowa, and 
daughter of Samuel and Marietta Guj'. They have had four children— Charles, 
Samuel, Dolly and Eddie (deceased). In 1865, Mr. May came into possession of the 
old homestead. He now owns 420 acres of well-improved land near Remington. 
He has been very successful, and is worth at least $30,000. For many years, he has 
handled from 100 to 150 head of cattle. Mr. May is a Republican, and a pioneer of 
Jasper County, having been a resident since 1848. 

SAMUEL C. MAXWELL, M. D., was born in Crawfordsville, Ind., October 2, 
1840. His parents were Harvey H. and Isaphena (McCollough) Maxwell; the for- 
mer died when our subject was four years old. Samuel entered Ladoga Academy, 
took the scientific and classical course, and graduated in 1862. In August of that 
year, he enlisted in the Seventy-second Indiana Volunteers, but owing to ensuing 
sickness, was discharged in November following; he then studied medicine with 
Dr. J. B. Wilson, attended his first course of lectures at Rush Medical College, 
Chicago, in 1864 and 1865, and began practice at Kentland, Ind.: he soon after re- 
turned to Chicago, graduated at the aforesaid college, class of 1866, and resumed 
practice at Remington, where he has a large and lucrative business, extending 
through four counties; he has also an extensive practice as surgeon and consulting 
physician. Dr. Maxwell was President of the District Medical Society several 3'ears, 
and School Trustee of his town; he is an Elder of the Christian Church, a Sabbath 
School Superintendent, and a Republican. June 20, 1865, he married Jennie Parker, 
daughter of Robert and Mary Parker, pioneers of Jasper County. To their union 



TOWN OF REMINGTON AND CARPENTER TOWNSFIIP— JASPER COl'NTV. 547 

■were born the following children: The eldest.aboy.died in infancy; Grace, Blanche, 
Mate and James Garfield. 

GEORGE NICHOLSON is a native of Canada, and was born in the year 1848. 
He removed to Joliet, 111., in 1854. thence to this State in 1871, and settled on Sec- 
tion 28. in Carpenter Township. His father, William Nicholson, was a native of 
En,i,'laiul, born in 1811, and his mother, Eleiyior Austin, was a native of New York; 
their children were named George. John, Elizabetli, Charles, Nanc}', Francis, Cal- 
vin, Sarah, Emma, and an infant dead, iiniiiimed. George Nicholson was married to 
Miss Dora Spangler. daughter of Joseph Spangler. an old settler of this county, an 
enterprising farmer, who erected one of the first power wind mills in the township. 
He has also a well-improved farm, on which is a fish pond, thoroughly stocked with 
German carp. He is a member of the Church of God. 

ROBERT PARKER, Su., was born in Kentucky in 1811, whence he moved to 
Rush County, in this State, at an early day, and was married to Miss Mary Over- 
ton. About 1839. he came to this county, and was among the first settlers of the 
vicinity of Rensselaer, where he entered land and farmed successfully. He had been 
a Whig, but became a Republican, and was an earnest advocate of the late war. 
Once, when some soldiers were leaving for the field, he gave them $40, which they 
answered with three rousing cheers for "Uncle Bob." His family embraced nine — 
Nancy, Clara, Jennie, Emma, Elizabeth, North, Robert, Esther and Anna. He at 
one time owned over 2,000 acres of land. Robert Parker, Jr., our subject, was reared a 
farmer, and attended an academy in Montgomery Count}', Ind. In 1870, he engaged 
in the lumber and coal business, and was railroad agent. He sold the coal business 
to B. M. Butler, and commenced that of deposit and exchange agent; he afterward 
took J. K. Shaw as a partner, and in 1874 sold his interest to O. B. Mclntire; two 
years later he again engaged in the coal and lumber trade, with John Burger as 
partner, which he now manages in connection with banking. Mr. Parker was mar- 
ried, in 1868, to Miss Hattie Black, daughter of Samuel M. Black; they have thr^je 
children — Mabel, Kittie and Twounet. 

D. H. PATTON, physician and surgeon, Remington, was born in Fleming 
County, Ky., in 1837. His parents are Andrew D. and Nancy (Cowan) Patton; her 
father was Enoch Cowan, well and favorably known in his State. Andrew I). Pat- 
ton was a man of strong personality and atone time of considerable wealth; he was 
a great advocate for education, and moved to Montgomery County, Ind., on account 
of larger opportunities therefor. He was a farmer and trader, and reared a family 
of eight children, four of whom are now living. He died at the residence of his son, 
D. H. Patton, in 1869. The Pattons were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and they were 
generally antislavery people, particularly Joseph Patton, a brother of Andrew, still 
living in Ripley, Ohio, who purchased the freedom of many slaves. He has posses- 
sion of Gen. Andre's sword, which he will bequeath to Dr. Patton. In August, 
1862, our subject enlisted, with eleven students, in the Thirty-eighth Indiana Regi- 
ment; he was first made color guard at battle of Perryville, October, 1862, at which 
battle four of the nine color guards were killed instantly, and two were wounded; 
after which he was made color-bearer, and at the battle of Stone River, he held the 
colors while thirty-one balls passed through the same; and afterward Sergeant Ma- 
jor, from which he rose to Colonel and Commander of the brigade. The Doctor had 
his clothes and hat cut with bullets, but did not receive a wound. His brigade on 
one occasion marched 192 miles in six consecutive days; he was in the grand review 
at Washington; was mustered out July. 1865. He graduated from the Chicago Med- 
ical College, at Chicago, class of 1867, and began practice at Remington the same 
year. Dr. Patton was married in the same year to Miss Clara Bennett, of Carroll 
County, Ky., daughter of Joseph Bennett. They have three children— Fannie. 
Alice and Luther (the latter twins). lie is a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
also of the G. A. R. 



548 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

J. E. STILLER, general merchant, Remington, was born in New York City in 
1842; is the son of Robert and Jane (Rowe) Stiller, and of German descent. His 
father was a native of Germany, his mother of New York, of German parents. 
Robert Stiller was a gentleman of education, and an expert in book-keeping, having 
been employed by Linthendahl & Co. At the occurrence of the war, he went into 
the service of the Government; he was a fine penman. He was married in New 
York City, and about 1850 emigrated to Kankakee, 111.; he had six children, five of 
whom are living — James E., Mary E., Catherine, William and Peter. Robert 
Stiller took a large interest in education and morals. He enlisted in 1862, in the 
Twentieth Illinois Volunteers. The subject of this sketch enlisted in 1861 in the 
Forty-second Illinois Volunteers — the old Douglas brigade — and was in all the battles 
up to Chickamauga, where he was wounded, and soon after discharged. After this 
event he entered and graduated from Fulton College, in which he subsequently 
became a Professor of Penmanship. In 1872, he married Miss Marj'^ Jones, by whom 
he has two children — Bertie Eugene and George Edwin. Mr. Stiller began business 
in Remington in 1877. 

O. P. TABER, a son of George and Lois (Vickery) Taber, was born in Cayuga 
County, N. Y., December 22, 1846. In 1870, he moved to Michigan, thence, one 
year later, to Benton County, Ind., and in 1875 crossed the line to this county, 
where he built a good frame house and barn. He has 307 acres of fine land, which 
is in a rich state of cultivation. In 1865, he married Tammie E. Terpening, daugh- 
ter of William andRennette (Hunt) Terpening; upon this union have followed three 
boys and one girl. Mr. Taber is by trade a carpenter, and has built twenty-one 
dwelling houses and seven schoolhouses since he came to this State. He is a general 
farmer and stock-raiser; he is Treasurer of the Remington Fair Association, and is 
a very greatly respected citizen. 

W. A. TRAUGH, druggist, was born in Tioga Coiuity, Penn., in 1843, and was 
educated at Dickeson Seminary, Williamsport, under the late Bishop Bowman. In 
1857, he moved with his parents to Earlsville, 111. His father was a druggist, from 
whom our subject acquired the business. W. A. Traugh served during the war in 
the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, after which he engaged in stock dealing in the West, 
operating in Kansas in the summer and in Texas in the winter. At this he con- 
tinued eight years, when he returned to Remington and engaged in the nursery 
trade with his father, and in 1880 in the drug business, in company with William 
Townsend, and keeps a very superior stock of medicines. In 1882, Mr. Traugh was 
married to Miss Carrie Boyce, of Remington. Mr. Traugh is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, and a most thorough and engaging business man. 

WRIGHT WILLIAMS, railroad agent and telegraph operator, was born in 
Carroll County, Ind., July 10, 1851, and is the second of six children (three boys 
and three girls, subject being the only one now living) born to R. A. S. and S. A. 
(Reed) Williams. Mr. Williams is of Welsh descent; his father was born in Vir- 
ginia, his mother in New York; they now reside at Rossville, 111. In 1870, Mr. Will- 
iams began the railroad business, and learned telegraphy under J. W. Kishlar at 
Brookston, White County. In February, 1871, he became telegraph operator at 
San Pierre, Ind. ; shortly afterward he was promoted and given an office at La 
Crosse, Ind. ; later, he worked at Reynolds. In December, 1874, he came to Rem- 
ington and was appointed railway agent and telegraph operator by the Chicago, 
St. Louis & Pittsburgh Railway Co., which position he still holds. Mr. Williams 
was married, July 30, 1873, to Miss Emma Hiller, a native of Indianapolis, and 
daughter of John W. Hiller. They have four children— Willard E., Walter, Ernest 
and Bertha S. Mr. Williams is a tliorough Republican, and cast his first Presidential 
vote for U. S. Grant. He has been Clerk and Treasurer of Remington and is a pop- 
ular and influential citizen. 



JORDAN TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 549 



JORDAN TOWNSHIP. 

HENRY I. ADAMS was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1838, and is a son of 
Isaac and Ann (Idings) Adams, both natives of Jefferson County, Ohio (the former 
born May ,28, 1814, the latter January 3, 1818), who came to Miami County, this 
State, in 1844 ; there Mr. Adams bought sixti'-six acres, and paid therefor witli Blue 
Point money; several years later, he bought forty acres near by, all of which he 
sold in 1856 for |1,400, when he came to Marion Township, this county, and pur" 
chased 240 acres. Mr. Adams died in 1879, and Mrs. Adams in 1882, leaving the 
following family: Henry, Elizabeth, Sarah Ann, Joseph, William -E., Mary and 
Marion. Henry I. Adams was reared a farmer, educated at the common schools, 
and when sixteen years old engaged in teaching, which he followed for twelve win- 
ters. December 23, 1859, he married Sophia M. Beale. to which union were born 
six children — Clara D. (deceased), Florence (deceased), Francis, Judson L., Mary S. 
and Cecil E. Mrs. Adams died March 29, 1872. His second wife was Miss Ellen 
McCullough, by which marriage descended five children —William I., Kittie, Belle, 
Lou and Henry S. Mr. Adams enlisted in the Eighty-seventh Indiana Regiment in 
1862, and was discharged in 1863, by reason of illness. He was elected County 
Treasurer in 1876, and later appointed Postmaster, lie now owns 600 acres of land, 
and is a prominent citizen. 

BENJAMIN BARGER is the fourth of the eight children of Henry and Catha- 
rine (Kennedy) Barger, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. He was 
born in Lycoming County, Penn., November 4, 1845, and was reared and worked on 
the farm, with but small chance for schooling, until 1865, when he engaged as a 
farm hand at $20 per month, so continuing until 1873, when he came to this town- 
ship and purchased forty acres, and added forty acres after, making a comfortable 
home and good farm. Mr. Barger was married, January 26, 1871, to Anna, daugh- 
ter of Michael and Matilda (Arnold) Bowers, a native of Ohio. This union was 
crowned with three children — Nathan P., Benjamin H. and Frederick, all of whom 
are living. Mr. Barger is a hard-working and industrious man, and one who has 
merited the property and position he has acquired. 

JOHN L. BICKNELL is the ninth of thirteen children born to Lewis T. and 
Jane (Felse) Bicknell, natives of North Carolina, and of Scotch and English extrac- 
tion. The grandfather of John was a Revolutionary soldier seven years, and a 
portion of the time a cavalryman. After the war, he settled in North C'arolina as a 
farmer, where he died. Lewis T. Bicknell lived for a time in Rush Count}', Ind., 
and afterward came to Hancock County, where he remained until his death. John 
L. Bicknell was born in Wilkes County, N. C, April 7, 1S33, and reared on the home 
farm. When he wiis fifteen years of age, he learned the blacksmithing trade, at 
which he labored until 1876, when he engaged in farming, and has since followed 
that occupation, having now 100 acres in this county. Mr. Bicknell was married, 
September 6, 1859, to Rebecca A., a native of Indiana, and daughter of James V. 
and Elizabeth P. (Pritchett) Dutton. Nine children have blessed this union — 
James L., Ida May. John M., Louis B. (deceased). Frank A.. Willis E., Marion W., 
Bertha A. and Freeman O. Mr. Bicknell is a Freemason and a much respected 
citizen. 

ELLIOTT R. BURR, the youngest son of the family of Eli R. ^nd Susan 
(Monagle) Burr, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York, and of 
English and Irisii descent, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., August 2, 1842. 



550 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

He was reared on a farm, and after his father's early death was placed in care of an 
uncle. August 20, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth 
New York Volunteers, and served one year, after which he was discharged for rea- 
son of sickness. He was married, June 14, 1863, to Sarah J. Voorheis, of New 
York, daughter of John and Cynthia (Vanness) Voorheis. Soon after marriage, 
Mr. Burr moved to Michigan, where he engaged in coopering ; thence to Illinois, 
where he was Deputy Clerk of Jackson County. Afterward, he came to this town- 
ship, where he located on 190 acres, his present home. Mr. and Mrs. Burr have 
had seven children — Frederick R., Emma, Susan, Anna, Edwin, Cynthia and Willie. 
Mr. Burr is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Both he and wife are members of 
the Methodist Protestant Church, and workers for temperance and education. 

WILLIAM H. CAIN is the youngest of four children born to Thomas and 
Catherine (Omley) Cain, both natives of Ireland, and of Irish descent. Thomas 
Cain landed at New Orleans in August, 1853; thence going to St. Louis; thence to 
Illinois, and thence to Jordan Township, this county, March 17, 1869, where he pur- 
chased 160 acres and remained until his death, August 10, 1880. William H. Cain 
was born in Will County. 111., July 23, 1859, and was reared a farmer, and remained 
with his father until his majority, soon after which he married Barbara Ulm, a na- 
tive of Ohio, daughter of John and Eve (Eck) Ulm. Mr. Cain has continued as a 
farmer, and now has 160 acres of good and improved land, as well as an attractive 
home; he is also made happy with one child — William Edward, born May 30, 1883. 
Mr. and Mrs. Cain are members of the Catholic Church. 

JAMES V. BUTTON, the second of the five children of John and Martha 
(Cleaver) Button, was born in Warren County, Ohio, September 39, 1809; his father 
was a native of Virginia, his mother of Pennsylvania, and both of English descent. 
James V. Button was reared on the farm. Buring winter, he attended school, and 
acquired sufficient education to become a teacher, and he taught in Ohio and In- 
diana. Mr. Button was married, April 30, 1835, to Elizabeth Pritchett, a native of 
Delaware, and a daughter of Soloman and Sarah (Killon) Pritchett. This union 
was followed by nine children — Asa, Mary, Rebecca, Lydia, Sarah E., Harriet M., 
Isabel, John C. F. and Lilian. After his marriage, Mr. Button engaged in farming 
in Tippecanoe Count}^ Ind., where he resided until 1865, and was County Trustee 
for a period of thirty years. In that year, he moved to this county and purchased 
and settled on 360 acres, where he has made his home. He is an active Republican, 
and a liberal and benevolent citizen. Mr. Dutton was of service in raising soldiers 
during the war, and in caring for their families. 

JOSEPH EA^T was born in Garret County, Ky., March 10, 1810, and is one of 
the ten children of James and Lucy (English) East, natives of Virginia, and of 
Irish descent. Joseph East is a farmer, and has spent most of his time in this 
State. He was married, in Jackson County, Ind., November 9, 1834, to Olive, 
daughter of Ebenezer and Susanna (Buck) Neflf, a native of Washington County, 
N. Y. To this union have succeeded eleven children — Henry J., Margaret (now 
Mrs. Fuller), Elizabeth (deceased), Levi B., Susanna (deceased), Lewis (deceased), 
Isaac M., Mary E. (now Mrs. Ellis), John E., Catharine (now Mrs. Frasier), and 
Frank J. Mr. East came to this township in March, 1874, and purchased 160 
acres, on which the family is settled ; the farm contains many improvements, 
^and is an attractive home. Mr. East has acquired this desirable possession by 
his industry and economy; he is a Republican, but cast his first ballot for An- 
drew Jackson, in 1831. Frank J. East, Mr. East's youngest son, residing with his 
parents, was born in La Salle County, 111., June 36, 1856. He was reared on the 
farm, and married, November 39, 1876, to Emily R. Henderson, of this State, 
daughter of William C. and Jane (Woody) Henderson, also natives of Indiana. 
Mr. and Mrs. East have two children — Maudie Gertrude and William Roscoe. 



JORDAN TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 551 

ALBERT G. W. FARMElt is the tliiid of the eight children of Nimrod and 
Mary E (Smith) Fiirmor. tlie foniRT a native of Virginia, the latter of Tennessee, 
and of English dest-ent. Albert was born in Jefiferson County, Tenn., June 8, 1837; 
he wiis reared on the farm, and when eighteen came to Indiana with his uncle, and 
engaged as a farm hand, and afterward as a partner in land. During tliis time, he 
married Matilda, a native of AVayne County, Ind.. daughter of Alva and Mary 
(Lewis) Macy. Nine children were the consummation of this marriage — Macy A. 
(deceased), Charley E. (deceased). Clarence R. (deceased), Orpah, Mary E., Maliuda 
C, Albert C, Worth and Henry P. Mr. Farmer continued in agriculture until 
1865, when he came to his present location, and settled on forty acres near Good- 
land. ^Ir. Farmer is a Republican; he was Trustee of Milroy Township, and is now 
Justice of the Peace in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer are active religious 
persons, she of the Friends' Society, and he of the M. P. Churcli. of which he has 
been for s(!veral years local minister. 

EPHRAIM FLEMING was born in Licking County. Ohio, in May, 1829, and is 
the second of the eiglit cliildren of James and Sarah (Brigiit) Fleming, natives of 
Ohio, and of German and Englisli descent. In consequence of his father's death, 
Ephraim engaged as a farm liand for $10 per month. At the age of twenty-two 
years, he was married to Eliza Goodwin, a native of Ohio, daughter of Richard 
Goodwin. Four children bind their union —Ellen (deceased), Anthony, Franklin 
and Robert. Mrs. Fleming died soon after the birth of the last child — December 9, 
186U. October 13, 1861, Mr. Fleming enlisted in Company E, Forty-sixth Regiment 
Indiana Volunteers, but was discharged May 29, 1862, by reason of sickness, and 
was married shortly after to Pernine Reed, a native of Indiana, daughter of Josiah 
and Anna (Shoey) Reed. This union has been strengthened by seven children- 
Mary A. (deceased). Rosalie J., Andrew J., Cliarity M. (deceased), Arthur E., Ber- 
tha G. and James E. After farming in Newton County until 1870, Mr. Fleming 
came to tliis township and located on eighty acres near Rensselaer, which he has 
made his home and wiiich he has proudly earned. 

JOSEPH G. GALEY is the fourth of the six cliildren of Samuel and Matilda 
(Chamberlain) Galey, both natives of Kentucky, and of English and Irisii descent. 
Samuel Galey removed from Montgomerj' to Jasper County, Ind., in 1849, and was 
a pioneer of Jasper County, where he died in February, 1856. Joseph G. Galej' was 
born in Montgomery County, Ind., March 18, 1844, and was reared on a farm. After 
the death of his father, he commenced work for himself, receiving only his board 
and clothes; he afterward worked for $14 per month. At the blast of war, he 
enlisted in Company K, Forty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served thirty- 
eight months, and took part in the battles of luka, Corinth, Jackson, Champion 
Hills, the siege of Vicksburg, and Gen. Sherman's course to the sea. During this 
service, he was several times ill. but never received a wound. After his return, he 
resumed farming, and July 10, 1870. married Margaret German, daughter of Joshua 
and Sophia German, from which union sprang two children — Homer (deceased) 
and Nellie A. (born September 21, 1872). Mr. Galey has an improved farm of eighty 
acres and an attractive home, all the result of his labors. Mrs. Galey belongs to 
the M. E. Church. 

JOHN GUEST is the second of thirteen children born to Robert and Mary 
(Pxitchard) Guest, natives of Ireland, and of Welsh extraction. John was born in 
Roscommon County, Ireland, probably in June, 1827, and obtained his education in 
the main at the Protestant night scliools of his native country. At the age of thir- 
ty-seven, he arrived in Illinois, wiiere he remained until 1874, at which time he 
came to Indiana, and settled on 120 acres in this county, near Rensselaer, on which 
he is making his home. Mr. Guest was marriep, March 6, Wu. in Joliet. 111., to 

Fannie Sampey, born in Ireland February 1, 1H27, daughter of Thomas and Mary 

33 



562 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Sampey, natives of Ireland and of Welsh extraction. Their union has been made 
happy with two children — Robert J. (born November 15, 1871), and Thomas J. (born 
April 25, 1874). Mr. Guest has made for himself a home and friends by the labor 
of his hands and the goodness of his heart. 

CHARLES W. HARRIS is the only son of Rowland and Elizabeth (Pike) Har- 
ris, the former a native of North Carolina, the latter of Georgia; both of English 
descent. Rowland Harris settled in this township in 1866, and remained until his 
death, October 4, 1876. Charles W. Harris was born in Warren County, Ind., May 
20, 1855, and was reared to the ancient occupation of farming. He was married, 
October 10, 1878, to Laura J. Timmons, a native of this State, and daughter of Nel- 
son and Martha A. (Lamborn) Timmons. After his marriage, Mr. Timmons con- 
tinued to farm in this county — whither he had come with his father in 1865. He 
has ninety -four acres near Remington, which land is well-improved and productive; 
and he has, besides, a very pleasant home. Mr. Harris has earned this property, 
and it is a durable monument to his ambition and industrj'. 

STEARNS F. ILIFF, pioneer farmer, is the seventh of the family of William 
V. and Hannah (Morrison) Iliff, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of 
Pennsylvania, and of English and German descent. Our subject was born in Wa- 
bash County, Ind., August 30, 1836, and was brought up a farmer. After the death 
of his parents, and at the age of sixteen, he began work for himself as a farm hand, 
and later, made an investment in stock. In 1861, March 21, Mr. IlifE was married 
to Eleanor K., daughter of Cornelius and Jane V. (Kline) Hutton. Mrs. IlifE is a 
native of this State, and by this union mother of seven children — William C, John 
W., Harriet A., George K., Mary J., Charles E. and Lela Grace. Mr. IlifE contin- 
ued to farm successfully after his marriage. He now has 200 acres near Rens- 
selaer, with improvements on the land, and the comforts of home to make him pros- 
perous and happy. Mr. IliflE is a benevolent and respected man, and his wife is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

HENRY P. JONES, farmer, was born in Carnarvon County, Wales, April 24, 
1836, and is the son and youngest of eight children of Henry P. and Jane Jones, 
natives of Wales and of Welsh extraction. Our subject passed most of his boy- 
hood between the farm and the school, and when sixteen years of age emigrated to 
America. Visiting an only brother at Warren County, N. J., he worked there in a 
slate quarry, at $1.50 per day, for eight months, thence going to Vermont for 
twelve years, and thence to California. In 1871, he came to this township, where 
he is located on a good farm of 130 acres near Rensselaer. Mr. Jones has made this 
great possession, unaided, by his energy and care. In addition to general farming, 
he has a predilection for, and makes a specialty of fine horses, a fair supply of which 
he has always on hand. 

JAMES E. LAM SON is the third of four children born to Daniel and Mar- 
garet (Pogue) Lamson, natives of Indiana, and of German and English ex- 
traction. James E. Lamson was born in Howard County, Ind., August 3, 1849, 
and was reared to farming. His parents moved to this county in 1852, and located 
on 160 acres near Rensselaer, where he now lives, with all the improvements on the 
land, and comforts of life. Mr. Bamson was married, February 19, 1873. to Susan 
Blankenbaker, a native of Kentucky, daughtq,r of Michael and Elizabeth (Gates) 
Blankenbaker, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, and of German descent. Mrs. Lam- 
son died July 8, 1879, leaving one child— Harley, l)orn October 17, 1875; she was a 
member of the Lutheran Church. In July, 1881, Mr. Lamson manned Anna L. Mc- 
Coy, a native of Indiana, a prominent school teacher of Jasper County, and daugh- 
ter of Benjamin and Rachel (Henderson) McCoy, natives of Maine and Pennsylva- 
nia, and of Scotch-Irish descent, ^o this union has been born one child — Hazel M., 
born March 27, 1882. 



JORDAN TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 553 

JOHN LEWIS, a pioneer fainiLT, is thefiftli of nine children born to Calel) and 
Susanna (Cook) Lewis; the former a native of South Carolina, the latter of North 
Carolina, and of Welsh descent. John was born in Clinton County, Ohio, Septem- 
ber 15, 1813, and was reared as a farmer by his father, with whom he came to War- 
ren County, Ind., in 1834, and located near Pine Village, where he was married, De- 
cember 28, 1836, to Sarah Beard, a native of North Carolina, daughter of William 
and Rachel (Pearson) Beard. Mr. Lewis engaged in farming in Union County for 
fourteen years, and after manj-- removals came to this township and purchased 100 
acres, to which he has since added 103, making 203 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have 
had five children— Semira (decea.sed), Telemachus (deceased), Armand, Marcus G. 
and Ida Sadora (deceased). Mr. Lewis is a Republican of the abolition school. He 
has served three successive terms as Justice of the Peace, and he and wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and urgent temperance workers; for the 
past seven years Mr. Lewis has acted as a local preacher. 

JONATHAN LEWIS was born in Morgan County, Ohio, May 10. 1843, and 
is the second of the nine children of Valentine and Catharine (Grimes) Lewis, na- 
tives of Ohio, and of German and English descent. He was brought up to follow 
the plow, but was aroused by war, and, November 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company 
D, Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteers, afterward transferred to Twenty-eighth Illi- 
nois Regiment, served through the war, and participated in the engagements of Bull 
Run, Pittsburg Landing, Port Donelson, Vicksburg, Corinth, Missionary Ridge and 
Lookout Mountain, where he was captured, and afterward sent to Andersonville for 
nine months. He was one of a party who escaped by digging, and were tracked by 
bloodhounds an<l retaken after five days. Pie was afterward with Gen. Sherman on 
his march through Georgia. At Shiloh, he received six flesh wounds, and lost the 
fibula by a bullet. After his discharge, July 21, 1865, he resumed his trade of black, 
smith, and September 21, 1867, married p]lizabelh Ann, daughter of Alexander and 
Margaret (Shaw) Littlefield. Six children bind their union— Elnora E., Frances O., 
James W., Edith M., Margaret F. and Orsa. Mr. Lewis is a Republican and gave 
his first vote for ^Ir. Lincoln in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the 
United Brethren Church; they came to this county in 1870. 

JOSEPH McCART is the second in the family of four children Ijorn to 
Benjamin and Rebecca McCart; the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of 
Ohio, and of English extraction. Joseph McC'art is a native of Buchanan County, 
Mo., and was born January 19, 1857. He was reared in the city of St. Joseph, and 
came to this township and county in 1878, where he is now settled and engaged 
prosperously in farming. Mr. McCart was married, November 23, 1S79. to Ida 
Michals, a native of this State, and daughter of Jonathan and Susannah (Rhow) 
Michals, natives of Ohio, and of German and English descent. This union has been 
made happy with one child, Arthur Benjamin, born May 23, 1881. Mr. McCart is 
an enterprising, energetic young farmer, with a good record and a clear future. 

EUGENPj PARK is the third fif six children born to Philander and Amelia 
(Searls) Park, natives of New York, and of English descent. Our sul)ject is a 
native of Franklin County, Ohio, born September 8, 1842, and was reared to farm- 
ing. May 20, 1H()3, he enlisted in Company F, Forty-third Ohio Volunteers, served 
nine months, and participated at Bermuda Hvmdred and Petersl)urg, and was dis- 
charged February, 1864. He was nuirried, Jaiui.iry 1. 186!), to Margaret Mackalpin, 
daughter of Dr. P. S. and C'atharine Anch'rson. Three children bind this union- 
Jessie, May and Riibie. After marriage, Mr. Park moved to Newton (bounty, and 
purchased 400 acres, where he remained five years. This he sold, came to this 
township, and boughi 450 acres near Fordsman Station, and here he has a good 
farm and all (conveniences and comforts. Mr. fark is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and an active Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. 



554 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

He can say that he has earned all he possesses. Mrs. Park is a member of the M. E. 
Church. 

LYMON RAYMOND is the third of four children comprising the family of 
Reuben and Caroline (Lord) Raymond, both natives of Wisconsin, and of English 
and Irish extraction. Lymon Raymond was born in Grundy County, 111., May 27, 
1852, and reared to the plow as a livelihood. In the winter, however, he went to 
school and so obtained a fair education. He remained with his parents, sharing in 
the labor of the farm, until November 2, 1875, when he was married to Nellie, 
daughter of Morris and Julia Gorman, natives of Ireland, and of Irish descent. 
Two children bind this union — Hattie, born January 6, 1878. and Carl, boru June 
11, 1882. Mr. Raymond has a good farm of 100 acres, near Goodland, containing 
many improvements and making an ideal home. He is a stanch Republican, and 
gave his first vote for Gen. U. S. Grant, in 1872. 

JOHN REED, farmer, is the eldest of eleven children of the family of Michael 
and Mary (Cary) Reed, natives of Ireland and of Irish descent. John is also a na- 
tive of Ireland, and was born June 24, 1827. He was brought up a farmer. In 
1863, he emigrated to America, remained in New York one month and moved to 
Illinois, where he worked as a mason for eight years. He thence moved to Benton 
County, Ind., in 1872, and there remained five years, whereupon he came to this 
townsliip and purchased 200 acres, on which he is now a resident. His land is 
fairly improved, and his home is comfortable. September 7, 1857, Mr. Reed wedded 
Mary, daughter of Patrick and Catharine Bray, natives of Ireland. This marriage 
was crowned with eight children — Michael, Mary (now Mrs. Cacy), John, Ann (de- 
ceased), Catharine (deceased), Thomas, Bridget (deceased) and William. Mr. Reed 
has acquired his property by industry and care, and deserves the commendation of 
his friends. Both lie and wife are members of the Catholic Church. 

JOHN ROADIFER is the fifth of the seven children descended from Daniel 
and Rhoda (Huff) Roadifer, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Ohio, 
and of German and English descent. John Roadifer was born in Fairfield County, 
Ohio, August 18, 1845. He was reared a farmer, but during winter attended school 
and obtained sufficient education to enable him to become a teacher, which voca- 
tion he followed in Indiana and Illinois. He afterward engaged in farming and 
breaking prairie. He thus, and by other work, economised sufficient means to 
purchase eighty acres, near Goodland, where he now lives, and has a good farm 
and comfortable home. This property and the position Mr. Roadifer has in life 
were attained by his own efforts, unaided, and his future is clear and promising. 

HENRY WELSH was born in Adams County, Ohio, June 10, 1829. He is the 
second of the five children of Benjamin and Mary (Moore) Welsh, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and Virginia respectively, and of Irish descent. In company with his 
father, Henry came to this township in 1840, where they erected a cabin and where 
he has since resided. In 1852, May 13, our subject was married to Sarah Ann, 
daughter of Ira and Elizabeth (Darling) Baker. This union gave issue to ten chil- 
dren — Frank M., Benjamin A., Mary E. (now Goodrich), Ira L., Agnes A., Jose- 
phine (now Bullis), Robert E., Ella, Grace G. and Jersey. Mr. Welsh is located on 
320 acres near Rensselaer. He has a well-improved farm and a pleasant home. Mr. 
Welsh is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity and of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He is fortunate in the many blessings and comforts which surround him. 

ALLEN J. YEOMAN, the second of the five children of Levi and Eliza J. 
(White) Yeoman, natives of Ohio, and of English and German extraction, was born 
in Fayette County, Ohio, September 3, 1841. He was reared to the farm, working 
in summer and going to school in winter. Owing to his mother's death, he went to 
live with an uncle in Jasper County, in 1854, in which county he has since resided. 
He was married, November 22, 1865, to Lydia A. Shull, a native of Indiana, daugh- 



MILROY TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTV. 555 

tcr of Jonathan and Patsey (York) Shull, a union crowned by three children— Ed- 
ward E., Albertie and Charles M. After his marriage, Mr. Yeoman farmed, and 
has now 500 acres near Renssclaeri he also deals in and ships considerable stock. 
In 18«n, he enlisted in Company II, Fifteenth Indiana Volunteers, and served 
through the war. participating at Shiloh, Corinth, IVrryville, Stone Kiver. Chicka- 
mauga, ]^Iissionary Ridire and Gen. Wilson's raid, in which Mr. Yeoman was severely 
wounded in the right lung, for which he was treated at a private dwelling in Selma. 
He Wiis discharged xVugust 8, 18().5. Mr. Yecmian is an Odd Fellow and a Repub- 
lican, and has served two suc':'essive terms as Sheriff of Jasper County, to the 
second being elected without opposition. He is now holding his second term as 
Trustee of Jordan Township. 



MILROY TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM H. BEAVER is the eldest of seven children born to Luke and 
Sarah (Owens) Beaver, the former a native of Ohio, and of Irish descent. Our sub- 
ject first saw the light in Marion County. Ind., January 10. 1840. He was brought 
up on a farm, and attended school somewhat in the winter. In the time of the war, 
November, 1808. he enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regi- 
ment, Twelfth Cavalry, and served twenty-three months, during which he took part 
in the battles of Stone River. Mobile, Spanish Fort, and all through the Mobile cam- 
paign. He was discharged November 23. 1865. and some time after, ]\j;arch 27, 
1867, married Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Sarah E. (Fisher) Owens, and a 
native of this State. After his marriage, Mr. Beaver commenced farming in this 
county, which he has made his home, and is located near Wolcott Post Office. Mr. 
and Mrs. Beaver are parents of seven children— Martha J., Charles W., Matilda E., 
Albert A.. Lewis M., George W. and Jacob B. Mr. Beaver is a strong advocate of 
the Democracy. 

JOHN G. BRADDOCK is the third of three children Jiorn to Moses and Sarah 
(Longdon) Braddock. natives of Pennsylvania, and of Welsh descent. Our subject 
was born December 15, 1822, and was brought up to the business of farming. In 
1833, he moved with his father to Hancock County, Ind. At the age of eighteen, 
he began the course of life on his own account, working as a farm hand for iflO 
per month: this he continued until September, 1842. when he married Mary, daugh- 
ter of John and Catharine (Camrey) Jones, a native of this State, who died July 
23. 1853. leaving three children— Mary G., Nancy and William Henry. March 21, 
1854. Mr. Braddock married Elizabeth Jones, sister of his deceased wife, by wliieh 
union resulted six children- Sarah J.. Mrs. McColly; John M., a student at Asliury 
Univer-sity; Rose Althie. Mrs. Price; Nettie V., Mrs. McCoy; Oliver P. L. and 
Maggie M. In 1857, Mr. Braddock came to this county and located on eighty ;i(re3 
of his present home. He is a Repultlican. and he and wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

PETJ:R FOULKS was born in Covington. Ky., December 25, 1829, and is a son 
of Richard and Nancy (Ellis) Foulks, the former a native of Georgia, the latter of 
New York, and of German and English descent. Richard Foulks was a soldier of 
the war of 1812, and assisted at Perry's victory on Lake Erie. After the war, 
he settled in Ohio, near Cincinnati, and after the death of his wife removed to this 
county, wliere he died August 15, IS.54. Peter began work at an early age. After 
reaching maturity, he learned carpentering, and on September 25». 1H54. nuirried 
Louisa J., daughter of Riley C. and Catharine (Coghill) Meadors; the former was 



556 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

^ pioneer of Montgomery County, but came ,to this county in 1842, and died Janu- 
ary 27, 1854. Mr. Foulks is located on 120 acres, and has a good fami and a pleas- 
ant home. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
parents of five children — Josephine, deceased; Richard E., George W., Lacie and 
EflSe A. Mr. Foulks is an active Republican, thougli his first vote was given to 
Franklin Pierce in 1852. He has served two terms as Trustee of this township, of 
which he was one of the organizers. 

THOMAS W. ILIFF is the youngest of the nine children of James and Sarah 
(Hill) Iliff, the former born in 1776, a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of North 
Carolina, and of English descent. Thomas first saw the light in Greene County, 
Ohio, April 13, 1820, was reared by agriculture, and began life for himself as a farm 
hand, when fourteen years of age, at $10 per month. December 19, 1843, he mar- 
ried Lydia, daughter of Upton and Mary (Cravens) Evans, a native of Ohio. Suc- 
ceeding his marriage, Mr. Iliff farmed in Randolph and White Counties, Ind., and 
came to this township in September, 1867, and located on his present farm and 
home. Mr. and Mrs. Iliff are parents of nine children — Hester Ann, deceased; 
Mary E., now Mrs. Woosley; John F., Dorothy E., deceased; Elmira, deceased; 
Minerva, now Mrs. Wood; Lydia, now Mrs. Phillips; Bertha A., deceased, and 
Bryam. Mr. and Mrs. Iliff are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
benevolent toward all worthy enterprises. 

JA(-OB JOHNS is the fourth of the seven children of Robert and Betsey 
(Boosenborg) Johns, natives of Indiana. He first saw the light in Boone County, 
Ind., January 24, 1836, and was reared to labor and on a farm. He worked for his 
parents until 1858, at which period he married Elizabeth Umphris, a native of In- 
diana, after which event he continued farm work until September, 1862, when he 
enlisted in Company E, Fifty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, served about 
sixteen months and took part in the engagements of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, 
Grand Gulf and Big Black River. He was discharged at New Orleans in Decem- 
ber, 1863, and immediately resumed farming in Boone County. In 1870, he came 
to this township and purchased fifty acres, on which he has since made his home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johns are the parents of five children — Martha J. (Mrs. Benson), 
Emma Bell, Charles Anderson, Rolla and Lilly L. Mr. Johns has acquired his 
home and property solely by his earnest efforts and continued industry, which is 
one of tiie few things of which a man may be laudably proud. 

WILLIAM C. McCORD is the sixth of the eight children of James and Leah 
(Rhiver) McCord, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. Will- 
iam came to the world in Decatur County, Ind., September 6, 1845, and was to the 
manner born a farmer. He assisted his father until his majority, after which, No- 
vember 25, 1868, he was married to Clara A. Cosier, a native of this State, and 
daughter of William H. and Elizabeth (Ender) Cosier, the former a native of Ohio, 
the latter of Kentucky, and both of German descent. The union of Mr. and Mrs. 
McCord was productive of four children — James F., William O., Ira D. and Milton 
N. In 1809, Mr. McCord came to this county, where he has made a good farm and 
comfortable home. He is an urgent Democrat, for which party he has held several 
offices of honor and trust, and is at this time Township Trustee. Mrs. McCord is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and both are liberal contributors to 
every good cause. 



NEWTON TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 557 



NEWTON TOWNSHIP. 

CHARLES R. BENJAMIN is a native of Fayette County, Ohio, was born in 
1840, and is a son of Rial Benjamin, one of the first pioneers of this county. Our 
subject enlisted during the hvte war, and served three years in the Forty-eighth 
Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantr3'(Col. Eddy). He was at the siege of Corinth, 
the battle of luka and Champion Hill, in the Vicksburg campaign, in the heroic 
march with Gen. Sherman through the State of Georgia, and was once wounded. 
In 1868, Mr. Benjamin married Miss Letitia, daughter of Micah and Hannah Say- 
ler, and a native of Marion County, born in 1847. The result of their union was 
two children — Maud and Ray. Mr. Benjamin has a good farm, numbering 180 
acres, and a comfortable home. He is an esteemed citizen. 

JARED BENJAMIN was born October 10, 1820, in Fayette County, Ohio; his 
father, also Jared Benjamin, was born in Connecticut, February 16, 1782, and was 
reared, educated and afterward married, in Tompkins County, N. Y., to Miss Mary 
Hemingway, bj' which union they had five children. After Mrs. Benjamin's 
death, Mr. Benjamin married Mary, daughter of Stephen and Abigail (Fountain) 
Yeoman. This union also gave issue to five children. Jared was married, Septem- 
ber 10, 1848. to Lettie, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Web.ster) Halstead. They 
had the following children: Teresa, born June 17, 1849; Mary, born August 6, 1850; 
Martha, born March 13, 1852, and Clarissa, born August 8, 1858. Of these, Mary 
and Clarissa died in 1858; Teresa married John Martindale and had two children — 
Jared and Nina. Mr. Benjamin is one of the earliest settlers of the county, having 
come hither in 1838, and located on land vacated by the Indians, and on which are 
yet many traces of that people. He began life a poor boy, but has acquired a good 
farm and home and is an esteemed citizen. The grandfather of our subject, Stephen 
Yeoman, was a soldier and liero of the Revolutionary war; he was an unyielding 
Whig, and intensely hated by the Tories for his fealty to the Colonial Government. 
On one occasion, he was visited by a band of about ten Tories, who, finding him at 
the plow, took him to a tree for the purpo.se of hanging him, but, upon consulta- 
tion, they agreed to lash him instead, and, having fastened him by his plow lines, 
each one then inflicted thirty lashes by means of straps, and fied. He was found 
bleeding and nearly insensible, from which horrible cruelty he never fully recovered. 
May his reward be as great as his glory is imperishable ! 

A. J. FREELAND was born in Baltimore County, Md., in 1800. His father 
died when he wa.s four years old, after which he was brought up by an uncle, and 
also reared a farmer; he was married thereto Nancy Tracy, and after they had three 
children born to them, he emigrated by horse to Crawford County, Ohio, whence he 
-came to Jasper County, Ind., and settled on 160 acres in Section 17, where he still 
resides, at the age of eighty-three, in mental and physical vigor, and in the highcit 
esteem of his friends and neighbors. Mr. Freeland has reared the following fam- 
ily: Sarah Ann, (Charlie, John. Mary, Andrew J., Eliza J., Rachel H. and Wesley. 
After the death of his first wife, ho married Polly Bond; his son Jackson was mar- 
ried to Josephine, daughter of Jacob Sayler, an old settler of this State, from which 
union sprang two children — Marion and Annie. 

L. W. IIENKLE was born near Springfield, Ohio, December 3, 1818. His 
•father, Joel Heiikle, was born on the North and his mother on the South Fork of the 
Potomac River, Va. They emigrated to Ohio in 1H06, where Mr. Henkle purchased 
Bonie military land. His family consisted of Rebecca, Henry V., Elizabeth, James 



558 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

S., L. W. and Margaret. Our subject's parents were swept away in 1848 by cholera, 
which threw him upon the world. His good grandmother gave him a puny colt, 
which he nursed into restoration, to her great astonishment, and on which he rode 
to Indiana. He also exchanged a pocket comb and twenty-five cents for a fine 
brood sow, and thus he started out to success. He first came to La Fayette and af- 
terward to this county, in 1841, where he superintended some business for an uncle 
for a year, and thereafter purchased a portion of land. In 1842, Mr. Henkle mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of James and Nancy (Hunt) Griffith, who died in 1850, leaving 
the following children: Eliza J., Emily, Sarah and Luther G. Afterward, Mr. 
Henkle married Lucinda C, daughter of Henry Russel, of White County. This 
union gave issue to eleven children— Mary A., Henry C, Martha, Anna, William, 
Bruce, Charles V., Alice, Horace R., Harvey M. and Lemuel W. Mr. Henkle was 
elected County Treasurer in 1870, and served two years most satisfactorily. He is 
an Odd Fellow, a Republican, and was active in war affairs during the late struggle. 

JOHN C. KENTON (deceased) was born in Kentucky in 1808. His father. 
Philip Kenton, was a native of Virginia, and removed to Kentucky in company with 
Simon P. Kenton, the renowned Indian fighter. Philip Kenton and his son, John 
C, came to Urbana, Ohio, and bought a section of land, but later removed to the 
Blue Licks, where the former died. John C. Kenton came to this county in 1843, 
and purchased 200 acres of land. While in Champaign County, Ohio, he kept the 
poor house and worked at his trade of shoe-making. Mr. Kenton was father of the 
following children: Edmund, Philip C. (killed by the explosion of a steamboat 
while homeward bound from California), Barbara A., Fannie, Simon, William, 
Cynthia A., Jasper and Mary Jane. John C. Kenton was a successful man in every 
line of his effort, and as a reward of his industry and integrity left a fine estate to 
his family. He was genial, liberal and just, and had many friends. Indeed, the 
whole Kenton family were well known and esteemed. 

Simon Kenton was born in Ohio in 1836, and in 1859 married to Josephine 
Spry, daughter of Samuel and Peggy (McGill) Spry, old settlers of Champaign 
County, Ohio. Their union was honored by eight children— Alda, Emma, Edmond, 
Milon, Omer. and three infants, deceased. 

Jasper Kenton was born in this county in 1846, and resides on his father's old 
farm. In 1873, he married Miss Mary Catharine Wilcox, to which union have been 
bestowed three children— Maggie, John Stewart and Charlie. Mr. Kenton owna 
240 acres of fine land, besides 200 of timber. 

LUCIUS STRONG was born in Marion County, Ohio, September 21, 1886, and 
is a son of Horace and Abigail (Williams) Strong, natives respectively of Vermont 
and New Jersey. The grandparents of our subject, Daniel and Hannah Strong, 
emigrated to Ohio about 1802; they were parents of seven children. Horace Strong 
entered land a few miles north of Rensselaer. Lucius Strong married, in 1868, Miss 
Clara, daughter of Joshua and Sophia (Lyons) Ponsler, and born October 29, 1849. 
Her brother John settled on Iroquois River, and was once captured by the Indians. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Strong have one child— Ada, born November 11, 1872. Mr. 
Strong was elected Township Trustee in 1870, continued six years and re-elected in 
1880. He has a fine farm of 700 acres; is a man of integrity and character, and 
highly esteemed by all. 

GEORGE R. THORNTON was born in Ohio in 1821, where he was reared to 
manhood. His father was born in Massachusetts, served as a Corporal under Gen. 
Washington, and was detached as a wagoner. He lived in Vermont, and was there 
married to Miss Mercy Goodell: they were afterward early settlers of Ohio, having 
emigrated in 1816; his son Solomon, who died in 1882, in tliis county, was likewise 
an old settler. Our subject, in 1842, married Mary Roberts, formerly of New York, 
who died about 1855, leaving five children— Mary, Melvina, Jerome, Greenleaf and 



NEWTON TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 559 

Margaret. Mr. Thorn ton afterward married, in 1859, Louisa Blankonbaker, whose par- 
ents removed from Virginia to this county many years ago. To this union succeed- 
ed eight children— Mary, Samuel, Jane, Maggie, Sherman, Delia. Clinton and Henry 
V. Mr. Thornton commenced life poor, having borrowed $•"> \v)th which to be 
married. In 1842, he came to this county and did various work and entered fortj-^ 
acres, to which he added until he now has a half section of land and indulges a 
predilection for stock-raising. He was elected Town.ship Trustee in 1855. 

STP]PIIEN YEOMAN was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., in 1801, and 
moved with his parents to Fayette County, Ohio, where he afterward purchased 200 
acres of land, and in 1844 removed to this county; he died September 9, 1845; his 
wife, Hannah Smith,was born in Berkeley County, W. Va.,in 1803, whence she moved 
to Fayette County with a sister, and married July 28, 1825. They reared the follow' 
ing children: Joseph, Sarah (deceased), Elvina, James, Mary, Minerva, Elizabeth, 
John, Ira and Stephen. The first. Joseph, was born September 2, 1826, and married 
in 1852, Rachel A., daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (McKinley) Moore, early set- 
tlers in this State. By this union descended Robert J., born November 2, 1853; 
Marietta E., born in 1857; Mary E., born in 1863, and Reuben C, born in 1876. The 
second, Sarah (deceased), was born July 2, 1827. The third, Elvina, born Septem- 
ber 3, 1830. The fourth, James, born September 20. 1832, married Miss Phebe Ben- 
jamin, and had five children — David, Eftie M., Charles R., A. J. and James AI. The 
fifth, Mary, born October 18, 1834, married Hugh Coen. The sixth, Minerva, born 
August 2, 1836, married W. Hopkins. The seventh. Elizabeth, born September, 
1888, married Lewis Sajier. The eighth, John, born October 20, 1840, married Ab- 
bie Sayler. The ninth, Ira, born April 28, 1843, married Hattie Sayers. The tenth, 
Stephen, born October 4, 1845, married Nancy Jane Walker. The Yeoman family 
came hither poor, but have, by diligence, economy and tact, become wealthy; they 
are also influential and respected citizens. James Yeoman also deals in stock, and 
has been Justice of the Peace of Newton Township; he owns a fine farm, as does 
likewise his brother Joseph. 

SAMUEL E. YEOMAN was born in this county in 1839; his father, Jared Yeo- 
man, was born in New York in 1813; later his parents moved to Faj'ctte County, 
Ohio, where he was reared a farmer. In 1836, he married Miss Marj', daughter of 
Samuel Edwards, a native of Maryland, by which union they had the following 
family: Ira, killed at Nashville during the war, while e.Kchanging papers with the 
rebels; he was first a member of Company B, Fifty-first, and next of Company A, 
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantrj': Samuel E., also in the 
Fifty-first Regiment as a fifer: Asa, of the Ninety-ninth Regiment, died after the 
siege of Vicksburg; and Alva, a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth 
Regiment, who served three years. In 1838, Jared Yeoman, in company with 
Jared Benjamin, came to this county and purchased land six miles north of Rens- 
selaer, whence, in 1850, he removed to Newton County, and finally to Missouri, where 
he died in 1876; Mrs. B. died in 1H72. Samuel E. Yeoman married, in 1863, Miss 
Nancy, daughter of John G. and Mary C. (Jones) Braddock, and a native of Han- 
cock County, Ind., born in 1844; this family are descended from Gen. Braddock, of 
Revolutionary fame. Mr. Braddock came hither in 1856. Mr. Yeoman is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, a strong advocate for universal education, a Repub- 
lican and a respected citizen. 



560 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 



HANGING GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

TURNER ALLEN KNOX was born in North Carolina August 26, 1809; was 
brought to Washington County, Penn., before he was two years old; worked at 
farming until he wag seventeen, from which time until he was twenty-three, he 
worked at house painting in the city of Pittsburgh. He moved to Rush County, 
Ind., in 1833; taught a few terms of school, was elected Probate Judge of that 
county in 1836, and was made Postmaster at Rushville the same year. In 1837, he 
married Maria Bussell; moved to Jasper County, Ind., iu 1843; practiced medicine 
from 1845 to 1855; was elected Auditor of Jasper County, and served till 1859, since 
which time he has not been capable of much labor; he also filled the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace for nearly fourteen years, and is now Justice of the Peace in Hang- 
ing Grove Township, He left home when a small boy, educated himself, having 
learned Latin and German by himself, and has been successful in life. He is a fine 
converisationalist, has a well-stored mind, and is practical in all his business dealings. 

JAMEto LEFFLER is a native of Jasper County, born iu 1852, and is a son of Mi- 
chael and Jane Ann (Overton) Leffler. Michael Leffler was born in Washington 
County, Penn., in 1812. When a boy, he removed with his parents to Rush County, 
lud., wliere his father purchased 160 acres, on which he was reared. Here he labored 
until about 1836, when he married Jane Ann, daughter of Gad and Nancy (Gilmore) 
Overton, and born in Kentucky in 1814. After marriage, Mr. Leflier farmed in Rush 
County until 1839, when he removed to Jasper County, and settled where his father 
had entered 300 acres, eighty of which he was to have on payment therefor. This 
he did without assistance, besides adding eight}' thereto, and made a good farm and 
comfortable home. He was a man of the strictest integrity and purest Christian 
character; he died in 1876, leaving a devoted wife and eleven children — John B., 
Reuben, Elizabeth, Michael, Margaret, Elmira C, Jane Ann, James, Kansas, Henri- 
etta and Mary Ann. James Leffler married Miss Lucy, born in March, 1851, daugh- 
ter of John and Catharine (Martin) Lashbaugh, with an issue of two children — 
Leonard L. and Robert J. 

JOHN B. LEFFLER is a native of Rush County, Ind., born in 1837. In 1861, 
he married Miss Sarah L., daughter of Caspar II. and Ann (Stokes) Garrigus, both 
natives of Philadelphia. Mrs. Leffier died in 1879, leaving the following family: 
H. Marshall, Eliza A., Michael A., Esther and Israel. 

W. E. MOORE was born in Randolph County, Ind., January 8, 1827, and is a 
son of William and Jincy (Minter) Moore, both natives of Virginia, the former born 
in 1796 and the latter in 1797. William Moore moved to Ohio about 1817. He 
intended buying land there, but not being satisfied with the title, he came to 
Indiana and bought 200 acres of choice land on White River, in Randolph 
County. They resided in the county about forty years, and died in 1857 
and 1867 respectively. They had the "following children: Elizabeth, Susan, 
Samuel W.,W. E., Nancy, Silas, Eliza, Cyrus S. and Rebecca. W. E. Moore was 
reared to farming, and in 1847 married Miss Diana Evans, a daughter of John 
and Judith (Jones) Evans, and born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1825. This union 
was bles.sed with the following children: Franklin C, Melissa J., Melvina C, Mary 
E., Austin R., William J. and Martha A. Mrs. Moore's parents had the following 
children: Jesse, Nancy, John, Reuben, Zena, Mary A.. Dinah and Ira. Mr. Moore 
came here in the year 1853, with scarcely any means; he bought 200 acres, which he 
improved, and now has a fine farm; he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1855, and 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



HANGING GROVE TOWNSHIP — JASPHH COLNTY. 561 

SAMUEL PARKER, farmer, is u native of Virginia, and was born in 1819; his 
parents were George and Susanna (Martin) Parker, both natives of Virginia. After 
his father's death, his mother re-married, and Samuel came w^ith her and hu.sband 
to tlie West, and one year thereafter, being fifteen years of age, he began to work 
for liimself. After ten years" liard labor, he saved a small amount of money, which 
he invested in land in Jasper (bounty, which was then a wild, but where he now 
possesses 740 acres of choice land. He afterward married Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
of Isaac and Catherine (Bateman) Evans, to which union were born eight children 
— Alma, Isaac. Felix. Albert, Jacob. Ida, George and Samuel. Two j^ears following 
his marriage, Mr. Parker removed to tliis county, erected a cabin and occupied his 
land; his cabin had one door and two windows, looking north and south, and in 
which they lived for fifteen years. Mr. Parker is now one of the most su))stantial 
farmers of the county. 

ISAAC PARKER was born in Virginia in 1824. AVhen ten years old, he emi- 
grated with his nrother to the West, and worked at farming during youth and early 
manhood. In 1848, he moved to this county, where, in 1849, lie purchased his first 
160 acres, and the same year emigrated to California, whence he returned in 1853, 
having in the meantime worked in the mines there, and received for the first month's 
service ^400. After his return, he worked a threshing-machine, and in IH')') married 
Rudia Moor, who died in 1864; he afterward married Miss Isabel, daughter of John 
and Matilda (Kenton) Parkison, and born in this county in 1842. This union was 
crowned with five children— William R.. Isaac, Susanna, Charles and Thomas M. 
Mr. Parker is now the po.ssessor of 1,640 acres of land, all earned by his labor 
and thrift. He is an enterprising, honorable man, one of the leading farmers of his 
county, and prominent in the advocacy of educational and public affairs. 

FLEMING PHILLIPS was born in Rush County, Ind., in 182."), where he was 
reared and obtained some schooling. His parents were John S. and Sarah (Webb) 
Phillips, natives of Virginia, the former born in 1796, the latter in 1798. Both re- 
moved to Preble Count}'. Ohio, married, and reared ten children. They afterward 
removed to Rush County. Ind., where they purchased and improved land. This 
they sold, came to this county and purchased 240 acres, where Mr. Phillips died in 
1879, and Mrs. Phillips in 1872; the former was a soldier of 1812, and was ten times 
elected Sheriff, during which our subject was his deputy. The grandfather and 
granduncie of Fleming were soldiers of the Revolution, the latter being a Captain. 
Fleming Phillips removed to this county with his parents in 1844, where he married 
Ruth A., daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Hale) Grant, natives of Virginia. From 
this union descended two children — George and Kansas. Mr. Phillips came hither 
a poor man, but has acquired a good farm of 173 acies. He was Postmaster in 
1868, and is a member of the Christian Church. 

WILLIAM II. RANDLE. son of Thomas and Xancy (Culp) Randle, was born 
in Jasper County. Ind., in 1H39, and reared to farming, whidi has since been his 
business, in connection with stock-raising. Having to work hard during his boy- 
hood, he had but meager opportunities for accpiiring a school education. In 1858, 
he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Cyrus and Margaret (Parker) Stires, and born 
in Rush County, Ind., in lH4t». Tiiis union was favored with si.x children — Melissa, 
Nora. Nancy, Frank, Alfred and Charlie. The father of Mrs. Randle was widely 
and estimably known— a man jjcrhaps .without an enemy. He died from causes en- 
gendered by exposure during tin; last war, in carrying provisions to the soldiers. 
North Parker, grandfather of Mrs. Randle. was once made captive !)y the Indians in 
Kentucky. William H. Randle was a renter of land for a long time, and sixteen 
years ago made his first purchase of forty acres, which niunber has since grown to 
be 340 acres of dcsirai)le farm land. Mr. Randle is an esteemed neighbor and citizen. 

THOMAS SMITH was born in Montgomery County, Ind.. in 1S29, and is a son 
of James and Catharine (Coghill) Smitli, both natives of Kentucky, and who moved 



562 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 

to Jefferson County with their parents in the pioneer days, where they resided for 
seven years before moving to Montgomery County, where they were married about 
1827, with a result of two children — Thomas and James W. (once a resident of Mil- 
roy Township). Mr. Smith carried on 'blacksmithing tive miles northeast of 
Crawfordsville. Thomas Smith married in 1861 Miss Mary, daughter of Elijah and 
Sarah (Williams) Culp, both of whom were early settlers of this county. Mrs. Smith 
was born February 11, 1839, and has been honored as the mother of a verj' interest- 
ing family. Mr. Smith began life with the slenderest means, but now is the 
owner of 138 acres — all the result of his industry and thrift. He is a great believer 
in and advocate for education. 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



JOHN E. ALTER, farmer, was born February 14, 1853, in this county, and is 
the first of the six children of Isaac and Eliza (Willet) Alter, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania, the latter of Michigan, who came to this county in the early day.s of 
emigration. At the age of eighteen, John applied himself to the acquirement of 
knowledge, in which he made so rapid a stride that he soon received a teacher's cer- 
tificate, after which he taught several terms, and attended the State Normal School 
at Terre Haute. He now teaches during the winter and oversees his farm during 
the summer, which he has continued five years. August 16, 1873, he married Hat 
tie McColly, the result of which alliance has been four children — Harry Enow, de 
ceased; Ira L., John C. and Charles L. Mr. Alter is a Republican, and an active 
worker in that party, by which he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1876, and 
served for four years; he was afterward candidate for Trustee, but there being a tie 
vote, the board cast lots, his opponent thus receiving the office. Mr. and Mrs. 
Alter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JOHN CARLIN, farmer, was born in Scotland June 11, 1848, and is the second 
of the ten children of Bernard and Bridget (Pullen) Carlin, of Irish descent. In 
company with his parents, John came to this countryin 1851, located in Illinois, and 
remained until the death of his father, after which event the family removed to 
Pennsylvania, In 1868, in company with his mother and stepfather, our subject 
came to this county and made a home. November 25, 1879, he married Elizabeth 
Brushnahn. This union was blessed with one bright, beautiful child, Agnes. Mr. 
and Mrs. Carlin are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Carlin is a Democrat 
and an energetic, prosperous farmer, and one of the promising men of Union 
Township. 

STEPHEN T. CONNER was born February 15, 1848, in this county, and is the 
seventh of the family of William and Phebe (Dayette) Conner, natives of Ohio, 
and of English and German extraction. In 1838, they came to this count3' and 
located in Barkley Township, took a claim and remained seven years, after which 
they removed to Gillam Township, where they lived a like period of time, then 
came to this township, where William Conner died. His widow .still survives, cared 
for and comforted by her sons Stephen and Barney, the other children being mar- 
ried. She is a member of the Methodist Church, as was also her husband, who was 
for twenty years a licensed minister. October 9, 1871, Stephen T. Conner married 
Ella Danels, now deceased, to which union was born one child, an interesting boy, 
Shelby. After the death of his wife, Stephen returned to his mother's home, he 
and his brother Barney overseeing the homestead, notwithstanding they botii liave 
good farms. In addition to their farms, they deal extensively in cattle. Stephen is 



UNION TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 663 

an active member of ilu- United Rrethren Ciiiuili, and both are active members of 
the Republican parly; tlie}' are also energetic, commendable and promising young 
men. 

WIUJAM COOPEli was born in Madison County. Ohio, and is the first of 
the nine children of John and Sarah (Osborn) Cooper, natives of Kentucky, and 
of English and Scotch descent. His parents came to this county in 1843, and now 
live in Barkley Township. Out of the land entered by his father, with the help of 
the sons, were made some of the best farms in the county. E.\cepting a period of 
seven years, William Cooper has made this county his home, and by economy and 
diligence he has obtained a farm of 420 acres. His first marriage was to Mary Price, 
to which succeeded four children — Charlie, Scott, Frank and Amandanet, deceased. 
Mrs. Cooper died, the victim of consumption, and Mr. Cooper's second marriage 
was to Sarah Parker, who also died after having borne three children — Marion, 
Mary, deceased, and Noah, deceased. JMr. Cooper's third marriage was to Nancy 
E. Wenrick, a union crowned with four children — Warren, deceased; Jasper, Sarah 
A. and Levi. Mr. Cooper formerly voted with the Republicans, but now votes 
with the Democrats. He was elected Township Trustee in 1880, and re-elected in 
1882. 

FRANCIS C. HALL is a native of New York, born April 17, 1833, and the first 
of the family of Ancel C. and Elvira F. (Cushman) Hall, natives of Vermont, and 
of English and Irish descent. When quite young, his parents removed to Ohio, in 
which commonwealth lie resided, working on the farm and going to school until his 
seventeenth year; he also learned from his father the trades of cabinet work and 
shoe-making, but abandoned both to become a successful farmer. In 1860, he came 
to this county, and located for a few years in Gillam Township, thence he removed 
to Illinois, and again to this county, where he located on 100 acres of choice land. 
November 9, 18'54, he married Mary PuUen. Seven children have cemented this 
union— Martha, now deceased; John, Ella, Joseph, Lilley, Arthur and L3'man. Not 
having received any assistance in the beginning of his career, Mr. Hall can only 
attribute his success in life to the virtues of industry and economy. He is an active 
member of the Republican party. 

B. W. HARRINGTON was born June 31, 1835, in Licking County, Ohio, and is 
the third child of Brunson and Catharine (Lockwood) Harrington, natives of Ver- 
mont, and of English descent. B. W. Harrington learned the trade of coopering, 
which he followed until he was twenty years old, when he came hither with his 
parents, since which time he has been engaged in farming. November 28, 1858, he 
married Susanna Burget, a native of this county. This union has been blessed 
with five children — Walter, Viola, Charles, Scott and Catharine. His son Walter is 
one of the leading teachers of the township, having been prepared therefor at 
Valparaiso. Mr. Harrington is the possessor of eighty acres of good land, which is 
wholly self-acquired. He was formerly a Republican, and cast his first vote for 
John C. Fremont, but of late years he has been a stanch Qreenbacker and a leader 
of his party; he lacked but ten votes of being elected Commissioner in 1878; he was 
al.so defeated in a race for Sheriff. 

JOHN HUMES is a native of Muskingimi County, Ohio, born August 21, 1836, 
and the fifth of the family of William and Mary (Watson) Humes, both natives of 
Virginia, and of English and German descent. After the death of his mother, the 
family removed to Logansport, Ind., and in 180(1 he came to this county, worked at 
his trade of black.smithing, and made a home; he has now a farm of si.xty acres 
under cultivation and with good improvements. John Humes was married, October 
4, 1806. to Pri.scilla Smith, a union dignified by seven children — Mary L., Martha 
(deceased), William E.. Willis E., John W., Helen M. and Iva P. Mr. Humes en- 
listed in Company E, Twenty ninth Indiana Regiment, and did good service at Shi- 



564 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

loh, siege of Corinth, Stone River and Chickamauga; he was mustered out at the 
close of the war with the honors of a soldier. Mr. Humes is a Democrat, and he 
and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. 

JACOB KEENER is a native of Ross County, Ohio, born April 7, 1822, and 
one of the family of John. and Catharine (Gossard) Keener, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio, and of German descent. Our subject came to 
this State in 1855, and located in what was then Walker, then Keener, and later 
Union Township, where he has a good farm of 100 acres, on which are many im- 
provements. He was married April 7, 1850, to Lucia M. Harrington, which union 
has been favored with three children— Augustus F. (deceased), Francina (now Mrs. 
Spitzer) and Minnie (now Mrs. Braskett). Mr. Keener was originally a Whig, but 
later became a Republican, by which party he is much esteemed. He has been 
elected Assessor nine years, and Trustee and Constable each one term in Keener 
Township. He is a liberal and progressive citizen, and he and wife are long-stand- 
ing members of the Christian Church. 

AUSTIN N. LAKIN was born in this county December 22, 1864, and is the 
first-born child of Francis M. and Barbara (Guss) Lakin, the former a native of In- 
diana, the latter of Germany, and of English and trermau extraction. The father 
of Austin is an extensive dealer in cattle, Austin being brought up to the business 
of farming, with some attendance at school during the winter season. He afterward 
prepared himself for a teacher at Valparaiso, obtained a license and began teaching. 
He is now serving his second term, and has been more than commonly successful. 
Mr. Lakin is painstaking in his profession, and an energetic and promising young 
man. In politics, he is a Democrat. 

CLARK McCOLLY was born May 24, 1818, in Clark County, Ohio. He re- 
mained with his parents until he was twenty-eight years of age, being reared as a 
farmer, working in summer and going to school in winter. In the fall of 1867, he 
came to this county, locating in Marion and afterward in this township, where he 
has a farm of sixty acres, well improved. He received some assistance in the begin- 
ning, but has practiced economy through life, thus acquiring sufficient means to 
live comfortably. March 10, 1842, he married Mary Hance, which union was 
blessed with an issue of thirteen children— Rosetta, Phebe, Nancy, John, Willis, 
Harriet, Mary A., Elizabeth, deceased ; Clarinda, deceased ; James, Benjamin, 
Charles A. and Edgar G. Mr. McColly was once a Whig, but is now a Republican. 
He was elected Justice of the Peace in Delaware County, Ind., in 1847, also almost 
unanimously Sheriff in 1851, and re-elected two years later. He was elected Justice 
of the Peace in this township in 1876, since which time he has retained the office. 
His commission will expire in 1884. 

AUGUSTUS M. MUNDEN, professional teacher, was born February 25, 1846, 
in Pasquotank County, N. C, and is the first of three children comprising the 
family of Isaiah and Mabel (Bidgood) Munden, and of German and English descent. 
Augustus lived at home until 1863, when he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-third In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry, in Hancock County, Ind., serving until the close of the 
war, and in many hard-won battles. After his discharge, he came to this county in 
1871, obtained a teacher's certificate, and afterward taught twenty-three terms of 
school, having missed but two winter terms since he begun the profession. He has 
been greatly successful, and obtained his qualifications from our public schools. 
December 31, 1872, he was married to Damaris Given, to which union was born 
one child. John G. Mr. Munden was an active member of the Grange movement, 
and is active in connection with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Sons of 
Temperance. He has always voted the Republican ticket. 

REV. AARON E. PIERSON is a native of Noble County, Ind., born Febru- 
ary 17, 1840, and is the fourth of the family of Thomas S. and Margaret (Taylor) 



UNION TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 565 

Pierson, natives of Ohio and of English and Irish descent. Aaron remained with 
his parents until he was twenty years old, at which time he enlisted in Company G, 
Forty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in the battles of Shi- 
loh and Corinth, and on the march to Boonsville, Miss., under Gen. Pope, where 
10,000 prisoners and 1,400 stand of arms were captured. After considerable sick- 
ness, he was discharged October 6, 1862, and for five years thereafter was unfit for 
business. In 1874, he came to this county, and soon after to this township On 
July 7, 1864, he married Phebe McColly, a native of this State. Eight cliildren 
bind this union— Clark C, David D., Estelle E., Willis O., Mary M., Lydia H., 
James M. and Omer W. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson are members of the Christian Church, 
of which Mr. Pierson was ordained Elder in 1877. He is a Republican, served as 
Assessor of Barkley Township and is a well-to-do fanner and much respected 
citizen. 

WALTER PONSLER, extensive cattle-dealer, is a native of Ross County. 
Ohio, born October 13, IS'ri. and is the third of six children born to Joshua and 
Sophia (Lyons) Ponsler, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio, 
and of German and Irish descent. Walter was bred a farmer, and obtained his 
schooling during the winter months. After manhood, he was married, November 
20, 1882, to Josephine Dowell. Mr. Ponsler is in comfortable circumstances, having 
made his start by working for 25 cents per day, and first investing in a calf. Cer- 
tain it is that he received no help from any one. He is at present over-seeing 
Simon C. Thompson's farm, in which he has a half-interest in all except the land. 
Mr. Ponsler is a member of the Republican party, of which he is one of the most 
active workers. He is also an energetic, jn-ospcrous and promising farmer. 

THOMAS C. SAYERS is a native of this township, and first saw the light IMay 
6, 1859; and he is the eldest of the four children born to Ephraim and Mary J. 
(Israel) Sayers, whose names arc Thomas C, Charity M., Lester A. and Albert L. 
Ephraim Sayers is a native of Ohio, and his wife of Indiana; he is of Irish and she 
of German descent. They came to this county in 1845, settled in Marion Town- 
ship, and later came to this township, where Mr. Sayers has a good farm of 160 
acres, with many improvements; he gives much attention to cattle raising. Thom- 
as C. Sayers is at present overseer of the farm. He was reared a farmer, and after 
attending the common schools, he^rcceivcd further education at the town of Rens- 
seler, thereby being better fitted for the business demands of life. Mr. T. C. Saj'- 
ers is an earnest Republican, and is a worthy and promising young gentleman. 

NEWMAN S. SNOW was born January 1. 1820, in Trumbull Count)', Ohio, 
and is the fourth child of Lovcll and Freelove Snow. Newman lived with one John 
Harris until he was sixteen years old, when he began life for himself. After living 
in Illinois, he came to this county in the year 1845, which he has since called his 
home. He enlisted for the Mexican war in Company C. Fifth Indiana Infantry, 
under Col. J. H. Lane. After his discharge, he was married to Rachel Hurley, 
September 18, 1849, with a result of twelve children — Benjamin II., William H., 
Sarah, George N., Martha A., Commodore W., Theodore W., Samuel M., Francis 
M.. Charles E. and two infants, deceased. Mrs. Rachel Snow died with consump- 
tion, and Mr. Snow next married Mrs. Marszilla E. (Conner) Nelson, who is also 
deceased, having borne three children, who died nameless. Mr. Snow's third mar- 
riage, July 31, 1880, was to Rachel Mitcliel. In the fall of 1861, Mr. Snow enlisted 
in Companj' K, Forty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and .spent most of his serv- 
ice as hospital nurse, but was in the engagement at luka; he was mustered out in 
1865. Mr. Snow is a member of the Masonic order, also of the G. A. R. He is a 
Republican, and was elected Road Superintendent in 1882. 

JACOB M. TROXELL, farmer and stoek-rai.ser, was born November 2H, 1828, 
in Jackson County, Ala., and is the eldej of the two sons of Michafl and Margaret 



666 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



(Merkle) Troxell, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Jacob moved 
to this county in 1854, and engaged in tlie grocery and provision business for three 
years. He then purchased a farm and tilled the soil for several years. In the spring 
of 1865, at Carroll County, Ind., he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty- 
fourth Regiment, and was mustered out the following summer, when he returned to 
this county, and engaged in burning the first brick burned in Rensselaer. After some 
assistance from his father, he became possessor of 160 acres, well stocked, where he 
gives most attention to raising cattle and in the dairy branch of farming; he makes 
usually from fifty to sixty pounds of butter per week. His first marriage was to 
Amelia J. Grant, who died June 18. 1854, leaving five children— Eva M. (now Mrs. 
Hemphill), Mary E., Minnie W., Lilian E. and Josephine G. Mr. Troxell's second 
marriage was to Mary E. (Roberson) Bruner, October 23, 1877, she having one 
daughter— Emma. Mr. Troxell is an Odd Fellow, and a charter member of Iro- 
quois Lodge, 143, of Rensselaer. He is an active member of the Republican party, 
and an earnest worker therein. He is also an energetic business man, and a 
leading farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Troxell are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

ABRAM WARNE, farmer, is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and is the 
sixth of the twelve children of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mitchel) Warne, both natives 
of Pennsylvania, and of German and Irish extraction. Abram was brought up to 
the occupation of farming, and worked diligently during boyhood. In the year 
1856, he moved to this county, and made for himself a home. December 7, 1857, 
he married Elizabeth Greenfield, which union has been cemented by nine children — 
Pierce P., Frank E., Effle A., Delia A., Charlie K., Gracie G., Mertie A., Elizabeth 
M. and an infant. Mr. Warne commenced the race for self support with a capital 
of $300. He is at present owner of 280 acres of land, with many advantages and 
improvements. Mr. Warne is a Republican, having voted that ticket since succeed- 
ing to the privilege of a franchise. He is a liberal, benevolent gentleman, and ac- 
tive in all good causes. 




BARKLEV TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 567 



BARKLEY TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM BURNS, a son of Joseph and Susanna (Barnes) Burns, was born in 
Champaign County, Ohio, March 25, 1813, and came with his parents at an early 
day to White County, Ind., wiiere he married Susanna Barnes, a native of Virginia, 
born March 13, 1812. In 182H, they came to this county and entered 160 acres in 
Section 34, Barkley Township, near which they resided until death; Mr. Burns died 
December 11, 1862 — one of the first settlers, a man of the strictest integrity and ad- 
herence to principle, and one of the most generally esteemed residents of the county. 
It is believed that "Uncle William" did not have an enemy; his family consisted of 
the following cliildren: James Irvin. born December 16, 1S40; Francis Marion, born 
May 11, 1842, a member of the Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry, died of pneumo- 
nia at Nashville, January 4, lHf)3; John Milton, born March 11, 1845; Vilena, bor^ 
January 1, 1847; Marj' Ann. born July 31, 1849; Joseph Martin, born March 17, 
1853; Margaret Matilda, born January 20, 1855; Myra Jane, born July 20, 1858, and 
William Wallace, born April 27. 1801; there is also an adopted daughter. Sarah 
Elizabeth Ann, born Septeml)er 21, 1838. The mortal remains of these old and hon- 
ored pioneers now repose on the land once owned and so hardly won by them during 
this life. It was by their special requests they were so buried. 

JOHN T. GULP was born in this coiintj' December 2, 1836, and is a son of 
George and Mary (Burton) Culp, the former born in Virginia March 8. 1800, the lat- 
ter October 26, 1809. George Culp was one of the earliest pioneers of this county, 
and died on the place on which he first settled April 18. 1847; Mrs. Culp died Octo. 
ber 22, 1871. They reared the following family: Harriet Ann. William G., James, 
Elizabeth J., Maria, John T., Matilda P., Nancy R., Rachel J. T. and Walter. Our 
subject, John T. Culp, married Mrs. V. Wade, widow of George Wade. By this 
union have descended two children — Ursula, born October 14, 1876; and John, born 
May 28, 1883. Mr. Culp is a practical farmer and is the possessor of a good farm. 
NATHAN ELDRIDGE, farmer and stock-dealer, was born August 8, 1841, in 
Crawford County, Ohio, and is the fifth of the children of Peter J. and Catharine 
<Traxler) Eldridge, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of Pennsylvania, 
and of English and German descent. Nathan's mother died when he was six years 
old, after which he made his home with his uncle until he was fourteen years of age, 
when, his father having remarried, he went home to that parent until 1862, at which 
time he enlisted in Company F, Twelfth Indiana Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and 
served until the war closed. He took part in many battles and skirmishes, but 
came out without bodily injury, and never missed a day from inability to do duty. 
He was mustered out at Vicksburg, with all the honors of a veteran. April 25, 1873, 
he married Clara J. Webb, a native of Jasper County. To this union were born two 
children — Lora M. and Jesse G. In the fall of 1876, Mr. Eldridge came to this 
county and located in this township. He has always voted the Republican ticket; 
has been an active worker for the party, and was elected Township Trustee in 1882. 
He is a respected, influential citizen, and has a good farm of 100 acres — all the re- 
ward of shrewdness and industry. 

JOHN ENGLISH was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1832, but was reared in 
Champaign County, where his father, Abel English, died in 1848. In 1849, in com- 
pany with his mother, Mary (Wolf) English, he removed to this county, where Mrs. 
English entered land. Ten years later tiiey removed to this township, where Mrs. 

English died in 1863, aged seventy-tiiree years; she was a native of Pennsylvania, 

34 



668 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and mother of eight children— Mary Ann, Stacey, Margaret, George, Job, Jolin, 
Samuel and Peter. John English married Miss Mary Shanahan, daughter of Sam- 
uel and Fidelia (Ferguson) Shanahan, with a result of four children— Martha J., 
Eveline, Samuel and Eudora. Mrs. English is a native of White County, whither 
her parents came in the early days, when their neighbors were Indians. Her 
mother could talk the Indian language, which made her friends among them. 
Their milling was done at Tippecanoe, which frequently required twenty-one days 
for the round journey. Samuel Shanahan was born in Maryland and died in this 
county in 1854, aged forty-seven; his wife died in 1857, aged forty-four years. 
Their family was— Thomas, Nancy, Martha, Alfred, Warwick, Elizabeth, Ma- 
randa. Smith and Malinda. John English began life a poor man, but has now a 
fine and well-improved farm of 240 acres. 

KIAL B. HARRIS is a native of this county, and was born in the year 1854. 
He is the son of William F. and Ruth A. (Benjamin) Harris, natives of Virginia and 
Ohio respectively. R. B. Harris, in September, 1875, married Miss Eliza, daughter 
of Hon. George H. and Elizabeth (Nichols) Brown. To this union has been born 
ft family of three children— Sedella A., Nellie M. and Ruth. Mr. Harris is one of 
the energetic farmers and stock-raisers of this county, as well as being the owner 
of a good farm of 405 acres, which is well stocked and well improved. Mr. Harris 
is an estimable citizen and an active Republican. 

JOHN A. HENKLE was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1835. Samson Hen- 
kle, father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1800, where he married. His 
family were George Washington, Bejamin Franklin, Louisa M., Amelia F., Joseph 
C, John A., Augustus M., W. H., Martha and Coke T. A. Mr. Henkle was a 
pioneer preacher, a member of the United Brethren Church, and a Justice of the 
Peace. Our subject's parents moved when he was young to La Fayette, Ind., and 
afterward to this county, where he was reared and attended the common schools. In 
November, 1860, he married Miss Catharine, daughter of George P. and Tena 
(Smoots) McColloch, and a native of White County, Ind., born in 1837. Mr. McCol- 
loch was one of the first settlers of this, and Mrs. McColloch, of White County. Mr. 
and Mrs. Henkle are the parents of four children— Flora, Florence, Morton and 
Cora. Mr. Henkle is a member of the Campbellite Church, and a Republican. 

THEODORE HURLEY, merchant, was born October 9, 1837, in Allen County, 
Ohio, and is the fourth of the children of William B. and Cassa (Burget) Hurley, 
natives of Ohio, and of Irish and German descent. He remained with his parents 
until he was twenty-two years of age, working on the farm in summer and attend- 
ing school in winter; most of his education, however, he acquired after becoming of 
age. In 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Forty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, and vms in seven heavy battles and not less than thirty skirmishes, 
in which he received only a wound in the hand. He was mustered out at Louis- 
ville with the honors due a soldier. His father was in the war with Mexico, and 
both grandfathers were in the war of 1812. October 6, 1859, he married Jane Mc- 
Ginnis, a native of Ohio, to which union followed seven children— Cassa A., Alex- 
ander, Sarah C, Huldah J. (deceased), Charles W., William and Owen. Mrs. Hur- 
ley died December 17. 1879, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Hurley is a Republican, and an active worker for that party. He is an energetic, 
well-to-do business man, and now Postmaster of Blackford, Jasper County. 

GEORGE KESSLER was born in Botetourt County, Va., in 1814. His father, 
Jacob Kessler, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Virginia in 1824; his mother 
was a native of Maryland, and died in Virginia in 1844. When twenty years old, 
our subject moved to La Fayette, Ind. ; he made the trip on horseback, accompanied 
by an uncle who was bound for Illinois. While there, Mr. Kessler stopped with his 
brothers, David and Daniel. He was then a fine physical specimen, and so athleti- 



BARKLKY TOWNSHIP— JASPER COrNTV. o69 

cally regarded that he was met by the great Kentucky wrestler, who came from 
that State to meet him. Mr. Kessler was the victor, gaining two falls out of three. 
In 1837, our subject married, at Pretty Prairie, Abigail, daughter of James and 
Elizabeth (Shearer) Shaw, with an issue of two children — Mary E. (Mrs. J. C. ilin- 
kle) and James S., who died from disease contracted in the late war service. About 
1844, he removed to this county, and purchased a few acres of land, which he has 
since made into a good farm, now numbering .several hundred acres. He has been 
eminentlj' successful, especially in the culture of grapes, and is broadly and gra- 
ciously known. Ileformerly acted with the Democrats, but before the war became 
a Repul)lican; he voted for Gen. Hancock, however, in 1880, and is now an adherent 
of the National party. Mr. Kessler is a man of many fine qualities, a true friend 
and valued citizen. He has been a memberof the Board of County Commissioners, 
and has held other township offices. 

WILLIAM W. MURRAY was born in Ohio in 1828. In 1836, his parents moved 
to White County, Ind., where they entered 600 acres of wild land. At the age of 
twenty-one, William W. Murray came to this county, and worked for John Parki- 
son at the rate of $10 per month. In 1854, he married Miss Rosanna, daughter of 
Henry and Ziltha (Moore) Barkley, born in Pennsylvania in 1832. To this marriage 
succeeded five children— Henry, Mary, Emma J., William and diaries. Mr. Mur- 
ray is a grandson of the renowned Indian fighter, Simon Kenton, whose exploits 
have become history. During the late war, Mr. Murray was a member of the 
Eighty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but, owing to disability, was 
discharged after six months' service. His brothers— Lewis and Henry— were like- 
wise volunteers in thai service; the former was discharged after lieing wounded at 
Shiloh, and afterward entered the Twelfth Regiment. Mr. Murray is a prosperous 
and thorough farmer, and has a finely improved farm. He is a good citizen, a kind 
neighbor, and a man generally esteemed. 

S. R. NICHOLS was born in Jasper County, Ind., in 1846. His father, George 
Nichols, was born in Kentucky in 1803, and married, in Ohio, Rebecca Lewis, born 
in 1802. They had tlie following children: Jackson, who enlisted for the Mexican 
war, but died at La Fayette on his way; Cynthia (nuirried first to William Davis, and 
later to Joshua German, who died in the late war, at Crab Orchard, Ky.); Alonzo and 
Benjamin (died in infancy), Elizabeth (wife of George H. Brown, of Rensselaer, 
twice elected to the Legislature), Solomon, Hester J. (wife of Henrj- Nichols), Olive 
(died aged sixteen), John L., Harrison T., Matilda (wife of William Potts) and 
Samuel R. George Nichols was for many years a Justice, of the Peace, and once 
Deputy Sheriff. He contracted a disease while in the late war which caused his 
death in 1879. He was a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mrs. Nichols' father, John McCurtain, was born in Kentucky, about 1799, 
and married Esther McGill, born in 1801. They reared the following children: 
Solomon, John, Newton, Barbara, Lizzie, Lucinda and Evaline. Tlu; father died 
in 1867. He was a long time in the army without remuneration, after which he 
served four years. One son, Charles, left home when about fifteen, and was never 
heard from. S. R. Nichols owns a farm of 300 acres, the result of his own indus- 
try, lie is a Republican, and is now County CJommissioner of the Second District. 

WILLIAM M. N(JLAND is a son of Henry and Mary (Ashby) Noland, and 
was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, May 29, 1828. His parents were married in 
Virginia, and soon after removed to Knox County, Ohio, thence to Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., and then(*c to this county, where they purchased eighty acres of canal 
land, which they improved. Mr. Noland was born in Virginia in 1791, and died in 
this county in 1H4."». Mrs. Noland was also born iu Virginia, and died in Iowa. 
Their family was Lydia (married John J. Campbell, of Iowa, and deceased). Rel)ecca 
(married Wesley Irwin, of Iowa), Sarah (deceased), Mary (married William Querry, 



570 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and deceased), and William M. Our subject married Emma Parkison, who died in 
1857, leaving one child, one having died very young. He next married Louisiana 
Gray, daughter of Robert and Mahala Gray, and a native of Virginia. To this 
union were born four children — Mary Emma, Frank E., Ross E. and an infant not 
named. Mr. Noland went to California in 1850, but returned to this State in 1853. 
James Ashby, the maternal grandfather of Mr. "William Noland, was a Revolution- 
ary soldier, and kept a prisoner for a long time on board of a vessel. 

JOHN G. PARKISON was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1795. When 
young, he moved with his parents to Kentucky, and subsequently to King's Creek, 
Ohio, where his father bought and improved land, and later moved to Urbana. The 
father died during the war of 1812. John G. Parkison was with the army as Sut- 
ler's Clerk at Fort Meigs and Detroit. After the war, he manufactured hats in 
Urbana, where he married Matilda, daughter of Simon and Elizabeth (Jarbo) Ken- 
ton, the former the celebrated Indian fighter. In 1837, Mr. Parkison removed to 
White County, Ind., and the same year to this county, and located on 160 acres, for 
which he paid $300; afterward ixe bought other lands. He reared the following 
children: Eliza Ann, William K., Addison, Juliet, Margaret, Joseph, Emma, Mary 
Jane, Benjamin, Isabella and Mattie. William K. Parkison was born in Logan 
County, Ohio, in 1820, and married Mary, daughter of Henry Berkley. By this 
union descended the following family: John G., born in 1843, killed at the battle of 
Buzzard's Roost; William M., born in 1846, died in 1867; George, born in 1850, mar- 
ried Miss Ida Gwin, daughter of John and Mary Gwin; Harvey, born in 1851, mar- 
ried Melvina Moore, daughter of William E. and Dinah Moore; James R., born in 
1853, married Mary Etta Collins, daughter of William H. and L. Collins; Mary J., 
born in 1856, married Granville Moody, son of Col. and Elizabeth Moody; and Rob- 
ert, born in 1861. William K. Parkison has been County Commissioner twelve 
years, is now Postmaster, and owns a fine farm. 



GILLAM TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTV. 571 



GILLAM TOWNSHIP. 

MILES BISIIIR. farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Highland County, 
Ohio, born .January 11, 1830. and is a son of Jeremiah and Esther (Millet) liishir, of 
German and Welsh descent. They were married in Ohio, were farmers, and about 
1833 moved, amoni^' the first settlers, to White County. Ind., where Mr. Bishir fol- 
lowed his trade of cooper. He died in 187"), ajied seventy-five years; he was a 
strong Democrat and a i^ood citizen; his wife died a few years previous. Miles 
Bi.shir passed his boyhood in White Countv, .iroing to school and assisting his father 
on the farm until his majority. In 1S52, he located in this township on 1(50 acres of 
land secured by a Mexican land warrant. July 11, 1852, he wedded Miss Lovina 
Qillara, born May 16, 1831, daughter of John M. Gillam. To this marriage were 
born five children, three of whom arc living — John G., Jeremiah and Martha E. 
Mr. Bisher continued to farm until 1859, when he moved to the Gillam farm, where 
he has since" resided, which is a highly-improved piece of land. Mr. Bishir is an 
active politician of the Democratic school, and served as Justice of the Peace from 
1871 to 1883. He is a member of the ^lasonic order, and brought the first "sepa- 
rator" to this township. He and wife are members of the Mctiiodist Epi.scopal 
Church. 

JOHN E. COMER, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Carroll County, Ind., 
October 5, 1839, and is the eldest son of William and Phoibe Comer, natives of 
Ohio, and of German extraction. William Comer was married in Carroll County, 
made a home, and in 1840 sold the sanu', came to this county and settled on forty 
acres in Barclay Township; he afterward lived in this township, and tlien on the 
Iroquois River, where he died. He had been a Whig, but became a Republican, 
and was a licensed minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John E. Comer was 
reared a farmer, and worked on a farm for $10 a month, which he continued until 
he was twenty-three j'ears old; and he soon, bj' diligence and care, paid for forty 
acres and one horse; this was his beginning. June 21, 1863, he married Harriet J. 
Dunn, born September 26, 1841, a daughter of J. D. Dunn. Six children were the 
fruition of this marriage, five of whom are living — Presto. Oliver P., Charles, 
Jacob I. and Nettie. After improving and augmenting his land in Union Township, 
he sold tlic same, and in 1874 came to this townsliip. locating on his present place, 
whicli comprises 280 acres, 150 of wliicii are under cidtivation, all maile b}' his 
thrift and economy; he was for many j'cars a noted and successful hunter, having 
earned $300 in one winter thereby. Mr. Comer is a solid Republican, and was 
Justice of the Peace of Union Town.ship; he and wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

WILLIAM T. COMER, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of this county, was 
born October 23, 1843, and is a son of William Comer, a pioneer. Our subject as- 
sisted his father until manhood, during wliicli lime he received not more than three 
months' .-schooling. He was an industrious man, and, after work on the farm, 
would frequently hunt the coon, mink and rat, thus becoming an expert marksman; 
he also folhtwed trapping in four States. At the age of twenty-one. he abamloned 
hunting and found a wife, November 12, 1K(>3, in Miss Margaret Gibbs, born in f'ar- 
roll County, Ind., July 14, 1843,! and daugiiter of Freeman Gibbs. From tliis union 
spranj; six children— George Milroy, Celia J., William F.. James IL. Ida A. and 
Martha M. After marriage, Mr. Comer engaged in farming and stock-raising, but 
with limited means; he advanced graduallv, however, and is now tlie owner of 620 



572 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

acres, 90 of which are under cultivation, and the whole stocked with $3,000 worth 
of horses, cattle and hogs. For the last ten years, he has been engaged in buying 
and shipping hogs; he is identified with the Republican party, and he and w;ife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JAMES COOPER, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Muskingum County, 
Ohio; was born January 11, 1826, and is the fifth of the family of Thomas B. and 
Tacey (Simpson) Cooper, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and English descent. 
Thomas B. Cooper moved to Ohio about 1814, where he married, and followed 
farming in Muskingum and Champaign Counties until 1851, when he came to this 
county and located on eighty acres, where James now lives, and where he died 
August 16, 1855, aged sixty-two; his wife died in Ohio in 1858, aged sixty-three. 
Both were members of the Baptist Church. James Cooper began life empty hand- 
ed, rented land and engaged in preparing railroad ties, having after three years 
saved sufiicient means to purchase 160 acres of wild land, and after, ran a breaking 
team and farmed his father's land. In December, 1855, he married Miss Hettie A. 
Flint, born in Crawford County, Ohio, June 2, 1836, and daughter of Luther C. and 
Rebecca (Deda) Flint. Mr. Cooper has a fine, large two-story house and 320 acres, 
60 of which are well cultivated; he is a leading stock-raiser; is now raising thorough- 
bred cattle, and has some sheep; he is an enterprising farmer, and he and wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

ADAM COPPESS, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Greene County, Ohio, 
March 8, 1812, and is a son of Adam and Mary (Mock) Coppess, natives of North 
Carolina, and of German extraction. He was taught the art of farming and reared 
to industry, by assisting his father, until he was twenty years old, when he began 
business for himself as a farm hand, and in two years he saved money sufficient to 
pay for eighty acres of land in Darke County, Ohio. lie then rented his father's 
farm for four years, during which period he wedded, April 5, 1838, Miss Elizabeth 
Oliver, of Darke County, born December 25, 1817, daughter of George and Sarah 
(Frampton) Oliver, a marriage which gave an issue of ten children, tlu'ee sons and 
seven daughters. In 1851, Mr. Coppess moved to this township, by overland route, 
in a covered wagon. He purchased his present home from Mr. Robinsoq, and 
erected a hewed-log house, where he lived for many years, but now he has as good 
a farm as the township contains, Mr. Coppess was a Democrat in early life, having 
voted for Mr. Pierce, but afterward he affiliated with the Republicans, and gave his 
three sons — Calvin, Harry and George — to the service of their country for various 
terms. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church. 

CALVIN COPPESS was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 13, 1889, and is 
the eldest of the family of Adam and Mary Coppess. His father was a pioneer of 
Darke County, who removed thither with his parents when but seven years of age, 
in 1819. Our subject was twelve years of age when he was brought to this town- 
ship, where he passed his boj'hood days, during which he had much desire for hunt- 
ing. In 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry; was mustered into service at Logansport, marched to Virginia, where he 
was engaged in the battle of Greenbrier, and afterward at Shiloh, Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, after which he re-enlisted, 
came home for thirty days and joined Sherman's army, where he experienced hard 
fighting for ninety days; he also took part at the battles of Franklin and Nashville, 
was finally sent into Texas, and honorably discharged as a veteran in September, 
1865. He is a life crip'ple from prolonged marching, by reason of an enlarged 
ankle. He resumed farming, and October 17, 1866, married Miss Sarah E. Prevo. 
born January 15, 1842, daughter of Malachi Prevo. From this union six children 
are descended — Marietta, Leota J., Malachi W., Gracie E., Julia F. and Charles C. 
Mr. Coppess purchased his present home of ninety acres in 1874, and has now a 



GILLAM TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 573 

good farm and stock of cattle. He is a stanch Republican, and a member of the G. 
A. K. Mr. and Mrs. Coppess are members of the M. E. Church. 

,]. D. DUNN, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Greene County, Tenn., Au- 
gust 15, 1820, and is the only child of James and Klizabeth (Hedrick) Dunn, natives 
of Tennessee, and of Irish and English descent; the former died of yellow fever in 
1821, and his widow afterward married Henry Frcshaur, and both moved to Iowa, 
where they died. Our subject came to this State witii his mother when twelve years 
old; his education was neglected, having to work at farm work, which he followed 
until manhood, after which he worked at teaming from Fort Wayne to Toledo and 
Logansport. In 1840, became to this county, and the next fall managed a breaking 
team with five oxm, which he followed for thirteen summers. He also bought and 
sold claims, and his first purchase of land for himself was forty acres; this and other 
purchases he sold, and finally bought ills present place of 153 acres, forty of which 
are in cultivation, witii buil lings and other improvements. November 26, 1839, he 
married Miss Rachel Campbell, of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of James Camp- 
bell, a pioneer of this town.ship. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn in the early days made their 
own clothing from their own fabrics, and otherwise experienced the hardships of 
the pioneer. They are both members of the M. E. Church. 

SAMUEL ELLIOT, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Tippecanoe County, 
Ind.. was born March 27, 1833, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Steel) Elliot, both 
natives of Virginia, and of Irish descent. Samuel Elliot has taken care of himself 
since he was sixteen years of age, after being reared as a farmer, and at which he 
■continued to labor. He was married, March 13, 1859, to Miss Almira J. Gibbs, who 
■died in 1866, leaving four children — Jolin W., Estaline, Sylva A. and Phebe J. Mr. 
Elliot's second marriage was to Mrs. Sarah E. (Cooper) Swisher, of this county, by 
which union were born four children — Martha, Fernery, James T. and Asa A. In 
1864. Mr. Elliot came to this township and located on eighty acres, which are now 
verj' fairly improved. Although he has been so far successful, he gives much credit 
to his industry and tenacity. He is a liberal Democrat, and he and Mrs. Elliot are 
members of the M. E. Church. 

ELI PARIS, retired farmer, was born in Fleming County. Ky., June 29, 1813, 
and is the eldest of the twelve children of John Paris. Eli removed with his father 
to Rush County, and thence to Marion County, Ind., in 1828, but passed his boyhood 
in this county, where he assisted his father in making brick, and worked diligently 
until he reached his majority, whereupon, with the first money made for himself, he 
bought a marriage license costing 95 cents, also some housekeeping articles. He 
afterward purchased eighty acres in Hendricks County, at $1.25 per acre, built a 
cabin, and moved thereto in 1837, where he suffered many hardships in the clearing 
of forty acres. This land he sold for $1,600. when he purchased his present home 
for $1,20<); he has been a hard worker, and for years his wife made their clothing 
from the raw flax and wool. Mr. Faris has been twice married; first, December 25, 
1834, to Miss Isabel Jones, of Marion County, Ind., born in Kentucky February 27, 
1816, who died May 4, 1874, leaving six children, with three deceased — John T., 
Sarah J.. Jemima A., Fleming J., Mulinda ami William H. His second marriage. 
January 1, 1875, was to Amanda (Cohvell) Cunningham, born in Kentucky in 1824. 
The se(;ond son of Mr. Faris. Georgf W., enlisted in Company G, Ninth Regiment 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and died in the service at Cheat Mountain, Va. Mr. 
Faris was once a Whig, but is now a l{c|)ublican, and has served four years as Jus- 
tice of the Peace. He and wife aremc-mbrns of the M. E. Church. 

ANDRKW PARIS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Fleming County, 
Ky., was bom December 7, 1821, and is the son of John and Sarah (Truitl) Paris, 
the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Delaware. John Paris removed to 
Rush County, Ind.. in 1826. and two years later to Marion County, wiiere he fol- 



674 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

lowed brick-making until 1841; thence he removed to Warren and Benton Counties, 
and thence to this county, where he located some land, and died two years later of 
tj'phoid fever, leaving eight sons and three daughters; he was aged- fifty-two years. 
Mrs. Faris died in 1866. Andrew Faris came to this township in 1856, where he 
resided for ten years, and in 1866 located on his present farm of 120 acres. He had 
but slender means and but little learning, yet these deficiencies he has made up by 
integrity and industry. Mr. Faris was married, February 10, 1853, to Miss Lovina 
Burk, of this county, who died in 1863, leaving one son — Calvin G. His next mar- 
riage was to Miss Cynthia J. Rowen, of this county, daughter of Alexander Rowen. 
Two children were the result of this marriage — Florence M. and Clyde R. Mr. 
Faris has been always an ardent Republican, and held several township offices. He 
and wife are members of the M. E. Church. 

WILLIAM FARIS, farmer, is a native of Marion County, Ind., was born June 
25, 1834, and is the eleventh born of John Faris. Our subject was but eight years 
old when he came with his parents to this county. Two years later, his father died, 
when he worked for his brothers until his majority, after which, November 7, 1855, 
he married Miss Mary A., daughter of Paris Robinson, of this township, by which 
union descended four children — Charles W., Paris R., Lizzie B. and Emma J., of 
which number the three eldest are teachers. After his marriage, Mr. Faris located 
where his father-in-law settled in 1888. In 1868, he located in La Porte County, 
where he and his brother John established a general store. After abandoning this 
store, he purchased eighty acres in this township, but located in Pulaski County, 
where he suffered from a prairie fire in 1871, after whicii he returned to and located 
in this township, where he now has a good farm and a comfortable home. Mr. 
Faris is a leading Republican and an active worker in that party. He and wife are 
members of the M. E. Church. 

JOHN T. FARIS is a native of Indianapolis, was born December 5, 1885, and 
is the eldest of those born to Eli and Isabel (Jones) Faris. He was reared to work 
on a farm and in a brickj'^ard, having access to school but a few months in each, 
year. He came to this county about the year 1853 with his father, and, in 1860, 
began work as a farmer. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Ninth. 
Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was a participant in the battle of Green- 
brier, and afterward was detailed to attend his sick brothe"r, George W., on Cheat 
Mountain, and after his death came home with the bod}^ After returning to his 
regiment, he took part at the siege of Corinth, the battles of Stone River, Chicka- 
mauga, the Atlanta campaign, and Nashville. He was discharged, September, 
1865, his only injury being a flesh wound received at the battle of Nashville. After 
his return, he resumed the plough, and in 1866, on the 22d of March, he married 
Rachel A. McCullough. of this township, born September 19, 1840, and daughter of 
Samuel McCullough. Their union was fruitful in six children — McKendree C, 
Edwin E., Mary I., Harry, Frank B. and Cora M. After marriage, Mr. Faris pur- 
chased land on the county line, and two years later ninety-flve acres of his present 
home; he has now 143 acres, forty-five.^of which are in good cultivation, with fair 
improvements. Mr. Faris has held some township offices and is a strong Repub- 
lican; he is also a member of the G. A. R. and the Christian Church. Mrs. Fari& 
belongs to the M. E. Church. 

G. W. FARIS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Marion County, Ind., 
was born February 18, 1836, and is the j^oungest of the twelve children of John 
Faris. Our sul)ject was left fatherless when nine years old, and remained with his 
mother until his eighteenth year, after which time he farmed on rented land. Au- 
gust 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, and was sent to Bowling Green, Ky., after which he was engaged at Stone 
River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Buzzard's Roast; he later took part ia 



GILLAM TOWNSHir— JASPER COUNTY. /)T5 

the Atlanta campaign, at Franklin and Nashville. He was honorably discharged, 
and located where he now lives, on a farm of 10()acre«, sixty of which are improved 
and under cultivation. February 26, 1HH2, he married Miss Sarah M. Coppess, born 
August 30, 1841, and daughter of Adam ('oppes,s. This union was honored by nine 
children, eight of whom are living — Khoda J., Martha E., Nora M., William A., 
Carrie E., Edward E., Nellie E. and George R. Mr. Fari.s set out as a farmer 
empty handed, and commenced stock-raising with one pig; he has been successful 
and has now a good home. He is a strong supporter of the Hepul)lican party, and 
he and wife are leading members of the M. E. Church. 

GEORGE J. FR?]SHAUR. farmer and stock-raiser, was horn in Allen County, 
Ind.. February 10. 1835. and is the second of the family of William and Hanuiih 
(Robinson) Freshaur, natives of Tennessee and Ohio, and of German and Irish 
descent. William Freshaur was an early .settler of Allen County, and in 1840 came 
to this county and entered 160 acres, which he improved, and where he died July, 
1858; his widow yet lives and resides with her children, aged seventy-one years. 
Mr. Freshaur was a great hunter; he was a Democrat in early life, but became a 
Republican and a standard-bearer of the party; he was also a class leader in the 
M. E. Church. George J. Freshaur passed his boyhood with his father, and when 
of age took charge of the farm. January 12, 1859, he married Sarah J. Faris, the 
fruition of which union was four children, two of whom arc living — James A. and 
Paris C. After marriage, he lived upon the home farm until August 15, 1862, when 
he enlisted in Company G, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantr}'. He took active part 
at Murfreesboro, in the Atlanta campaign, and at Nashville, under Gen. Thomas, 
where he was wounded by a minie pall in the arm, after recovering from which he 
rejoined his regiment at Kno.wille, and was honorably discharged June 20, 1865. 
After returning, he purchased 100 acres, where he lived until 1878, when he rented 
his farm and removed to Ellis County, Kan., by reason of his wife's impaired 
health; there he took up and improved a homestead, remaining until 1882, at which 
time he returned to the old home. He now has 147 acres, of which sixtj' are under 
cultivation. He is a prominent Republican and member of the G. A. R. Mr. and 
Mrs. Freshaur belong to the M. E. Church. 

REV. GEORGE GUILD was born in Hartford, Conn., June 9, 1812, and is a 
son of Jeremiah and Martha (May) Guild, natives of New England, and of English 
descent. Jeremiah Guild was a tanner, and, in 1816, emigrated to Butler County, 
Ohio. wher6 he died in 1820, followed by his wife the next year, leaving a family of 
eight children. Our subject being an orphan at nine years, was put out to a farmer, 
by whom he was so maltreated as to compel him to run away when thirteen and 
apprentice himself to saddletree-making at Cincinnati, and afterward becoming a 
journeyman in Butler County, Ohio, whence he removed to Wayne County, Ind., 
in 1836. When twenty-one years of age, he experienced religion and likewise the 
necessity of an education, which induced him to spend all his leisure hours in study 
in preparation to enter a scjiool in Dublin. In 1838, he was licensed to preach by 
the M. E. Church, and on the Hth of .\pril. he married Sarah Hull, of Highland 
County. Ohio, born May 7, 1819, a union l)lessed by ten children, but four of whom 
now survive — George S., James R.. Thomas M. and Daniel II. In 1840, he com- 
menced teaching, and, in 1H4;J, was ordained and given a circuit embracing five 
counties. In 1H49, he built the first church in Rens.selaer, and di<l arduous work in 
many stations for many years. In 1853, he located on land entered in 1850, com- 
prising 120 acres. In 1872, he was superannuated, having preached more than forty 
years. Charles L. Guild, son of our subject, enlisted in 1861 in the Ninth Regiment 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he proved a gallant soldier, being wounded 
in the head at the battle of Shiloh, whicii caused his immediate death. He was 
buried by his father in the Independence Cemetery. 



576 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Noble 
County, Ind., was born August 9, 1838, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Mor- 
row) Hamilton, both natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent and Protestant faith. 
Alexander Hamilton was reared to the plow, received a fair education, and began 
for himself at the age of twenty-two, working on the home farm until 1868, when 
he moved on fifteen acres of what was known as the " Haw Patch." This he sold 
for $1,500, which, with $300 personal property, made $1,800. He was married, Oc- 
tober 2, 1862, to Miss Lydia B. Painter, of Coshocton County, Ohio, born June 24, 
1840. From this union descended six children, four of whom are living — Simeon W., 
Nettie B., Perry N. and Daisy M. Mr. Hamilton afterward moved to this town- 
ship and, after purchasing forty acres, had $300 with which to make improvements, 
after doing which, four years later, he sold, and purchased his present place of 100 
acres, sixty of which are being cultivated, and on which he has good frame build- 
ings. Mr. Hamilton has been a life-long Republican, and has held several township 
offices. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

J. G. HUNT, stock-raiser and farmer, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, 
December 5, 1830, and is a son of Noah and Charity (Stout) Hunt, both natives of 
New Jersey. Noah Hunt, after his marriage, in 1818, emigrated to Hamilton Coun- 
ty, Ohio, from which, in 1844, having acquired a good home, he removed to Bar- 
tholomew County, Ind., where he again began in "the green," and where he died 
in 1852, aged fifty-seven, followed by his wife in 1867, aged seventy years. He was 
a Democrat, and both were members of the Christian Church. Our subject spent 
his childhood in Hamilton County, Ohio, and his boyhood in Bartholomew County, 
Ind. In youth, he learned the trade of a cooper, and afterward carried on a shop 
until 1855, when he abandoned his trade for farming, and November 28 of that year 
married Miss Sarah M. Winship, born September 23, 1833, daughter of Martin L. 
and Betiy (Hinman) Winship, natives of New York and Pennsylvania. This union 
gave issue to four sons — Oscar H., Frank L., Lewis W. and Judson J. In Novem- 
ber, 1865, Mr. Hunt removed to this township and purchased 160 acres, which he 
has increased to 1,120 acres, 200 of which are in cultivation, all the result of his 
industry and skill in trading. He is also an extensive sheep and cattle dealer. Mr. 
Hunt is a Freemason, and Mrs. Hunt is a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. 

L. C. LOGAN, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of North Carolina, born August 
29, 1840, and the youngest of the family of John Logan, likewise a native of the 
old North State. Our subject was left motherless when four years old, and was 
reared by a half-sister. He worked on a farm until he was twenty years of age, 
and then he began working for himself as a farm hand. In 1862, he enlisted in 
Company H, Twenty-first Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, and was in the 
battles of Bull Run, Winchester and Richmond. He was in Stonewall Jackson's 
corps, and at Gettysburg was wounded in the right arm. He was then furloughed for 
sixty days, and honorably discharged in 1865. He returned to his home and resumed 
work until 1868, when he emigrated to Peoria County, EL, worked as a farm hand, 
and thence came to this county in 1872, in which year, August 4, he was married to 
Miss Maria E. Mason, of this town3hip, born May 25, 1848, daughter of George 
Mason. This marriage has been honored by six children — George F., Sarah E., 
Elizabeth J., John H., Thomas N. and Myron R. After marriage, Mr. Logan 
rented land for two years, then removing to his present home of eighty acres. He 
has been a hard laborer, and is a firm supporter of the Democracy. Mr. and Mrs. 
Logan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

BENJAMIN C. LONG, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Maryland, born 
July 27, 1831, and a son of David and Sarah (Bowers) Long, natives of Pennsylvania 
and Maryland, and of German extraction. Benjamin was reared to farming in 



GILLAM TOWNSFi IP— JASPER COUNTY. 6T7 

Chiimpaign County, Ohio, ;md at the age of twenty began learning the trade of a 
carpenter, at which he worked for seven years and did considerable building. la 
1M()0, he moved to lhi.>; State and purchased IfiO acres in Pulaski County, on which 
he lived, in a cabin, and improved until 1S(5."), when he purchased some amount of 
his present home ; he now has 13'3 acres, fift}' five of which are under cultivation, a 
tribute to his thrift and perseverance. October 2;i, 1856, he married Miss Susanna 
Demory, of Champaign County, Ohio, born September 13, 1836, daughter of Will- 
iam and Elizabeth Demory, a union cemented by .seven children, four of whom are 
living— Ella E., Jennie. Mary E. and William M. Mr. Long has one of the neatest 
farms and best flocks of sheep in ihe townsliii), shearing an average of ten pounds 
per head. He is a liberal Democrat, a pul»lic-.spiritcd man. and has filled several 
township offices, lie and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

T. H. McCULLOUGII, farmer and stock-raiser, is of American birth, born 
December 7. 1^4"), and the only son in a family of seven, born to Samuel and Mary 
(Querry) McCullough, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. Samuel Mc- 
Cullough spent his boyhood in Adams County. Ohio, and after manhood removed 
to Hamilton County, Ind., where he married, and in 1841 came to this county, 
where he acquired a farm of 199 acres, on which he erected a good frame house and 
barn, and raised a fine orchard. Previous to 1856, he was a Democrat, but after 
that period he voted with the Republicans. He was the first Commissioner of the 
County, and served a number of terms; he also served as Probate Judge, Justice of 
the Peace and Township Trustee. He was an earnest worker in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and died April 39, 1883, in his seventieth year. T. H. McCul- 
lough was reared on the farm, and at the age of seventeen enlisted in Company 
G, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in 
which service he did mostly guard duty. After his discharge, he resumed farming 
with his father'. March 12, 1868, he married Miss Mary L. Robinson, a native of 
this township, born October 8, 1847, daughter ot William Robinson, a union which 
gave issue to two children— Samuel O. and Effle C. After marriage, he located 
on the farm on which he now lives, comprising 153 acres, forty-five of which are 
under cultivation, with good buildings and improvements. Mr. McCullough is a 
Repilblican, and was elected Township Trustee in 1883. He and wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

GEORGE MASON was born in Allen County, Ind., May 18, 1817, where the 
city of Fort Wayne now stands, and is the fourth child of Lewis and Judith (Terry) 
Ma.son, natives of Lower Canada and Ohio respectively. Lewis Mason emigrated 
to Ohio previous to the war of 1813. in which glorious contest he served as a soldier. 
He married, about 1809, and in 1813 removed to the lu-ighborhood of Fort Wayne, 
and engaged in farming. The Indians were then very troublesome, preying upon 
stock, etc. The family jjrocured their breadstuffs from Ohio, and made all their 
clothing. Mr. Mason was a Catholic, dying at the age of seventy-eight. Mrs. 
Mason, a Baptist, dying at .seventy years of age; their lives were their monuments. 
George Mason was reared on the frontier, and Indians were his pla\'mates. He 
remained at home until manhood, and in 18:{8 came to this county, carrying his 
clothing in his arms, where, in January, 18;j9, he entered 130 acres, and on Febru- 
ary 23. of that year married Miss Maria Gillam, born in 1818. and a daughter of 
John M. (lillam; she died Sejjtember 7. 1854, leaving ten children, seven of whom 
are living— Josephus, Sanih L.. John, Nathan. Maria E., Thomas and Elizabeth. 
Mr. Mason was next married. March 15, 1855, to Sarah Booher, born .'September 14, 
1815, daughter of George and Sarah Booher. By thrift and frugality Mr. Mason has 
made a home and 130 acres, with good house and many improvements, liesides 
giving to each of his children $1,300. He was first a Whig, then a Know-Nothing. 
and later a Republican; he also .served six years as Township Trustee. He and 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



578 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

R. L. P. MASSE Y was born in Grant Couniy, Ind., August 18, 1885, on the 
bank of the river where Marion now stands, and is of the family of Robert and 
Rebecca L. (Butler) Massey, natives of North Carolina and Georgia. Robert Massey 
removed to Wayne County, Ind., in his youth, where he married, and, previous to 
1820, located in Grant County, moving thereto in a covered wagon, in which he 
lived until his cabin was finished, aftei"ward making a farm of eighty acres; this he 
sold and purchased eighty acres on the Huntington road, on which farm he died in 
1859; his widow yet resides on an adjoining farm near where she has resided more 
than sixty years, aged eighty-eight years. Our subject was brought up a farmer, 
and enjoyed but three months' schooling each year. He remained at home until 
1856, when he engaged as a farm hand. In 1860, he removed to Iowa, from which 
State, in 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry. He took action in Duvall's Bluff and Chickasaw Bayou; thence, the 
regiment was sent to Little Rock, by way of White River, said regiment being 
detailed to take 4,715 prisoners to Chicago. After the regiment was sent to St. 
Louis, he took ill, and was therefore discharged in 1863, in which year, October 
12, he married Eliza Poisel, of this county, born April 28, 1844, which marriage gave 
issue to six children— Ettis M., Ida M., deceased; Milley F., Jerome, Charlie H. and 
an infant. In 1876, Mr. Massey purchased-his present home of 140 acres, seventy-six 
of which are under cultivation, and which he has generally improved, this being the 
result of his thrift and tenacity. He is now raising thoroughbred cattle, is u Re- 
publican, a member of the G. A. R., a temperance man, and, with his wife a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

SAMUEL ODOM, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Henry County. Ind., 
born August 14, 1826, and is the eldest of ten children born to Lewis and Hannah 
(Batsen) Odom, natives of North Carolina and Pennsylvania, and of English descent. 
Both emigrated from North Carolina, married in 1824, and commenced their new 
life empty handed. He obtained his necessaries by bringing them 100 miles and 
paying for them with skins acquired by hunting; lie also made a home, secured 
1,500 acres, and died at the age of fifty-two; his widow lives on the old home, aged 
seventy-seven years. Samuel Odom was brought up to farming, and assisted his 
father to establish a home, where he remained until he was of age, and on Febru- 
ary 22. 1848, married Miss Catharine Runyan, of Henry County, born Decemlier 29, 
1828, by which union ten children were born, five of whom are living— George, 
Lewis, John, C'harles and Susan. Mr. Odom rented land after his marriage, after- 
ward purchased eighty acres, built a round log cabin, and was soon comfortable, 
owning 120 acres, with good improvements and an orchard. After a residence of 
eighteen years, he removed to MadLson County, Ind., where he had 160 acres, and 
lost by fire $3,000. In 1878, he sold this, and came to his present residence, which 
contains 428 acres, 350 of which are in cultivation. Mr. Odom is a stanch Democrat. 

JESSE OSBORN is a nativeof Ashe County, N.-C, was born September 21, 
1834, and is the second son of William and Delilah (Price) Osborn, both natives of 
North Carolina, and of Irish and English descent. William Osborn was reared in 
North Carolina, was a farmer, an anti-slavery man, a Whig, and the largest bee 
culturist of the State, having nearly 100 stands at a time. He died February 25, 
1881, aged sixty-nine, followed by his wife, in 1882, at the same age; lie was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist, and his wife of the Baptist Church. Jesse Osborn assisted 
his father until his majority, and was married August 19, 1855, to Miss Elmina 
Knight, of Guilford County, N. C, born September 2, 1834, daughter of Ammiel 
Knight. To this union succeeded ten children, seven of whom survive — Alvira J., 
Rebecca M., William F., Laura C, Mary L., Letitia F. and Rilla V. After mar- 
riage, and while engaged in farming and stock raising, he was conscripted, October, 
1862, and from choice, enlisted in Company I, Fifty-eighth North Carolina Volua- 



GILLAM TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 579 

teer Infantry, was assigned to Gen. Bragg' s command, and did skirmish duty for 
seven days on three days' rations. Afterward he was appointed nurse, tlien chief 
cook, and served in the ranks at Lookout Mountain and Chickaniauga, after which 
events he and five comrades deserted to the Union army and were sent north. He 
passed some time in Cincinnati and in this State, and in April, 186."). he returned to 
North CaroHna, sold his. property, removed hither, settled in Walker Township, and 
in 1881, came to this township, where he has seventy-eight acres, with good build- 
ings and other improvements. Mr. Osborn is a stanch Republican, and was Trustee 
of Walker Township for two terms. He and wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

ASA C. PREVO, County Commissioner, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in 
Tippecanoe County, Ind., September 4, 1830, and is the eldest son of Malachi and 
Nancy (Comer) Prevo, natives of Virginia and Tennessee. The maternal great- 
grandfather of Asa was a British soldier of the Revolutionary war. Malachi Prevo 
was married in Tennessee, whence he removed to Wayne County, Ind., thence to 
Tippecanoe, afterward to Carroll County, and in 1839, came to Barclay Township, 
this county, and finally to Gillam Township, where he acijuired a home of IGO acres, 
and died March 24, 1870, his wife five years later; they reared a family of ten. He 
was a Democrat, a Justice of the Peace, and with his wife, a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. Asa C. Prevo passed his boyhood in this county, remaining 
at home until twenty years of age, when he rented farming land. His first pur- 
chase was eighty acres of canal land for $)20, in 1850, and he now has 235 acres, 
150 of which are in cultivation, with good house and barn. September 28, 1854, he 
married Miss Mary Coppess, of this county, born October 13, 1838. This union was 
fruitful in twelve children — sevenof whom are living —Andrew W., Sarah E., George 
D., Daniel C, Frank G., Jessie M. andi^'yrus A. Mr. Prevo is a Republican, and 
an ardent supporter of that party. He was elected County Commissioner in 1882, 
and wi\s a very efficient officer. He and wife are lifelong members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

A. PULLIN, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Champaign County, Ohio^ 
was born January 18, 1831, and is the ninth of the twelve children of Samuel and 
Sarah A (Butt) Pullin. natives of Virginia, and of Irish and English extraction. 
Samuel Pullin was by trade a cooper, who moved to Ohio and located near Urbana, 
where he remained until death. Our subject assisted his father in clearing land 
until si.xteen years old, when he began work as a farm hand for $8 per month, 
his father receiving a portion thereof. He afterward farmed on rented land. Nov- 
ember 5, 1855, he married Mi.ss Sarah Ropp, of Champaign County, Ohio, born May 
14, 1836, daughter of Simon and Margaret (Demory) Ropp, natives of Virginia, and 
of German and French extraction. This union was productive of fourteen children, 
of whom nine survive— Iba A., Barbara A., James A., Rosa E., Preston, Elmer E., 
Elias W., Frank and Charles W. In 1865, Mr. Pullin came to and purchased eighty 
acres in this township, where he resided until March, 1881, when he sold this farm 
and purchased his present home of 156 acres, which contains good buildings and is 
well stocked with various fruits. Previous to the war, Mr. Pullin was a Democrat, 
but later he became an earnest Republican, and was elected Road Superintendent in 
1882. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

JOHN QUERRY (deceased). In 1881, this township lost one of the most prom- 
inent men, farmers and stock-raisers wlio have ever lived here; that man was the 
late John Querry. He was born in Rush Couuty, Ind., April 16, 1826, and was a 
son of Thomas (Querry, with wiiom he came to this county in 1810, and whom he 
assisted in farming; he also taught school several terms. He began life with limit- 
ed means, but acquired as good a honu; of 300 acres as the townsliip presents. 
April 4, 1850. he nnarried Miss Mary M. Freshaur. u nativ(( of .Mien County, born 



580 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

October 5, 1831. and the eldest of the family of William and Hannah (Querry)Fresh- 
aur, natives of Tennessee and Ohio respectively. As a result of this union were 
nine children, seven of whom survive — Preston M., Lydia H., Harriet C, William 
F., Florence C, Mary E. and Rachel C. Mr. Querry was a man of excellent char- 
acter and superior judgment, whose integrity was commended, and whose opinion 
was sought as arbiter in various matters of importance; hence he was frequently 
chosen as administrator. He was a prominent worker in the Republican party. He 
was a life-1 ong member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and was largely 
influential in building the Independence Church. Mrs. Mary M. Querry, his widow, 
resides on the home farm, and is a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

WILLIAM B. QUERRY, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Rush County, 
Ind., was born April 13, 1828. and is the son of Thomas and Sarah (McCullough) 
Querry, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. He came to this town- 
ship when twelve years old, was reared to farm work, and assisted his father in 
making a home from the forest. March 14, 1850, he married Miss Catherine, daugh- 
ter of Thomas Hanley, of Allen County, and born October 10, 1832. This marriage 
gave birth to eight children, six of whom survive — James W., Mary J., John, 
Charles, Thomas H. and William L. After marriage, Mr. Querry took charge of the 
farm for three years, when he removed to his present location, where he has suc- 
ceeded in obtaining 170 acres, in addition to 200 added by his sons, who are doing a 
good business in stock-raising, to which branch'Mr. Querry attributes his greatest 
success. He is a prominent Republican, served as Justice of the Peace for sixteen 
years, and was a verj^ efficient officer; he also served as Deputy Assessor, and is a 
public-spirited and esteemed citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Querry are members of the M. 
E. Church. 

JAMES RAYBURN, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Montgomery Coun- 
ty, Ind., was born January 8, 1828, and is the fifth of the seven children of Henry 
and Drusilla (Nicholson) Rayburn, natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. His 
parents were pioneers, having emigrated in 1826. He obtained the few educational 
advantages of the day, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-four, as a 
farm hand; he came to this county in 1852, and with two younger brothers, David 
and Rufus C, purchased 108 acres of land; this purchase he has augmented until 
he now has 200 acres, seventy of which are under fair cultivation. April 9, 1867, 
he married Miss Mazilla J. Prevo, born May 25, 1837, a daughter of Malachi Prevo 
one of this t ownship's pioneers. This union was fruitful in five children — Nancy 
D., Sarah E. (deceased), Mary C, Rebecca A. and Melissa F. Mr. Raybiirn's par- 
ents resided with him until the father died, May 1, 1875, aged seventy-nine; his 
mother yet enjoys good health, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Rayburn is regarded 
as a representative man, and his life has been active and laborious; he hiis, however, 
been successful. He is a Republican, and an ardent supporter of the party. He 
and wife are leading members of the M. E. Church. 

R. C RAYBURN, stock-raiser and farmer, is a native of Montgomery County » 
Ind., and was born February 14, 1834. He was reared to the independent living of 
a farmer, and received a fair education. After coming to this county with his father 
in 1854, he returned to Montgomery County, and engaged in teaming and farming 
for three years, during which time he was married, September 2, 1861, to Miss Mary 
E. Teeters, of this county, born December 15, 1837, daughter of Robert and Harriet. 
(Ramey) Teeters. To this union were vouchsafed five children— William R., Eva 
M., Henry M., Emma L. and Melvin C. Mr. Rayburn located upon the farm he 
now owns, of 120 acres, sixty of which are under fair cultivation, and improved by 
good buildings, making a desirable property and home. Mr. Ravburn is a stanch 
Republican, and he and Mrs. Rayburn are active members of the M. E. Church. 

LIEUT. A. G. ROBB, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Brown County, 



GILLAM TOWNSHIP— .JASPER COUNTY. 581 

Ohio, April 8, 1825, and is the feurlh of the ten cliihiren of Jolin and Mary (Fisher; 
Robb, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively. A. G. Ilobb, when eight 
years old, removed with his father to Morgan County, this State, and settled in 
White River Valley, where our subject remained until 1848, when he removed to 
De Kalb County, 111., and engaged in farming as a hand until 1849, when he drove 
an o.x-team across the plains to California. After working with the pick and pan 
for two years, he returned with f 1.(500, and engaged in mercantile business at Genoa, 
111. July 17, 18.53. he married Amy E. Williams, of I)e Kalb C^ounty, 111., born No- 
vember 9, 1831, from which union descended .seven children, of whom si.\ survive. 
In 1857, he returned to .Morgan County, Ind., and engaged in business with his 
brother, .Joseph S. One year later, he acrjuired the business.'and {;ontinued it imtil 
1861, at which time he enlisted in Company E, Tvventy-si.xth Regiment Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry. He was engaged in the sieges of Vicksburg and Mobile; was 
promoted to be Orderly Sergeant in 18<}2. then to be First Lieutenant, and distin- 
guished himself as abrave.soldier in a hot skirmish at Prairie Grove, Ark. In 186C, 
after four years' faithful and bright service, he was honorably discharged, when he 
returned to his family at Medarysville, and purchased eighty acres; he has since 
increased his farm to 395 acres, 115 of which are now producing, with good build- 
ings. He cast his first vote for Gen. Taylor, and later became a Republican. He 
has been twice Township Assessor, and is a member of the G. A. R. 

.JOHN 11. ROBINSON, farmer and stock-raiser, wjis born in Allen County, 
Ind., September 25, 1831, and is the eldest child of Paris and Sarah (Coppe.ss) Rob- 
inson, natives of Ohio and of Iri.sh and German descent. Paris Robinson located in 
Allen County when that section was a wilderness, and in 1838 came to this county 
and entered 160 acres. He experienced many hardsiiips, but he was a rugged man 
and an efficient hunter. He served as Probate .Judge for a number of years, and 
was in the Legislature from Pulaski County one .session. After making a home on 
160 acres, he removed to Francesville, engaged in mercantile business and died in 
January, 1869, aged si.xty-nine years. He was a zealous member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. .John H. Robinson .spent his boyhood in this county, and as- 
sisted his father until his majority. September 3, 1852, he wedded Miss Mary E. 
Querry, born in Rush County April 26, 1831, and daughter of Thomas (^uerrj-. 
The fruits of this marriage were eight children — Sarah, Rosa, Mary, Caroline, 
Lydia, Paris T., W. Harvey and Alfred C. After marriage, Mr. Robinson applied 
himself to farming, and continued until about 18.56, when he exchanged his farm 
for his present home of 140 acres, most of which is well improved. Mr. Robinson 
has been an industrious man and a lift^-long Democrat. He has also been a noted 
hunter, and a dealer in furs of all kinds. He and wife are members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. 

THOMAS H. ROBINSON, farmer and stock-raiser,-was born in this township 
February 23. 1842, and is the third of the family of William and Mary (Hanley) 
Robinson, natives of Ohio and Ireland respectively. William Robinson came with 
his family to this townsiiip in 1838, of which he was one of the earliest settlers. He 
was also one of tlie most valued citizens, and reared a family of twelve children, 
seven of whom are living. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church ; had been a Whig, but later became a Repul)lican. In 1H7H, he sold and 
removed to near Hayes City, Kan., where he now lives, at the age of eighty years. 
Thomas H. Robinson was reared a farmer, but obtained a fair education, and in 
1864-<!5 taught one term of school. In 1H61, he enlisted in Companj' D, Ninth Reg- 
iment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he was jiromoted to be First Sergeant. 
He was engaged at Greenbrier, Stone River, Shiloh, in the Atlanta campaign, and 
was discharged in September, 1864. He then resumed farm labor until 1865, when 
he purchased forty acres. April 19, 1866, he married Frances M. Itoxwell, of .Jas- 



582 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

per County, Ind. ,born August 27, 1845, daughter of Clark and Ruth P. (Knapp) 
Roxwell, by which union resulted five children— Emma P., Lois I., Effie G., 
Schuyler C. and Mary S. Mr. Robinson is owner of 900 acres of land, 300 of which 
are now cultivated. He is a leading stock-raiser, having from 100 to 150 head of 
cattle on hand, besides horses. 

MIICHAEL ROBINSON, farmer and stock-rai.ser, is a native of this township, 
was born December 28, 1843, and is the fourth of the family of William and Mary 
(Hanley) Robinson. He worked on the home farm until his eighteenth year, at 
which time he enlisted in Company I, Twentieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry. He was at the seven days' fight, Fredericksburg, .second Bull Run, Chan- 
cellorsville and Gettysburg, where his brother was fatally shot in his side ; he gave 
him a few moments' attention, then moved to avenge him. At the Wilderness, he 
was wounded int he foot and remained all night on the field; he was afterward 
placed on detached duty at the Soldiers' Home, Indianapolis, and honorably dis- 
charged in March, 1865, after which he resumed farming for two years on the home 
place. April 25, 1867, he married Miss Sarah E. McCullough, born February 9, 
1834, daughter of Samuel McCullough, of this township. This union was made 
happy by five children— Millie J., Florence C, Clarence A., Nora L. and Alfred O. 
After marriage, he located on forty acres in this township, which he afterward ex- 
changed for a portion of his present home, to which he removed in the spring of 
1879, made important improvements and increased said land to 400 acres. He has 
now eighty head of cattle and 100 of sheep, and has bought and sold cattle for the 
past seventeen years. Mr. Robinson is a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

WILLIAM S. STEVENS, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Champaign 
County, Ohio, April 26, 1828, and is one of the family of James D. and Christen a 
(Idle) Stevens, natives of Virginia and of German descent. James D. Stevens re- 
moved with his parents to Ohio previous to 1805. He was in the war of 1812, and 
was kept prisoner after Gen. Hull's surrender. After his liberation, he returned, 
married, located on land and made a good home. Later, he moved to Ohio, and 
died at Urbana, March 27, 1883, aged ninety-two years and six months. He had 
been a Whig, became a Republican, and was long a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. William S. Stevens was reared a farmer, and began to work 
for himself when eighteen years of age. In 1855, he commenced to farm on rented 
land. December 3, 1858, he married Matilda J. Demory, born in Clark County, 
Ohio, July 10, 1838, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Neer) Demory. Two chil- 
dren followed this union— Ida C. and James W. Mrs. Stevens died March 13, 1878, 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1864, Mr. Stevens removed to 
this county and purchased fifty acres of his present home, to which he has added 
until he now has 103 acres, all fairly improved. He is a large stock-raiser of cattle, 
horses and hogs. He is a Republican, and was elected Township Trustee in 1880, 
which office he filled satisfactorily. 

JOHN TILLETT is a native of Virginia, was born November 22, 1825, and is 
the third of the twelve children of James and Susan (Buck) Tillett, natives of Vir- 
ginia, and of English and German descent. James Tillett was a shoe-maker, and 
in 1828 moved to Wayne County, Ind., and engaged in teaming from Cincinnati, 
Ohio, to Richmond, Ind., and during the seven years of this service handled much 
gold and silver with which to pay the Miamis. In 1835, he removed to Miami 
County, located 160 acres, made a good home, and at one time owned 2,000 acres in 
that county and 1,600 in this county. He was a Jackson Democrat, and was several 
years County Commissioner. He died suddenly July 5, 1879, aged eighty years. 
John Tillett passed his boyhood days on the home farm, and remained until Janu- 
ary 17, 1855, when he married Miss Eliza A. Cain, of Miami County, born in Mont- 



KKENEK TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTV. 583 

gomery County, Va., December 18, 1829, daughter of Cornelius uiul Ann (Kip- 
injrer) Cain; they were natives of Virginia and pioneers of Miami County. Mr. 
and Mrs. Tillett are parents of nine children — James M., Cornelius F., Sarah E., 
John E., Mary J., Emma D., Martlia A.. Willie, deceased, and Jesse A. After 
marriage, Mr. Tillett began farming on liis father's land, with limited means, and 
in 1856 he came hither with ;350 cattle, and iierded them hard by where he now 
lives; thus he continued until IStJ?, when he came to this county and located on 
eighty acres. He now owns 580 acres in a body, besides 366 in Miami County. Mr. 
Tillett is mainly engaged in stock-raising; is a Freemason and a Democrat. Mrs. 
Tillett is a member of the Christian Church. 



KEENER TOWNSHIP. 



DR. THOMAS ANTRIM, physician and farmer, was born June 30, 1814, in 
Clinton County, Ohio, and is the youngest of the four children of Thomas and 
Rachel (Jenkins) Antrim, natives of Virginia, and of Irish and Welsh descent. Dr. 
Antrim left his native State when six years of age, came with his parents to Wayne 
County, Ind., and remained about sixteen years, then moved to Wabash County, 
and thence to this county in 1853, where he has since remained, and has a good 
farm of eight}' acres. December 27, 1838, he married Lucinda W. Massey, a native 
of this State, which union was favored with eight children — Rebecca J., deceased; 
Rachel E., Mahlon F., deceased; William D., deceased; Milton F., James F., George 
B. and Sarah C. Dr. Antrim's earliest and strongest predilection was for the prac- 
tice of medicine. He did much reading in youth, and after marriage he applied 
himself thoroughly to the study of his chosen profession. He is truly a self-made 
man. He was formerly a Whig, having given his first vote for Henry Chi}'; after- 
ward, he became identified with the Anti-slavery party, and was a conductor on the 
underground railroad. He is now an earnest Republican; was elected Justice of 
the Peace in 1883, and is the Recorder-elect of this county. 

JAMES F. ANTRIM, a self-made, energetic young man, a son of Dr. Thomas 
Antrim, was born in this county April 17, 1857. He was reared upon a farm, but, 
having a desire for books, he early sought after knowledge, and thus ascertained 
that by arduous study he was enabled to lift the veil of hidden mysteries and dis- 
close truths to his inquiring mind. Close devotion and the exercise of his God- 
eiven intelligence have made him the young man of fame that he is. He has 
attended the State Normal School at Terre Haute, the Northern Normal School and 
the Business Institute at Valparaiso. He began teaching on a six months' license, 
and has since held two eigiiteen-months' and two two-j'ears' licenses, and is now 
regarded as one of Jasper County's most prominent teachers, having frequently 
assisted the County Superintendent in holding his examinations. He has been, and 
is now, a reporter for several new.spapers and periodicals. Thus has our subject been 
favored in overcoming obstacles to his onward course of progression, which leads 
men from the farm to become the first in the ranks of all professions. Mr. Antrim 
is an earnest, working Republican, as well as an upright, industrious, economical 
young gentl«;man, and one of the brightest promise. In addition to the amount 
expended on his education, he has purchased forty acres of land in Gillam Town- 
ship, this county. 

DANIEL E. FAIRCHILD, farmer and cattle-dealer, was born in Hancock 
County, Ohio, June 23, 18 W, and is the second of the family of Acton H. and Ilar- 

3S 



584 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

riet (Day) Fairchild. Our subject came to this county in 1868, where, by industry 
and frugality, and without assistance, he has made himself owner of eighty-six 
acres of good land, fairly improved. In 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Twenty- 
first Ohio Infantry; was engaged in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, and 
many others, but came out unscathed, and was honorably discharged in 1864. 
April 2, 1868, he married Hannah Fry, a native of Ohio, to which union were born 
eight children — Essa B. ; Clifford E. ; Alfred D., deceased; Delia A., Daniel J., 
Sarah, Florence and May. Mr. Fairchild has an ordinary education, and is a suc- 
cessful farmer. He is also an ardent Republican; was elected Justice of the Peace 
in 1870, and re-elected in 1874. 

ELAM D. FAIRCHILD, farmer and cattle dealer, was born June 2, 1844, in 
Hancock County, Ohio, and is the fourth of the family of Acton H. and Harriet 
(Day) Fairchild, natives of Ohio, and of English descent. Our subject moved to 
this county with his parents in the spring of 1866, and located in this township, 
where he has continued to live. He was bred a farmer, but has taught several 
terms of school. To the small help he received from his father, he has continued 
to add until he now has 450 acres of excellent and well-improved land. In 1862, he 
enlisted in Company D, Twenty-first Infantry Regiment, and was in the following 
hard-contested battles: Chickamauga, Jonesboro, Atlanta and Bentonville, in none 
of which he was wounded. He was mustered out with martial honors in the sum- 
mer of 1865. March 18, 1869, he married Effie Garis, a union fruitful by five 
children — Nina, deceased; Ethie, Ruth, Harriet and Susan. Mr. Fairchild is a solid 
Republican; he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1876, and re-elected in 1880. 

JOSEPH P. FAIRCHILD, farmer and stock dealer, is a native of Hancock 
County, Ohio, and the sixth of the family of Acton H. and Harriet (Day) Fairchild. 
Our subject was born July 12, 1847, and came with his parents to this county, where, 
unassisted, he has made himself owner of a comfortable home of ninety acres, and 
with considerable modern improvements. He was married, January 12, 1870, to 
Mary A. Hawkins, a native of Indiana, which union has given issue to four chil- 
dren — Eva, Edwin H., Nelson and Loren, deceased. Mrs. Mary A. Fairchild died 
by consumption September 16, 1881. Mr. Fairchild is a Republican, and one of the 
stanchest workers of that party. He is a well-to-do, energetic farmer, and has a 
promising future for enjoyment and usefulness. 

GEORGE S. GUILD, farmer and cattle dealer, is a native of Fulton County, 
Ind., was born January 16, 1848, and is the fourth child of George and Sarali (Hull) 
Guild, natives of Connecticut and Ohio respectively, and of, English extraction. 
George S. Guild was reared on his father's farm, and remained at home until he was 
nineteen years old, in the meantime having acquired a very fair education. In the 
year 1853, he came to this county with his parents. By well-directed industry and 
consistent economy, he has secured a fairly improved farm of eighty acres in Gillma 
Township. May 19, 1867, he married Clara R. McJimccy, the result of their union 
being five children— Charles H., Nathan H., John H. D., Gurtha M. and James A. 
Mr. Guild has always voted with the Republican party, in which he is an active 
worker. In the spring of 1881 he was appointed Trustee of the township to fill a 
vacancy, and in the spring following elected to the office for two years. 

IRA B. BOBBINS, M. D., eminent physician, cattle dealer and farmer, was 
born November 10, 1831, in Marion County, Ohio, and is the eldest of the six chil- 
dren of Edward and Elizabeth (Ilurd) Bobbins, natives of Pennsylvania and Ken- 
tucky respectively, and of German and Irish descent. Dr. Robbins remained with 
his parents until he was twenty-four years old. After attending the common 
schools, he passed two terms at a seminary at Ontario, La Grange County, Ind. He 
then began the study of medicine, read under his uncle for two years, and 
afterward attended two courses at Cleveland, Ohio. He became disgusted with the 



KEENER TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 585 

allopathic practice, and thereafter studied the homoeopathic system, and graduated 
from the Homoeopathic Institute at Chicago. lie began directly the practice of 
medicine in Will County, III., working in a way to leave nothing undone to advance 
his proficiency. March 1, 1855, he married Mary. I. Ray, by whicli union were born 
eight children^James S., Lola I., David S., deceased; Albert B., Samuel R., Susie, 
John and Fannie. In 18C2, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundredth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, was in seventeen engagements, several times wounded, and 
was discharged with honor in the fall of 1864. Dr. Robbins cast his maiden vote 
for Zachary Taylor, and is now a stanch and active Republican. Both he and 
wife are members of the M. E. Church. 

REV. LEMUEL SHORTRIDGE was born March 18, 1820, in Wayne County, 
Ind., and is the eldest of the twelve children of Elisha and Esther (Crum) Short- 
ridge, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Ohio, who removed to Henry 
County, Ind., when our subject was two years old, and there he remained until his 
twenty-fifth year. He was reared a farmer, and followed that calling for twelve 
years in White County, whence he removed to Valparaiso and lived seven years, 
about the same time in Wal)ash, also in Lake County, and, in 1873, located in this 
township. October 19, 1843, he married Lydia Gwin, by which union descended 
ten children, nine of whom were named— Ireneus, Mary, John, Hattie, deceased; 
Catharine C, deceased; Clara, Elisha, Thomas and William. Mrs. Shortridge was 
a member of the Christian Church, and died March 23, 1865. November 30, 1866, 
Mr. Shortridge married Paulina Oyler, and to this union were born three children — 
Lydia, Rosetta and Kate. Mr. Shortridge enlisted in 1863, and served as Cliaplain 
until 1865. He is a member of the Masonic order; he was once a Whig, gave his 
first vote for Henry Clay, and became, later, one of the organizers of the Repub- 
lican party in Northern Indiana. Mr. Shortridge became a member of the Christian 
Church when fifteen years old, and began preaching when eighteen, to which pro- 
fession he has given a majority of his time. His wife is also a member of the above 
church. 

JOHN SHORTRIDGE, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of White County, 
Ind., and the third of the family of Lemuel and Lydia (Gwin) Shortridge, both 
natives of Wayne County, Ind., and of German and Scotch descent. .lohn Short- 
ridge lived with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age, working during 
summer and attending school during winter. Without any assistance, and with his 
native will, diligence and frugality, he has already acquired a competence. April 
15, 1877, he married Lola Robbins, by whicli alliance has resulted two children — 
Flora B., born April 9, 1879, and an infant unnamed. Mr. Shortridge came to this 
county, in company with his parents, in 1873, and located in this township; he is 
now the possessor of a good farm of 160 acres. He has always voted with the 
Republicans, and is an active worker in that party. 

CHARLES H. THOMPSON, farmer and cattle dealer, is a native of the State 
of New York, and was born June 8, 1843. He is the second of the family of Iliram 
and Harriet Thompson, also natives of New York, and of English and Irish descent. 
Charles H. Thompson came to this State with his parents in 1852, and located in 
Lake County; afterward removed to Newton, and thence to this county, where he 
has a good farm of eighty acres. He is a successful farmer, to which business he 
has been reared. September 18, 1864, he was married to Mrs. Margarettu (Hunt) 
Woods, to which union succeeded two children— Hattie E. and Annie O. Mr. 
Thompson is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party. Mr. 
Thompson's weekly production of butter averages forty pounds. He is an upright 
man and a liberal benefactor. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



586 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

MERRIL M. TYLER is a native of Wabash County, Ind., born May 27, 1859, 
and is the youngest of three children born to Alexander A. and Martha J. (Brown) 
Tyler, natives of Indiana, and of English extraction, who came to tliis county in 
1868 and located in this township, where Alexander A. Tyler, with the help of his 
sons, made one of the best farms in the township; he at present deals somewhat in 
cattle. Merril M. Tyler was reared on the farm, where he worked during the sum- 
mer, but during the winter attended school. He afterward attended school at Rens- 
selaer and Valparaiso, thus preparing himself for the profession of teaching, which 
he has practiced successfully for ten terms in this county. Mr. Tyler is now engaged 
as salesman in a mercantile business at Rose Lawn. He is an active, reliable, edu- 
cated young man, andpne for whom there is a hopeful future. 

WILLIAM C. TYLER is a native of Wabash County, Ind., was born September 
4, 1862, and is the eldest of four children born to Asa and Sarah J. (Bruner) Tyler, 
natives of Iridiana, and of English and German descent, who came to this county 
and located in this township in 1868. William C. Tyler was reared on a farm, on 
which he worked in the summer, and in the winter he attended school at Rensselaer, 
and, owing to rapid advancement, received a certificate to teach in the public 
schools, which he followed two years successfully. Mr. Tyler is at present engaged 
in a general store, consisting of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, in which he 
is doing a prosperous business in the little station called De Motte. Mr. Tyler is an 
energetic, painstaking young man and is an active Republican. 

ELIJAH WHITSON, farmer, is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, was born 
March 6, 1817, and is the third of the family of John and Cynthia (Tacket) Whit- 
son, natives of South Carolina, and of English descent. Elijah remained with his 
parents on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age, during which 
period he enjoyed but six months' schooling. He studied diligently, however, after 
he became of age, and thus acquired a share of learning. His first business enter- 
prise was in the saw mill line, which he followed for some time. After removing to 
Howard County, Ind., he settled in New London, and engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness, and after four years engaged in the same line at Morocco, Newton County, for 
three years. He was then appointed Swamp Land Commissioner, and served four 
years. In the spring of 1873 he located in this township, where he owns a fine farm 
of 160 acres, with many modern improvements. March 4, 1881, he married Susanna 
Killenburger, which union gave being to four children — Rachel, Maria, Marcellus 
A. and Peter E. Mr. Whitson is a member of the Masonic order. He was once a 
Whig, and cast his vote for William H. Harrison, but since the decline of that party 
he has voted with the Democrats. 




--^ 



WALKER TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 587 



WALKER TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM D. MEYERS, farmer and stock dealer, was born January 21, 1852, in 
Hamilton County, Ohio, and is the second of the family of William and Mary 
(Dinkleman) Mcj'ers, natives of Germany and of German descent. William D. 
Meyers came to this county in company witii his parents in 1872, and located in 
this township, which has since been his home. Mr. Meyers was reared as a farmer, 
and received what education he coidd from the common schools during winter .sea- 
.sons. He is now enga.i^^ed in the stock trade with his brother, and they are doing 
a thriving business. Mr. Meyers is an entluisiastic Republican, b}' which party 
he was elected Township Trustee in the spring of 1882; he takes pride in securing 
the best of teachers for the schools under his care, l)y which, and attention to other 
duties, he has earned the respect and confidence of the people. He is a young man 
of great possibilities and promise. 

GEORGE STALBAUM, farmer and cattle-raiser, was born December 22, 1835, 
in northwest Germany, and is the .second of the family of Joseph and Hannah Stal- 
baum, natives of Germany and of German descent. In company with his parents, 
George came to this country in 1854, landing at New York City. Soon afterward 
he came to this county and has here remained. After good opportunities, which he 
improved, he possesses a very fair education. Without assistance, but with the 
virtues of industry and frugality, he is possessor of a good farm of 160 acres, and 
with improvements. November 16, 1862, he married Adeline Heferlin, of which 
union eight children lived to receive names — Charlie A., Anna, Josephine, John II., 
Emma, AVilliam, Frederick and George, deceased. Mr. Stalbaum takes high pride 
in educating his children. He is a Democrat, and a very active worker in that par- 
ty. He was elected Township Trustee in 1878, served two years, and was re-elected 
in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Stalbaum are both church members — he of the Lutheran, and 
she of the Catholic. 

JOSEPH TANNER, farmer and cattle-dealer, is a native of Switzerland, was 
born August 5, 1844, and is a .son of John and Elizabeth (Stuckey) Tanner, natives 
of Switzerland, and of German descent. After emigrating in 1852, they arrived at 
New York and lived for various periods on Long Lsland, in New Jersey, on Staten 
Island, in Pennsylvania and in Chicago, whence tiiey removed to Lake County, 
Ind., and in 1870, came to this townsliip. Joseph Tanner emigrated to America 
with his parents, and was reared a farmer, which has been his business throvigh 
life, he having now a fine farm of 200 acres. February 23, 1865, he married Mary 
A. Griesel, which union was crowned by eight children — Elizabeth J., Jolin W., 
William E., Eli E., deceased; Charles F., Sarah L., Joseph E. and Mary E. Mr. 
Tanner has always voted the Republican ticket, and is an active worker in tiiat 
party. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. 

JESSE WILLCOX was born July 27, 1814, in Muskingum County, Ohio, and is 
the fifth of the family of James and Rebecca ((-ampbell) Willcox, the former a 
native of Vermont, the latter of Virginia, and both of English descent. Jesse Will- 
co.x located in this township in 1853, where with a little aid in the beginning, and 
much industry and frugality afterward, he has been enabled to secure 245 acres, now 
containing many njodern improvements. In ls;{5, lie married Eveline Hershman, 
who died July if, 1863, having been the mother of thirteen children — Lewis, de- 
ceased; Jacob R., George M., Josiah, Abner C, Zcbedee, William, Edward, de- 



588 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



ceased; John W., deceased; Charles, deceased; Martha, Mary and Mahala J. Mr. 
Willcox was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Republican, an earnest worker in 
that party, and has filled several township positions. Mr. Willcox is a much re- 
spected citizen, and is, as Mrs. Wilcox was, a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 




WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP— JASPER COUNTY. 589 



WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

ELMER H. BROWN, farmer and cattle-raiser, was born April 13, 1838, in 
Will County, 111., and is a son of Simeon and Rachel (Weaver; Brown, natives of 
New York, and of English extraction. Elmer H. Brown is a throughbred farmer. 
He attended the common schools in youth, and after his majority went to a school 
at Joliet for a time, and thence to Valparaiso, Ind. There he enlisted, in 1861, in 
the Twentieth Indiana Regiment, and was engaged in eleven battles; he was mus- 
tered out at New Orleans in 1864, with martial honors and without injury. After 
returning, he married Eraeline M. Patterson, August 18, 1864, to which union were 
born seven children — Merritt N., Clarence L., Cora E., Ina M., deceased; Earl E., 
Stella A. and Bessie G. Without assistance, he has succeeded in getting a beginning 
in the cattle business in this county, whither he came in August, 1877; he now 
manufactures about 100 pounds of butter per week. Mr. Brown is and has always 
been a Republican, and was elected Township Assessor in 1878. 

JOHN H. SHAFFNER was born December 37, 1796, in Dauphin County, Penn., 
and is the fifth of the family of Martin and Fannie (lloldaman) Shaflfner, natives 
of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. John remained with his parents until 
he was twenty-four years oldi and, having learned the business of milling, followed 
the same for more than thirty years. In 1822, he emigrated to Ohio, and remained 
six years, thence to La Fayette, Ind., in 1828. wiiere he purchased a saw and grist 
mill; there he remained until 1856, when he located in this township, and manu- 
factured the first beer brewed on the Wabash River. Mr. Shaffner has now a good, 
improved farm of 320 acres. February 21, 1819, he married Susan Franck, daughter 
of David Franck, and a native of Pennsylvania. Five children blessed this union — 
Wo.sine F., Holdaman B., deceased; Holdaman B.; Salburtis R., deceased; and 
Louisa H., deceased. Mrs. Siiaffner died October 15, 1878; she was a member of the 
Methodist Church. Mr. Shaffner was a Democrat until the outbreak of the war, 
after which he voted with the Republicans. He is a good and worthy man, and a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

WOSINE F. SIIAFFNER is a native of La Fayette, Ind., where he first saw 
the light in the year 1830, where he was reared and educated, and where he was at 
one time interested in one of the largest mercantile houses of that city. He is the 
son of John H. and Susan (Franck) Shaffner. In 1S53, he was married to Miss 
Sophia Ford, daughter of Henry Ford, formerly of Pennsylvania, which union re- 
sulted in the birth of five children, only one of whom— Leon — is living. Mr. Shaff- 
ner was elected Trustee of De Motte Township in 1882. He is a Republican, and a 
gentleman of unusually excellent business qualifications. His father, John H. 
Shaffner, is the owner of 600 acres of land. 



590 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



KANKAKEE TOWNSHIP. 

ISAAC D. DUNN, farmer and stock raiser, was born July 4, 1822, in Cumber- 
laud County, Me., and is the ninth of the twelve children of William and Nancy 
(Farrington) Dunn, both natives of Maine, and of Irish and Italian extraction." 
Isaac Dunn was reared a farmer, and remained with his parents until he was twenty- 
one years of age, and then attended the Asbury College at Greencastle, Ind., six 
years, some of which time was spent in teaching. On leaving home, he had $50, 
but on arriving in this State $4.50. After his school period, he paid a visit to his 
father, for whom he purchased a home, and thereafter traveled for the North Wayne 
Scythe Company for two years, when he settled in Richmond, Ind., and engaged in 
the leather and tanning business, in which he has yet an interest. In 1873, he 
located in this township, where he owned a farm, now comprising 1,000 acres, and 
from which he ships from 1,200 to 1,500 tons of hay each year. In the summer of 
1852, he married Nancy B. Coffin, a native of Massachusetts, which union was 
honored with four children, three having lived to receive names — John C, Carrie 
C. and George N. Mr. Dunn is a Feeemason and Odd Fellow; has been an active 
Republican since the creation of that party, and was elected Commissioner of 
Jasper County in the fall of 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the M. E. 
Church. 

THOMAS M. JONES, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Owen County, Ind., 
October 19, 1838, and is the fourth of the children of Berryman and Elizabeth (Han- 
cock) Jones, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Indiana, and of Irish and 
Scotch descent. Thomas M. Jones remained with his parents until he was nineteen 
years old, and in the county of his birth until 1864, when he located in this town- 
ship, where he has a good farm of eighty acres, the result of his individual industry. 
August 23, 1857, he married Sarah, daughter of IMichael and Elizabeth (Pryor) 
Acord, both natives of Pennsylvania. Nine children have followed this union, of 
whom eight lived to receive names — Berryman F., John M., Silas H., Hannah M., 
Rose E., Charles E., Lilhe F., deceased, and George H. Mr. Jones was formerly a 
Whig, but since the decline of that party has voted with the Democrats, and is now 
an active supporter of the Independent movement; he was also an earnest member 
of the Grange. He was elected Township Trustee in 1865, and has been several 
times Assessor; was re- elected Trustee in 1880, and again in 1882. Mrs. Jones is a 
member of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

FREDERICK VAN PATTEN, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of New 
York, born October 26, 1820, and the fourth of the family of Abram and Sophia 
Van Patten, natives of New York, and of German descent. Frederick Van Patten 
remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age; he then followed canal- 
boating for several years, and, in 1856, came to this county and located in Kankakee 
Township, where he now has a good farm of 663 acres, with many improvements, 
wholly acquired by industry and thrift. He was first married to Catherine Prater, 
in 1846, who died, and, in 1868, he married Elizabeth Hall, by which union he had 
one child, Frederick. Mr. Van Patten is a member of the Masonic order; he was 
once a Whig, but when that party fell into a decline he joined the Democrats, and 
is an active worker among them. Mrs. Van Patten is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 



PART V. 

HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 



BY J. H. KATTLK. 



ERECTION OF COUNTY. 



AT the session of the Indiana Legislature in 1834-35, an act was 
passed forming the counties of Newton, Jasper, Pulaski, Starke, 
Marshall, Fulton, Adams, Wells, Whitley, De Kalb, Noble, Kosciusko, 
Steuben and Jay, of which the following is in relation to Newton and 
Jasper : 

" Section 12. That all the territory within the following boundary 
shall constitute a county to be known by the name of Jasper : Beginning 
at the southeast corner of Section 83, Township 24: north, Range 6 west, 
thence west to the line of the State of Illinois, thence north with the 
State line thirty miles, thence east with the line dividing Townships 28 
and 29 north, to the northeast corner of Section 4, Township 28 north. 
Range 6 west, thence south with the section line thirty miles to the place 
of beginning. 

"Sec. 13. That all the territory within the following boundary 
shall constitute a county to be known by the name of Newton : Beginning 
at the southeast corner of Township 29 north, Range 5 west, thence west 
to the State line, thence north with the State line thirty miles, thence 
east with the line dividing Townships 33 and 34 north, to the northeast 
corner of Township 33, Range 5 west, thence south with the range line 
thirty miles to the place of beginning." 

By these boundaries, it will be observed, the original county of New- 
ton included all of the present counties of Jasper and Newton north of 
the line dividing Townships 28 and 29 north, the townships of West Creek, 
Cedar Creek and Eagle Creek in Lake County, and Boone and Pleasant 
Townships in Porter County. In 1836, Porter County was organized, 
and the year following Lake County, each of which took all the territory 
north of the Kankakee River. In 1838, Jasper, which had been attached 



594 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

to White County, was organized as an independent county, Newton 
County being attached for some purposes to Jasper, and for others subject 
still to White. In the following year, however, the Legislature passed an 
act relative to the location of the county seat of Jasper, and for other 
purposes, as follows : 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Atsembly of the State of Indiana, That 
■George A. Spencer and Jacob Moyers, of White, and Solomon Hatfield, of Fountain, and 
Samuel H. Garrison, of Warren, and William Simms, of Tippecanoe Counties, be and the 
same are hereby appointed Commissioners, agreeably to an act entitled "An act fixing the 
seat of Justice in all new counties hereafter laid off." The Commissioners aforesaid shall 
meet at the bouse of Robert Alexander, of Jasper County, on the first Monday of June 
next, and immediately proceed to discharge the duties hereafter assigned them. 

Sec. 2. And it s hall be the duty of the Sheriflf of Jasper County, either in person 
or writing, to inform said Commissioners of their appointment on or before the first Mon- 
day of May next, and for such service shall be entitled to such compensation as the law 
requires. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners, in addition to the duties as- 
signed them by the act to which this has reference, to examine the counties of Jasper and 
Newton, with a view of their being consolidated, and if, after examination, the Commis- 
sioners are satisfied that the interests of the two counties would be promoted by the union of 
the same, they are hereby authorized to fix the seat of justice in said enlarged territory, 
taking into view the peculiar situation of said territory in regard to prairie, timber, wa- 
ter privileges, and the known wishes of the citizens of different parts of Jasper County 
being attached to other counties; and the seat of justice, if consolidated, shall be called 
Newton. 

Sec. 4. If, after examination, the Commissioners shall be of opinion that either 
county would be injured by the consolidation, they shall proceed to the county seat as 
provided by law, in Jasper County, agreeably to its present boundaries. 

Sec. 5. If, after examination, they shall be of opinion that the interests of the 
two counties would be promoted by the union of the same, from thenceforth the territory 
known by the names of Jasper and Newton Counties, shall be known as Jasper County. 
This act to be in force from and after its passage. 

Approved, January 29, 1839. 

The Commissioners thus appointed found the plan of consolidating 
the two counties advisable, and accordingly located the county seat at the 
Falls of the Iroquois River, with the name of Newton, thus striking the 
county of that name from the map of the State. In 1840, the county 
of Benton was formed, taking its territory from Jasper, the latter receiv- 
ing by way of compensation thirty sections adjoining the southeast angle, 
and now principally contained in Milroy Township. 

While the obliteration of Newton County was thus complete for the 
time, there existed a conviction that the vast territory thus consolidated 
as one county would eventually be divided in some way, and another 
county formed. The passing years brought increased population to the 
western portion of this territory, until the dissatisfaction with the remote- 
ness of the county seat began to find expression and influence from the 
increasing numbers. 



HISTORY OF NEWTOxN COUNTY. 595 

Matters ran along until the year 1857, when it became known that 
certain parties had lobbied through the Legislature a bill for the division 
of old and the organization of new counties, with the intention of making 
a new county out of the north part of Jasper County with the county 
seat on the Kankakee River. It became evident to the citizens of the 
western portion of Jasper County that if they allowed the scheme to be 
carried out that their prospects for a new county would be forever hope- 
less, and although the matter was considered to be somewhat premature, 
they at once went to work and called a public meeting of the citizens liv- 
ing west of the line dividing Ranges 7 and 8, to be holden at the town of 
Morocco, at which time it was resolved to at once proceed to get up peti- 
tions to the Commissioners of Jasper County, asking to be set off in a 
new county, to be called by the name of Beaver ; afterward, but at the 
same meeting, on motion of Mr. Thomas Barker, the name was changed 
from Beaver to Newton, carrying down to history the friendship of Jas- 
per and Newton, as related by Weems in his Life of Marion. 

The petition was signed by nearly every voter in the territory, and in 
Se[)tember, 1857, was presented to the Commissioners of Jasper County 
for their action. The petition was very naturally opposed by the citizens 
of the other portion of the county, and after about two days' skirmishing 
the petition was dismissed on the ground that a part of the names were 
attached before the taking effect of the law. The matter was decided on 
Tuesday afternoon. The same night petitions were written out and the 
next day circulated, and on Thursday morning sent to Rensselaer for 
presentation. The court had adjourned the evening previous to meet 
the next morning at 9 o'clock, but by some means the Commissioners got 
wind of what was coming, and two of the Commissioners never came 
back again during the term. There was no remedy left but to watch the 
court until the week expired and then go home and wait until the next 
term. 

At the December term, certain parties had got up a counter petition, 
striking off the territory along the Kankakee River into a new county, 
and had filed their petition first, intending to hold that as a preventive 
against any action in favor of striking off the new county of Newton. 
The first day of the term all parties were on hand, the county of New- 
ton being represented by Silas Johnson, John Andrews, Zacharia Spitler, 
John Ade and a few others. The opposition was led by Judge Milroy 
and L. A. Cole, and after a short time spent in consultation the case was 
continued until Thursday. On consultation of the friends of Newton 
County, it was determined, as the best line of procedure, to go into the 
territory asking to be set off as a new county along the Kankakee, and 



596 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

if possible get signatures to remonstrances against being set off as a new 
county. This was so far successful that quite a large majority of all the 
voters signed the remonstrances. This strategy was kept as quiet as pos- 
sible, and on Thursday afternoon, when the case was called up, the oppo- 
sition had not got wind of it. Judge Milroy presented his petition, fol- 
lowing it by a few remarks, after which some two hours were spent in 
hearing objections and arguments in favor of it, until [finally Silas John- 
son, to whom had been assigned that part of the programme, stated to 
the court he thought there had been fatal objections to the petition pre- 
sented, but that he had another argument against it which he wished to 
lay before the court, at the same time pulling out of his pocket the re- 
monstrances duly sworn to, which he read and then sat down. There 
was silence for about two minutes, after which, with but little further dis- 
cussion, the petition was dismissed. Thereupon the petition for Newton 
County was called up. 

This petition was presented December 7, 1857, and was opposed by a 
remonstrance signed by upward of 300 voters of the middle and eastern 
end of the county. The remonstrance was rejected, however, by the 
Commissioners, who held that those residing outside of the territory pro- 
posed to be cut off had no voice in the matter, and granted the prayer of 
the petitioners, appointing Messrs. Z. Spitler, John Darroch and David 
Creek a committee to run the boundaries of the proposed county. An 
appeal was taken from this decision to the Circuit Court, which overruled 
the decision of the Commissioners and granted an injunction restraining 
them from entering the order upon their records. An appeal thereupon 
was taken to the Supreme Court by the defeated party. 

In the meanwhile, the persons engaged in the legal struggle had se- 
cured the passage of a new law by the Legislature in the session of 1858- 
59, and in the following June a new petition and a new remonstrance 
was brought before the Commissioners, who rejected both on the ground 
that the case could not be heard at the same time in two courts, the ques- 
tion having been taken to the Supreme Court on an appeal. The case 
in court was reached and decided in November, 1859, the decision being 
as follows: 

Board of County Commissioners vs. George W. Spitler. Appeal 
from Jasper Circuit Court. Davison, Justice. The case made by the 
pleadings is as follows : Under the act entitled " An act to authorize the 
formation of new counties, etc.," approved March 7, 1857, certain citi- 
zens of Jasper County, residing within a certain district in that county, 
presented to the Board of Commissioners of said county a petition 
wherein they set forth the boundaries of the district in which they resided, 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 597 

and alleged that such district ought to be formed into a new county to be 
called the county of Newton ; that the area embraced within the bounda- 
ries was as near a square as may be, and would, if formed into a new 
county, leave 400 square miles in the old county of Jasper, etc. The 
Commissioners, at their December term, 1857, proceeded to act upon the 
petition, and upon final hearing appointed a committee of three freehold- 
ers, residents of said district, to lay off and establish the boundaries of the 
proposed new county. And the committee thus appointed having made 
their report, the same was by the Commissioners duly filed. 

After the filing of the report, and before the Commissioners had 
further acted in the matter, Spitler, the appellee, who was the plaintifi" be- 
low, filed his complaint in the Jasper Circuit Court, reciting substantially 
the above proceedings, and alleging that the act of March, 1857, does 
not authorize the division of a single county by the act of a single Board 
of Commissioners, acting through a single committee of freeholders ; and 
further, said act of 1857 is in conflict with the constitution. Plaintiff, 
in his complaint, suggests that unless prohibited by an order of the court, 
the Commissioners may, at their next term, enter an order establishing 
the boundaries of the proposed county and certify their proceedings to 
the Secretary of the State, etc. He therefore prays that a writ of pro- 
hibition may issue, directed to said Commissioners, commanding them not 
to enter upon their order book an order establishing such boundaries, etc. 
The defendants demurred to the complaint ; but their demurrer was over- 
ruled, and an order granted as prayed for. The act to which these pro- 
ceedings refer provides that, " whenever a majority of the legal voters 
to be affected thereby, in any district embracing an area of not less than 
400 square miles, shall desire the formation of a new county, and by 
a written request petition the Board of Commissioners of the several 
counties to be affected by the formation of said county, the said board 
shall appoint each a committee of three resident freeholders in each 
county of the district embraced in such change, who shall form a Board 
of Commissioners to lay ofi" and establish the boundaries of the proposed 
county, * * * and shall report the same to such Boards of Commis- 
sioners of the several counties affected by the formation of said new 
county, at the next or some subsequent session, and upon said report be- 
ing made, the Board of Commissioners of said several counties aforesaid 
shall enter upon their order books respectively an order establishing the 
boundaries of said new county, which shall be by them filed in the oflBce 
of the Secretary of State." Acts of 1857 ; 25, 26. 

Does this act conflict with the constitution ? It is insisted that the 
power to organize new counties has ever been exercised by direct legis- 



598 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

lation, and cannot be delegated. The position thus affirmed is not, in our 
opinion, well taken. The act of March, 1857, is a general law of uniform 
operation, to be executed through the agency of the Board of Commis- 
sioners, and it seems to us that the power thus conferred, so far as it 
relates to their duties under the act, is purely ministerial and not legis- 
lative. Indeed, the Constitution itself declares that " the General Assembly 
may confer upon the boards doing county business in the several coun- 
ties, power of a local administrative character." — Art. VI, Sec 10. 
Under this provision, the Legislature seems to be plainly authorized to con- 
fer the power embraced in the act before us. In cases like the present, 
the taking effect of the law is not the result of any action on the part of 
the Commissioners. Nor do they decide whether the act is or is not in 
force ; but simply whether it applies to the case made by the petition 
which the act prescribes. This is evidently not the exercise of dele- 
gated legislative power, but merely the application of the provisions of a 
general law, to a given case, local in its character. But it is thus argued : 
The county boundary of Jasper County is fixed by law. — 1 R. S. page 
168, Sec. 39. And Art. IV, Sec. 21, of the constitution having provided 
that " No act shall be revised or amended by mere reference to its title ; 
but the act revised, or section amended shall be set forth, and published 
at full length," no general law can be made applicable ; and Sec. 39, de- 
fining the boundary of said county can only be amended by an act local 
in its nature, the subject matter being local. 

The answer to this is, that Sec. 39, defining the boundaries of Jasper 
County, is one provision in an act entitled, " An act dividing the State 
into counties, and defining their boundaries," etc., which is a general 
law ; and that the act in question does not purport to be, nor is it, an 
amendment of any law ; but a general, independent enactment, having 
for its object the formation of new counties. And this court having 
decided that "the removal of county seats can be made the subject of a 
general law," there seems to be no reason why such a law cannot be 
applied to the case stated in the record. — Thomas vs. The Board, etc., 
5 Ind., 4. In our judgment, the act of March, 1857, is not in conflict 
Avith the constitution. 

But it is argued that that act, though it be valid, " does not authorize 
the division of single county by the act of a single Board of Commis- 
sioners, acting through a single committee of freeholders." It says: 
"Whenever a majority of the legal voters, etc., in any district, etc., 
shall desire the formation of a new county, and, by written request 
petition the Board of Commissioners of the several counties to be affected 
by the formation of such new county, etc., the said boards shall 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 599 

appoint each a committee of three freeholders in each county of the dis- 
trict embraced in such change, who shall form a board, etc., to lay 
off, and establish the boundaries of the proposed new county," etc. 

This phraseology thus used would seem to favor the construction as- 
sumed in the complaint ; but when the reason and object of the enact- 
ment is considered, the intent of the Legislature evidently was that the 
provisions of the act may be applied to a district existing within the 
bounds of a single county. Indeed, the words "several " and " each " 
and " county " and the phrase "Board of Commissioners," in the con- 
nection in which they are used in the act, plainly allowed the construc- 
tion that a district in an old county may be formed into a new county, 
provided such district contains an area of 400 square miles, and that 
such new county, when so formed, does not reduce the old county below 
that area. In this instance, we will judicially notice that the old 
county of Jasper contains an area of at least 800 square miles, and that 
consequently it may be divided so as to form two counties, each having 
the requisite area. 

An inquiry is raised as to whether the plaintiff has adopted the 
proper remedy. The appellants contend that the case stated in the com- 
plaint is not one in which a writ of prohibition can be sustained. The 
statute allows such a writ, but fails to point out the causes for which it 
may be allowed ; hence for these causes we must look to the common law. 

Blackstone says: " A prohibition is a writ issuing out of the courts 
of King's Bench, Chancery, Common Pleas, or Exchequer, directed to 
the Judge and parties of a suit in an inferior court commanding them to 
cease from the prosecution thereof, upon the suggestion that either the 
cause originally, or some collateral matter arising therein, does not be- 
long to that jurisdiction, but to the cognizance of some other court." 

This writ, says the same author, may also be issued to courts of 
special jurisdiction, as ecclestiastical courts ; when " in handling of mat- 
ters clearly within their cognizance, they transgress the bounds prescribed 
to them by the laws of England, as when they require two witnesses to 
prove the payment of a legacy, a release of tythes and the like. For, as 
the fact of signing a release, or of actual payment, is not properly a 
spiritual question, but only allowed to be decided in these courts because 
incident or accessory to some original question clearly within their juris- 
diction, it ought, therefore, when the two laws differ, to be decided, not 
according to the spiritual, but the temporal law, else the question might 
be decided different ways, according to the court in which the suit is de- 
pending (3 Blacks. Comm., 112; Tomlin's Law Dictionary, 242 ; 8 
Bacon's Abr. [Bouvier's Ed.], 206 ; Bouvier's Law Die, 377 ; 2 
Chitty's Gen. Prac, 388). 



600 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

This exposition of the cases for which a writ of prohibition may issue 
at common law at once shows that, under our system of procedure, it can 
only be used for one cause, namely, to command the Judge and parties of 
a suit in an inferior court to cease the prosecution thereof, upon a sug- 
gestion that the cause originally, or some collateral matter arising therein, 
does not belong to that jurisdiction, but to the cognizance of some other 
court (Perk. Prac, 489). If this position be correct, and we think it is, 
the writ of prohibition in this instance was not the proper remedy, be- 
cause the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County had, in the case 
pending before it, original and exclusive jurisdiction. Indeed, we per- 
ceive no reason why the party, instead of prosecuting the writ in question, 
did not adopt the usual remedy of appeal, because such an appeal is 
plainly authorized by express statutory enactment (1 R."S., p. 229., Sec. 
31). 

Judgment reversed, costs, etc. 

Barbour & Rowland, McDonald & Rooche and R. L. Hathaway for 
the appellant. 

This utter defeat of the remonstrants not only decided the legal 
status of the question, but also put an end to the division of sentiment in 
the district involved in the action. The general sentiment was that 
Newton was victorious and should go in peace to the accomplishment of 
her own destiny. The final action upon the separation of Newton was 
taken b}' the Board of Commissioners, December 8, 1859, when the 
board ordered the following entry upon their records : 

Whereas, The action of this court was heretofoi-e so restrained by an order of 
the Jasper Circuit Court as to preclude the entry of tlie following order, and 

WhereaSyThe Supreme Court of the State, on an appeal from said Circuit Court, 
reversed the action of said Circuit Court in said case; it is, therefore, now ordered 
by this court that the following report, the entry of which was heretofore restrained 
by said Circuit Court, be spread upon the order book, to wit: To the Honorable 
Board of County Commissioners of Jasper County, Ind. : We, the undersigned com- 
mittee, appointed by your honorable body at the December term, A. D. 1857, for the 
purpose of establishing and laying off the boundaries of Newton County, Ind., 
make the following report: Commencing at a point on the State line between Indiana 
and Illinois, at the southwest corner of Town 27 north, Range 10 west, at the corner 
of Benton and Jasper Counties; thence east along the line of said|counties of Jasper 
and Benton,between Townships 26 and 27 north, to Range line between Ranges 7 and 
8 west; thence north along said range line of 7 and 8 to the Kankakee river; thence 
west along the channel of said river to State line between Indiana and Illinois; thence 
south along said line to place of beginning; and hereby establish the above as the 
boundaries of the aforesaid County of Newton, Ind. ; all which we respectfully 
submit to your honors. 

David Creek, President, ) 

Zecha. Spitler, V Committee. 

John Darroch, ) 

February 37, 1858. 



i^v 




DECEASED. 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 603 

ORIGIN OF NAME. 

The name of the county at this date was a revival of the name origi- 
nated in 1835. It seems that " The Story of Marion's Men " had just then 
been published, or that the members of the Legislature especially influential 
in forming the new purchase into counties greatly admired the heroes of 
the narrative. It was appropriate that the adjoining counties, at present 8o 
similar in size and shape, and so closely related in their early history, 
should be named for the two Sergeants in this noted band of Revolution- 
ary troops. Sergeant Newton was a compatriot of Jasper, and the two 
were often united in deeds of daring. One of these occasions is repre- 
sented as follows : "^ Like many families of that time, Jasper's was divided 
on the great question. His elder brother took the side of the English, 
and served in their army. Out of affection to his brother, and a wish to 
examine into the strength and condition of the enemy, he resolved, with 
another patriot soldier, Sergeant Newton, to pay the British a visit. His 
brotlier's position enabled him to receive his two friends without any sus- 
picion of their being spies, and they were entertained for two or three 
days with great hospitality. 

" While they were thus en;:^aged, a small party of Americans were 
brought in prisoners, and, as they had deserted from the British, and en- 
listed in the American ranks, their doom would have been death. This 
the brother of Jasper assured him was to be their fate. With them were 
the wife and child of one of the prisoners. Her distress at her husband's 
approaching fate touched the heart of Jasper. Confiding his purpose to 
his friend Newton, they bade adieu to Jasper's brother, and took their 
leave. They had no sooner got out of sight of the camp than they made 
a detour, and stretched across the country, so as to elude all suspicion 
should they meet with any British soldiers. 

" It was the custom of the English then to send all the prisoners taken 
in that quarter to Savannah for trial. At a little spring, two miles from 
Savannah, Jasper and Newton secreted themselves, awaiting the arrival 
of the British escort with their prisoners. It had occurred to Jasper 
that, as they must pass this spot, it was very probable they might rest 
here. for a short time to refresh themselves, and the woody nature of the 
spot would favor a rescue. 

"After some hours' anxious suspense, they saw the escort, with their 
prisoners, approach; the guard was ten in number, and arme<l. The 
Corporal with four men conducted their captives to the water, and told 
them to rest themselves for an hour, at the same time giving them pro- 
visions. The guard then stacked their arms, and seated themselves. The 
prisoners threw themselves upon the earth in hopeless despair. Near to 

30 



604 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

the wretched man sat his wife and child. Two of the guards alone kept 
their arms as sentries. As the rest of the men were filling their canteens 
with water, Jasper and Newton came stealthily from their ambush, seized 
two of the muskets that were stacked, shot the two sentries, and rushing 
upon the others, stunned them with the butt of their weapons. Deprived 
of their weapons the others abandoned the conflict and fled." 

It was such deeds as these that made each man in Marion's band a 
hero, and the names of Sergts. Jasper and Newton may well be given a 
perpetual place in history as the names of the Twin Counties that form 
the subject of these pages. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Newton County lies just north of the hydrographic basin of the 
Wabash River, and embraces an area of 401.2 square miles, or 256,720 
acres. Its topography does not differ widely from that of Jasper County, 
which joins it on the east. Along the banks of the Kankakee some 
timber is found fringing the southern bank. The Iroquois, which flows 
in a general westerly course through the southeast part of the county, has 
a belt of timber of varying width along its banks. South of this timber 
belt lies that portion of the Grand Prairie of Illinois, which covers the 
southern tier of townships. This is the most fertile part of the county, 
and contains a larger proportion of inhabitants to the square mile than 
any other part. North of the Iroquois, until the Kankakee is reached, 
there are alternate groves of timber, much of which is of inferior value, 
and low prairies, which, when drained, will form quite valuable farming 
lands. Beaver Creek runs through the western half of the center of the 
county, and flows into the Illinois. Between this stream and the Kan- 
kakee lies Beaver Lake, which, at one time, covered nearly an entire 
Congressional township. The waters, which were, in places, of a depth 
of twelve feet or more, were drained oflf into the Kankakee, some twenty- 
five or thirty years ago, by an inexpensive ditch, some six miles in length, 
under the swamp land law. The entire original area of the lake, except 
a portion of its southern part, is now susceptible of cultivation, and much 
of it is covered with fertile farms. 

THEN AND NOW. 

During the fifty years that have marked the presence of the white man 
here, great changes have been wrought, and what appeared to the early 
settlers a dead level of prairie and swamp, is now a pleasant area of thrifty 
farms. This transformation has been achieved not by physical changes, 
but by the natural effect of tillage. Thp open land was originally covered 



HISTORY OF NEWTOH COUNTY. 605 

with a rank growth of prairie grass ; on the high lands the grass did not 
reach its normal height, while on the lower levels, its growth was of 
astonishing proportions, frequently reaching a height which would liide a 
man on horseback, and would thus tend to create the illusion of a per- 
fectly level plain. In the timber lands the change has been still more 
marked. The dense forests of young growth, underbrush and saplings 
did not exist fifty years ago. Then the timber, save along the streams, 
was marked only by scattered groves which farming localities preserved 
from the ravages of the annual fires that swept over the prairies. These 
were started by accident from the fires of the hunters, or by the Indians 
to keep the timber in check and to clear the country of the rank grass 
stubble. These fires which kept the beautiful vista of prairie unobstruct- 
ed, were most to be dreaded of all the early contingencies with which the 
settler in the region had to deal. Those only who have been awakened 
at the " dead hour " of the night by the lurid light of the approaching 
flames, can appreciate the horror connected with such an event. The 
feeling of utter helplessness in face of the unequal combat ; the wall of 
fire, from ten to fifty feet high, advancing with the speed of the wind; 
the winged denizens of the prairie flying affrighted and screaming before 
its approach ; the maddened rush of deer, wolves and other animals, for- 
getting all other fear in the presence of this overshadowing calamity ; the 
terrible granduer of its irresistible advance; the suffocating heat of its 
presence ; the charred and blackened waste which marked its fateful 
course ; the bewilderment of the isolated family grouped on the only bare 
spot that off'ered safety — all this cannot be imagined ; it must be felt to 
be appreciated. The excitement of its approach, passage and retreat, 
followed by the contemplation of the smoking ruins of a house, and im- 
provements which had cost months of toil, or of a crop that was the only 
hope of sustenance during the approaching winter, burns upon the brp,ia 
of an interested spectator, a sight never to be forgotten, and one the 
early farmers took pains never to see repeated. 

" From the time the grass would burn, which was soon after the 
first frost, usually about the first of October, till the surrounding prairie 
was all burnt over, or if not all burnt till the green grass in the spring 
had grown sufficiently to prevent the rapid progress of the fire, the early 
settlers were continually on the watch, and as they usually expressed the 
idea, ' slept with one eye open.' When the ground was covered with 
snow, or during rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and both 
eyes could be safely closed. A statute law forbade setting the prairie on 
fire, and one doing so was subject to penalty, and liable in an action of 
trespass for the damage occurring ; but convictions wore seldom effected, 



606 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

as proof was difficult to obtain, though there were frequent fires. These, 
started on the leeward side of an improvement, while dangerous to 
property to the leeward, were not so to property to the windward, as fire 
progressing against tne wind is easily extinguished, and the temptation 
to start one of these fires for some trivial purpose was often quite irre- 
sistible. 

" Various means were resorted to for protection. A common one was 
to plow several furrows around a strip, several rods wide, outside the im- 
provements, and then burn out the inside strip ; or to wait until the prairie 
was on fire and then set fire outside of this furrowing, reserving the inner 
strip for a late burn, i. e., until the following summer, and in July burn 
both old grass and new. The grass would start afresh immediately, and 
the cattle would feed it close in preference to the older grass, so that the 
fire would not pass over it in the following autumn. This process re- 
peated would soon, or in a few years, run out the prairie grass, which in 
time would be replaced by blue grass, which will not burn to any serious 
extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd of business on 
the hands of a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, would 
prevent his doing what would now seem a small matter ; and even when 
accomplished, all such precautions often proved futile. A prairie fire 
driven by a high wind would often leap such barriers and seem to put 
human effort at defiance. 

" A prairie fire when first started goes straight forward with a velocity 
proportioned to the force of the wind, widening as it goes, but the center keep- 
ing ahead ; it spreads sideways, but burning laterally, it makes but com- 
paratively slow progress, and if the wind is moderate and steady, this 
spreading fire is not difficult to manage ; but if the wind veers a point or 
two, first one way and then the other, it sends this side fire beyond con- 
trol. The head fire, in dry grass and a head wind, is a fearful thing, and 
pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some defensible point to 
meet it. A contest with such a fire requires such skill and tact as can be 
learned only by experience, and a neighborhood of settlers called on by 
such an exigency at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest 
and most experienced of their number, and go to work with the alacrity 
and energy of men defending their homes and property from destruction. 

" The usual way of meeting advancing fires was to begin the defense 
where the head of the fire would strike, which was calculated by the 
smoke and ashes brought by the wind along in advance of fire. A road, 
cattle-path- or furrow is of great value at such a place ; if there was no 
such, a strip of the grass was wetted down, if water could be procured, 
which was, however, a rather scarce article at the time of the annual 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 607 

fire. On the side nearest the coming fire, of such a road or path, the 
grass is set on fire, which burns slowly against the wind until it meets the 
coming conflagration, which latter stops of course for want of fuel, pro- 
vided there has been suthcient time to burn over a strip that cannot be 
leaped by the head fire as it comes in. This is called 'back-firing;* 
but in this method great care must be exercised to prevent the fire getting 
over the furrow or path, or whatever is used as the base of operations. If 
it gets in the rear of this and once under way, there is no remedy but to 
fall back to a more defensible position. The head of the fire successfully 
checked, the force of fire-fighters divide, part going to the right and part 
to the left, and the back-firing continued to meet the side fires as they 
come up. This must be continued until the fire is checked along the en- 
tire front of the premises endangered, and the sides secured. 

" Various implements were used to put out a side or back fire, or even 
the head of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence board, four to six feet 
long, with one side shaved down for a handle, was very effective when 
struck flat upon the narrow strip of fire. A bundle of hazel brush, a 
spade or shovel was often used with effect. The women frequently lent 
their aid and dexterously wielded the mop, which, when thoroughly wet, 
proved a very efficient weapon, especially in extinguishing a fire in the 
fence. When the fire overcame all opposition, and seemed bound to 
sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze, for the 
moment, every faculty, and as soon as the danger seemed imminent, 
united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he 
could. It is due to historical truth to say that actual losses were much 
less than might have been expected, though fretiuently quite severe. The 
physical efforts made in extinguishing a dangerous fire, and protecting 
one's home from this devouring element, were of the most trying nature, 
not unfrequently resulting fatally. 

" The premises about the residences and yards being trampled down by 
the family and domestic animals, after a year or two became tolerably 
safe from fire, but the fences, corn and stubble fields were often attacked. 
When the open land was all fenced and under cultivation, so that these 
fires were a thing of the past, the residents of the prairie were happily 
released from the constant apprehension which for years had disturbed 
their peace by night and caused anxiety by day, though the early settlers 
still retain vivid recollections of the grand illuminations nightly exhibited 
in dry weather, from early fall to late spring, by numberless prairie fires. 
The whole horizon would be lighted up around its entire circuit. A heavy 
fire six or seven miles away would afl^ord suflScient light in a dark night 
to enable one to read fine print. When a fire had passed through the 



608 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

prairie, leaving the long lines of side fires like two armies facing each 
other, the sight at night was sublime ; and if one's premises were securely 
protected, and he could enjoy the exhibition without apprehension, it was 
a sight well worth going far to see. ' 

MATERIAL RESOURCES. 

Geological data are rather meager in Newton County, and have never 
formed the subject of a report by the State Geologist, though it is ex- 
pected that the forthcoming report of this year (1883) will furnish some- 
thing of a survey of this interesting feature in the county's history. 
Bog ore is found in considerable quantities in the marshes, but to what 
extent, or what its commercial value may be, is uncertain, as no sys- 
tematic eifort has as yet been made to ascertain the facts concerning it. 
Should railroad facilities and cheap freight ever be supplied, this deposit 
may prove the source of considerable revenue, as there is no reason to 
doubt that it differs materially from that found in Jasper County. Good 
limestone is found for building and lime purposes in the southern part of 
the county between Kentland and Goodland. The outcrop, some two 
miles east of Kentland, has caused some difficulty to amateur geologists, 
and various theories have been mooted to account for its phenomena, but 
not satisfactorily. It lies upon a shallow bed of sand, and some sixty- 
five feet above the nearest rock below, and seems to " stand upon its 
edge." The State Geologist made an examination of this quarry in 1882, 
and finds difficulty in explaining the presence of certain fossils found here. 
Timber is found in quantities sufficient for all the demands thus far. 

[Note. — Since the above remarks were put in type, the report of 
John Collett, State Geologist, for 1882, and issued in 1883, has come 
to hand, and we think that portion which relates to Newton County will 
be acceptable reading to our subscribers, and therefore make room for it 
here. — Pubs.^ 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

Newton County contains four hundred square miles, of which the 
number of acres subject to taxation is 252,079, with an additional area of 
wet and swamp lands, in part belonging to the State, and not taxed, of 
about 2,000 acres, making a total of 254,079 acres. 

The whole of this area was originally about 66 per cent prairie, and 
at that time the number of acres in good timber was about 60,000 ; to 
which may be added about 25,000 acres of brush and small timber. 

The Kankakee River flows from east to south of west along the whole 
of the northern boundary, forming the dividing line between it and Lake 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 609 

County. Throughout its whole course it is sluggish and tortuous. The 
Iroquois River flows across the county in a nearly west direction, through 
the southern half, while Curtis Creek flows in a general southeasterly 
direction near the east-central part, joining the Iroquois in Jasper County, 
and Beaver Creek (the former outlet of Beaver Lake) runs south and west 
through the central parts into the State of Illinois. 

These were originally strong streams of water, with a full flow, gener- 
ally yellowish in color, from ihe decay of vegetable matter on its banks 
and from the iron in the marshes and swamps, while from the present 
constant source of supply of water they are not addicted to extreme very 
low stages or to sudden overflows. Their waters being of gentle current 
and muddy bottoms, are well adapted for the homes of non-migratory 
fishes, especially of the lake type ; hence the Kankakee, Iroquois and 
other streams are the delight of fishermen, who are rewarded with the 
best and brightest of the finny race. 

Beaver Lake, near the central part of the county, was formerly drained 
in a south and' west direction by Beaver Creek. Its original area was 
about 25,000 acres, having a depth of from two to six feet, averaging 
about three and a half feet. It was drained by the State ditch from its 
northern extremity into the Kankakee River, and now the area covered 
with water is less than 1,000 acres. Of this original lake bed, 2,500 
acres are at present in cultivation, while the balance is being rapidly 
drained and prepared for tillage. 

Little Lake, in the soutliwestern, and Mud Lake, in the northwestern, 
corner of Colfax Township, are smaller bodies of water, lying south and 
€ii3t of Beaver Lake. 

Surface Configuration. — The general aspect of the county is a great 
plain, being an elevated plateau well up toward the summit of the glacial 
drift. 

Since, and during that epoch in geological history, the surface has 
been molded by sluiceways from melting ice and the waters of the present 
actual streams, formerly in greater volume. This has resulted in the 
formation of wide valleys, through which all the streams flow, with inter- 
vening ridges of from fifty to eighty feet above the valley centers. 

The ridge dividing the waters which flow into the Iroquois from those 
of the Wabash system, is close to the southern boundary of the county. 
Another important ridge, not quite so well defined, divides the Iroquois 
from the Kankakee. 

These ridges afford ample facilities for the drainage of the northern 
and central districts, which will be treated further on, under the head of 
"Economic Geology." 



610 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

In the northern third of the county, the soil is largely composed of 
loose sand ; hence, while it is not so well adapted to ordinary agricultural 
purposes, yet for special crops, with manures, it has been found productive 
and profitable. 

This last district is palpably lacustral in its characteristics. Sloughs, 
swamps, and marshy thoroughfares indicate the old beds of lakes, while 
the sandy divides between them show the ancient shore lines. But, sig- 
nificant of that time of many lakes, the whole region is traversed by 
sandy ridges on the northeastern shore of such lakes, having an invariable 
trend from northwest to southeast, with sloping sides to the southwest, 
and abrupt banks to the northeast. Heretofore it has been supposed that 
these were simply the shore lines of such bodies at different stages of 
water. 

The foregoing circumstances, however, added to a careful examination 
of the fact that these sand ridges are not laminated as by a deposit by 
water, show that their origin is due to other causes. 

The prevailing summer and autumnal winds at that time, as at pres- 
ent, were from the southwest. It is well known that loose sand is rapidly 
and powerfully drifted before a strong wind, as is seen at the '' Hoosier 
Slide " and adjoining regions at Michigan City, as well as in the donnes 
or sandy lands of France. Hence, in the direction from which the winds 
came, the slope of these sand ridges faces toward the southwest, and their 
abrupt bank is opposite to it, or toward the northeast. 

At occasional points, where an uninterrupted wind impinged against 
these ridges, or where the grass and brush had been removed by Indian 
encampments, or by the passage of herds of buffalo, a break would occur 
upon the surface; the loose sand would be subjected to the action of the 
winds, and portions of such ridges would be blown away, to be built up 
in the shape of new ridges, or mounds and hillocks, leaving behind cup- 
shaped basins or hollows, at the place of removal. Instances of such 
action may be seen all along the eastern and southeastern ridges surround- 
ing Beaver Lake. These knolls and sharp conical mounds naturally at- 
tracted the attention of our Mound-Builder predecessors, and are some- 
times mistaken for their own handiwork. 

On the divide between the Kankakee and the Iroquois are ridges, 
knolls and areas, underlaid by good beds of gravel, which had scarcely 
been noticed until the time of my visit. This matter, of considerable 
practical value, will be noticed under the head of " Economic Geology." 

Recent Geology. — The surface of the county is so deeply covered 
with soil, sand and loam, which had their origin in causes still in action, 
such as lake, river and pond deposits, that but little study is afforded of 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 611 

the greater modifying causes of the glacial and ancient lacustral epochs. 
The presence of the great ice drift is attested by the bowlders, gravels, 
and imported rocks from the distant North, as seen in the ditches and 
hillsides of tiiis region, as well as occasionally in the open prairies. The 
deep wells throughout the county pierce the great bowlder drift or clays 
of the " Ice age," and there is found a constant bed of this material 
covering the underlying rocks to a depth of from sixty to one hundred and 
fifty feet or more. This would indicate that powerful denuding currents 
swept from east to west over the county, cutting out deep, wide valleys 
in the rocky beds below, and removing remarkable amounts of stony 
material. 

Following upon this came the great northern ice flow, which filled up 
these valleys, and deposited its immense burden of clay, bowlders and 
gravels upon the surface to the depths mentioned above. 

The phenomena of these ancient erosions and denudations and the 
replacement of the surface of the county are indicated by the following 
sections of bores and deep wells : 



SECTION IN ALEX J. KENT S WELL. 

Section 22, Township 27 north. Range 9 west, one mile northeast of 

Kentland, bored 1869 and 1870. 

Soil, black 2 ft. 06 in. 

Gray clay, bowlders 10 00 

Bowlder, blue clay 70 00 

The same, with partings of. sand and fine gravel 100 00 

Black slate, with bituminous partings 70 00 

Devonian limestone 20 00 

Upper Silurian limestone 48 00 

00 

Total 320 ft. 06 in. 



SECTION IN KENTLAND WELL, PUBLIC SQUARE. 

Section 21, Township 27 north. Range 9 west. 

Soil 2ft. 00 in. 

Blue glacial clay 148 00 

Black slate 73 00 

Devonian limestone 25 00 

Upper Silurian limestone 120 00 

Total 368 ft . 00 in. 

Water flowed at 300 feet. 



,612 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

SECTION AT Kent's warehouse, kentland. 
Section 21, Township 27 north, Range 9 west. 

Soil 2ft. 00 in. 

Blue bowlder clay 80 00 

Black slate 80 00 

Total 162 ft. 00 in. 

No water. 



SECTION at KENT S FARM, TWO MILES SOUTHWEST OF KENTLAND. 

Section 29, Township 27 north, Range 9 west. 

Blue clay 50 ft. 00 in. 

Hard limestone 00 00 

Total 50 ft. 00 in. 



SECTION AT KENT S FARM, FOUR MILES NORTHEAST OF KENTLAND. 

Section 18, Township 27 north. Range 8 west. 

Blue Clay.... 50 ft. OOin. 

Water, in limestone 3 00 

Total 53 ft. OOin. 



SECTION AT BESICKER S. 

Section 14, Township 28 north, Range 10 west, eight miles north- 
west of Kentland, one and one-half miles east of State line. 

Soil 3 ft. OOin. 

Yellow clay 6 00 

Blue glacial clay 156 00 

Gravel and sand 6 00 

Total 171 ft. OOin. 



SECTION AT MARK PETERSEN'S FARM, EIGHT MILES NORTHWEST OP 

KENTLAND. 

Section 11, Township 28 north. Range 10 west, half a mile east of 

State line. 

Soil 2 ft. OOin. 

Yellow clay 6 00 

Blue bowlder clay 154 00 

Fine gravel 6 00 

Sand 2 00 

Total .....170 ft. OOin. 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 613 

SECTION AT P. STRICKLER's, TEN MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF KENTLAND, 

HALF A MILE WEST OF STATE LINE. 

Soil 3 ft. 00 in. 

Yellow clay 4 00 

Yellow sand 1 00 

Blue bowlder clay 117 00 

Black slate 25 00 

Limestone, Devonian 35 00 

Limestone, Silurian 10 00 

Total 195 ft. OOin. 

SECTION ON SAME FARM. 

Soil 3 ft. OOin. 

Blue clay 122 00 

"Water, in black slate 1 00 

Total 126 ft. 00 in. 

Other wells in the adjoining regions of Illinois give slate and lime- 
stone at 110 to 125 feet, showing the deep erosion of the ancient valley 
of the Iroquois from northeast to west-southwest, and invites drainage in 
that direction. 

SECTION AT W. C. RUSSELL's. 

Section 13, Township 28 north, Range 10 west, eight miles northwest 

of Kentland. 

Soil and drift 125 ft. 00 in. 

Black slate 10 00 

Total 135 ft. OOin. 



SECTION AT J. V. SPECK S. 

Section 13, Township 27 north. Range 10 west, five miles northwest 
of Kentland. 

Four wells, fifty-five to eighty-six feet in blue clay ; 
wood and plant remains, with brown swamp muck 
at bottom 80 ft. 00 in. 

Sand and gravel 6 00 

Total 86 ft. OOin. 

Did not go down to slate or stone. 

This would indicate the ancient or early river bed south of Speck's 
and north of Kentland. 

In the Iroquois Valley many wells have been bored close along the 
stream ; all of these, so close to the river that the high water backs up to 
them, flow the year round. All are charged with iron and some with 
burning gas. 



614 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

AVERAGE SECTION IN WELLS, FOUR MILES NORTH OF KENTLAND. 

Soil 2 ft. 00 in. 

Quicksand 12 to 15 00 

Blue clay 30 00 

Hardpan gravel 5 00 

Blue sand 4 00 

Total 56 ft. 00 in. 

This average section indicates a great thickening of fluviatile deposits, 
and suggests the possibility that the channel of the Iroquois is being 
filled up. 

SECTION AT ISAAC EASTBURN'S. 

Section 23, Township 27 north, Range 10 west, four miles west of 

K entland at State line. 

Black soil 3 ft. 00 in. 

Yellow clay 6 00 

Blue glacial clay 25 00 

Blue glacial clay with partings of sand 46 00 

Gravel and fine sand 3 00 

Total 83 ft . 00 in. 

The foregoing wells were bored by David McKenzie, to whom the 
survey is indebted for the statements here given. 



SECTION — AVERAGE OF TWELVE WELLS BORED BY HYER BROTHERS IN 
AND NEAR KENTLAND. 

Soil 2 ft. 00 in. 

Yellow clay 10 00 

Blue glacial clay 45 00 

Sand, sharp 2 00 

Total 59 ft. 00 in. 

Water rises to within eighteen or twenty feet of the surface. 



SECTION IN DRAKE S WELL. 

Section 25. Township 27 north, Range 9 west. 

Soil 1 ft. 00 in. 

Yellow clay 12 00 

Blue glacial clay 20 00 

Gravel and sand 2 00 

Total 35 ft. 00 in. 

Artesian flow. 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 615 

SECTION AT ED BRUSH'S, THREE MILES SOUTHWEST OF KENTLAND. 

Soil ; 2 ft. 00 in. 

Yellow clay . r 7 00 

Sand and gravel 4 00 

Blue clay 68 00 

Hardpan gravel 4 00 

Limestone 1 00 

Total 86 ft. 00 in. 

In this bore, artesian water rises to level of the ground. 

SECTION AT EZRA JONES', NEAR BROOK, ELEVEN MILES NORTHEAST OF 

KENTLAND. 

Soil 2 ft. 00 in. 

Yellow clay and sand 10 00 

Blue glacial clay 45 00 

Sand 1 06 

Rock bottom 00 00 

Total 58 ft. 06 in. 

SECTION IN GAS WELL, FRANCIS LOWE'S ONE-QUARTER MILE SOUTHWEST 

OF KENTLAND. 

Soil 2ft.00in. 

Yellow clay 10 00 

Blue clay 45 00 

Quicksand 12 00 

Black slate bottom 00 00 

Total 69 ft. 00 in. 

Burning gas was discharged with violent periodic bursts, throwing sand 
and water thirty feet in the air. When gas was discharging, the tube 
trembled with agitation, and the outer tube became electrified, giving 
shocks. 

Another gas well in the town continued to discharge for twelve years. 

From these bores it is evident that the ancient valley of the Iroquois 
River existed one to two miles south of its present bed, and had a depth 
below the surface from 150 to 200 feet, deepening to the west. It is also 
known by a bore near the south line of Iroquois County, 111., that one 
of these east-west valleys had a depth of 500 feet through soil and bowl- 
der drift to its rocky bed. 

These indications seem to show that a new bed for the Iroquois, opened 
one or two miles south of the present channel, and produced across the 
line to some water-course 100 to 150 feet lower than the present surface of 
that valley, would cut for itself a deep channel tiirough the clay sub-strat- 
um, drain this and adjoining regions to the east, and benefit the citizens 



616 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

of this section of country, and the State of Indiana, to the extent of mill- 
ions of dollars. 

SECTION IN WELL AT MOROCCO. * 

YeUowclay 14 ft. 00 in 

Blue clay. 113 00 

Niagara limestone to bottom 9 00 

Total 136 ft. 00 in. 

Paleozoic Geology. — As before mentioned, nearly the whole surface 
of this county is deeply covered with glacial drift impenetrable to the ge- 
ologist's eye. It is known from the geology of the adjoining regions to 
the north, and from deep bores, that the northern part of the county is 
underlaid with Niagara limestone of the Upper Silurian age; that the 
Valley of the Iroquois is underlaid by Genesee shale (or black slate) of 
the Devonian age. Inferentially, the southern portion of the county 
should be underlaid by rocks of the Upper Devonian groups, or of the 
Subcarboniferous age. 

But three and a half miles southeast of Kentland the rocky beds come 
to the surface, or nearly approach it, over an area of more than 100 acres. 
At one of these exposures the bedding is nearly horizontal ; at the other, 
in close proximity, the rocks were in nearly a vertical position, with a 
north-south trend, showing either serious dislocations or deposition under 
circumstances which gave origin to the most pronounced false bedding. 

At the latter station, the stone was a slightly crystalline, bluish-gray 
limestone, with great nodules of cone-in-cone one to two feet in diameter, 
indicating pressure of superimposed material while it was in a plastic con- 
dition. 

At the time of my first visit, accompanied by Assistant George K. 
Greene, after a most careful and thorough search, not a single fossil, or 
fragment of a fossil, was found which could determine the age of these 
rocks. 

On a subsequent visit, Mr. Greene was able to find, at one of these — 

McKee's Quarry (Section 25, Township 27 north, Range 9 west) some 

slabs, containing the following fossils : 

Tetradium fibratum Safford. 

Zygospira modesta Say. 

Streptorhyncus Sp. ? 

Leperditia Sp. ? 

Ptilodictya Sp. ? 

Orthoceras Sp.? 

Fragments of stems of Glyptocrinus. 

These fossils indicate that the rocks are Silurian, and probably of 

Lower Silurian age. The mass is too large to admit of explanation by 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 617 

its transportation during the ice period ; while the uniform, undisturbed 
condition of the strata of this and adjoining States will not allow the pre- 
sumption of upheaval and such dislocation of strata as would account for 
these phenomena. 

As shown by the bores reported, it is surrounded to the north and 
west, and at levels 150 to 200 feet lower than this point, by later Devo- 
nian shales and limestones ; on the south and east, still at a lower level, 
are the rocks of the Keokuk group of the still later Carboniferous age. 

This quarry is a mystery. Its investigation invites and will reward 
the future geologist, who may be enriched with better light than is now 
available. At present the only explanation which can be here given is 
that once the Silurian rocks of this and adjoining regions may have been 
built up to a thickness of 200 or 300 feet more than they are at present, 
and that eroding forces at the close of the Silurian age removed all the 
upper beds of that age to a depth of 200 or 300 feet, leaving this small 
area an immovable island in the surging waters, and afterward the later 
Devonian and Carboniferous beds were deposited around and against the 
sides of this monumental island. More light and research is needed and 
invited. 

Near Goodland, eight miles east of Kentland, the following exposures 
occur upon Cherry Creek, which show the occurrence of the Keokuk and 
Knobstone shales of the Subcarboniferous, and the black slate of the 
Devonian rocks. 



SECTION ON BLAKE WILSON'S FARM, GRANT TOWNSHIP. 

Section 25, Township 27 north, Range 8 west. 

Biiff and light-colored limestone (Keokuk), con- 
taining geodes, fragments of crinoid stems 
and bryozoans 12 ft. 00 in. 

Knob shale with Discina newberryi and Lingula 

spatxda ^ 00 

Total 17 ft. 00 in. 

SECTION ON WILLIAiM FOSTER'S FARM. 

Southwest half Section 25, Township 27 north, Range 8 west. 

Blue clay and shaly limestone (Keokuk group), 
containing geodes, geodized shells and crinoid 
stems 4 ft. 00 in. 

Ferniginous sandstone, containing vermiform fa- 

coids anrl Taonunis. . . .Sp ? 00 

Total 10 ft. 00 in. 



618 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

Arehceology. — Stone implements of the pre-historic age are often 
found scattered over this county, more especially those used for the taking 
of fish. While the sand hillocks and knolls of the northern part of the 
county are often mistaken for works of the Mound-Builders, it is true 
that many such elevations have been capped by the homes and tumuli of 
that race. The elevated sandy ridge east of the southern part of Beaver 
Lake, built up by the winds to a height of seventy or eighty feet, which 
gives a wide outlook toward the rising sun and a grand view of the lake 
in its ancient dimensions, was extensively occupied by the Mound-Build- 
ers. 

Several clusters are reported, one of which contained seven mounds 
from two to twelve feet in height, and from twenty to eighty feet in diam- 
eter. Partially explored, two of these gave up bones, pottery and imple- 
ments of our extinct predecessors. 

Economic Geology. — The soil of the southern half of the county is a 
rich, black pond alluvium or mold, varied by areas of loamy soil. It has 
been enriched and manured by the decomposition of plants for thousands 
of years, and is fully equal to the richest and best lands of the world. 
No manures are used or required. Since the first settlement, these farms, 
instead of deteriorating, have increased '.a productive power, and will con- 
tinue for years to grow richer and better as the country is improved. The 
oldest fields of the county were seen bearing full crops of corn, oats and 
other cereals, while it is even better adapted to the growth of grazing and 
meadow grasses. 

The citizens are generally prosperous, as indicated by comfortable 
residences and improved farms . 

The northern areas, as before mentioned, are sand ridges, sandy 
loams, with intermediate alluvial lake basins. These need special treat- 
ment, and are being cultivated by immigrants from Chicago and the East, 
with astonishing success. 

To enable the farmer to reap full returns from the rich soil above 
mentioned, drainage is a necessity. The alternate ridges and valleys of 
this country afford a certain mode of effectually bringing these soils to 
the highest state of culivation by the facilities they offer. 

A plan devised by a competent engineer — running open ditches from 
the southern part of the county to the Iroquois, or from the northern 
ridges to the neighboring streams, located upon each north-south section 
line, and cut down to the underlying clays, will, by their pronounced 
fall, continually deepen and clear their own way. These will afford ample 
facilities for the use of tiles on adjoining lands, make improved roads 
possible along their banks, and bless the people of the county with boun- 



HISTORY OF iNEWTON COUxNTY. 619 

tiful returns of health, wealth and their concomitants — intelligence and 
morality. 

Bores in deep wells show that the ancient valley of the Iroquois, a 
short distance south of its present course, was in early ages deeply 
eroded, and when a new course is re-opened through this channel, as in 
the future it may and will be. it will offer ample facilities for the drain- 
age of all the center of this and the southern parts of Jasper County. 

In time of wet weather, the roads of this county are simply abomi- 
nable, and deny the citizens the proper enjoyment of civilization, the 
fruits of labor and social life. 

With the system of open ditches before mentioned, a possible road- 
bed is attainable. The stone of McKee's quarry, when properly broken, 
will afford abundant miiterial of excellent quality for " metaling" the 
highways of the southern part of the county. 

Throughout the region north of Kentland, the common excuse for the 
impassable roads was the lack of material with which to improve them. 
Upon examining the knolls and dividing ridges north of the Iroquois, beds 
of gravel from six to twelve feet in thickness were found, near to and south of 
Morocco, at Kennedy's and A. Doty's. Four miles southeast of Mo- 
rocco, in Section 31, Town 29 north, Range 8 west, there is a gravel hill 
having an area of ten acres, indicating a good supply, as also on the land of 
G. W. Carmichael. This gravel is the detritus of the bowlder drift, and 
of such quality as to offer the best possible material for constructing turn- 
pikes and other good roads. 

Other beds exist along the whole course of this ridge, and.the sup- 
ply is sufficient to afford good roads, passable at any season of the year 
in every part of the county. It seems strange that this bounty of nature, 
this grand source of comfort has hitherto been so constantly overlooked. 

Clays, for brick and tile, of good quality, are found in all parts wher 
heavy growths of timber have existed, and in some of the island groves 
they invite use by the prudent builder and farmer. 

On rolling lands, or those partially ditched, the crops of corn, wheat 
and oats were excellent, showing heavy and profitable yields. Sorghum 
is cultivated and does well, while the cultivation of flax seed could be 
made profitable. 

The black lands, in a state of nature, were covered with a luxuriant 
growth of wild grass, and when subdued they readily set to tame grasses, 
including blue grass. 

The more elevated sandy hills and ridges are well suited to the growth 
of fruits. Grapevines and the small fruits are especially productive and 
profitable, and meet a ready market in the city of Chicago. 

37 



620 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

Garden vegetables grow luxuriantly in the warm, rich soils of this 
county, with profit to the farmer and joy to the housewife. The remuner- 
ation in their cultivation invites the devotion of larger areas to this pur- 
pose. 

Several farms in the northern parts are devoted to the raising of 
garden seeds for the great dealers in Michigan, New England and the 
Eastern seaboard. The choicest grades of seeds, raised on Indiana soil, 
are bettered (?) and largely improved (?) by shipment from hence to the 
great dealers, who return them with flashy show bills, well engraved en- 
p^elopes, and doubled prices! 

The garden seeds produced here are equal if not superior to those 
raised elsewhere, and return a handsome profit, or 200 to 300 per cent, 
upon the labor bestowed. 

Timber consists principally of oak, and is used for mechanical pur- 
poses and for fuel. Coal is used to some extent in the villages, but rather 
on account of its convenience than on account of its cheapness. The 
soil, however, is the great resource of the county. This is principally a 
dark or black loam, with here and there in the north, a sand ridge. The 
sloughs and ponds are being gradually drained, and the promise is that 
in a few years the county will be transformed from a low marshy country 
to fine grain lands and grazing farms. 

The prairie fires did not cease altogether before 1860, and systematic 
farming found but little encouragement here before 1870. The county 
is still too new, and its soil too little exhausted to enforce the necessity of 
such cultivation to any considerable extent. The chief products are corn, 
wheat, oats, flax, potatoes, etc. Corn and hay, cattle and hogs are, how- 
ever, the principal source of revenue to the farmer. Wheat is sown to 
some extent, and one grist mill in the county finds custom business enough 
to keep it in operation theentireyear, though a large part of the business 
is preparing feed and grinding corn. Generally this grain is not found to be 
a reliable crop in this locality. A large part of the county is prairie, nearly 
level, with great capacity for supporting water. What little snow 
falls, does not rest quietly where it settles, but is blown about by 
the winds, which have almost unbroken sweep. This leaves the wheat 
plant at the mercy of the thawing, freezing and heaving-out process 
during February and March. Systematic draining, by means of open 
ditches and of tile, and liberal coatings of coarse manure applied before 
the middle of February, may solve the problem of successful wheat cul- 
ture here. Small fruits, straw, rasp and black berries, are not extensively 
cultivated, although both soil and climate are favorable. Grapes do well, 
the commoner kinds being hardy, and yielding sure crops of good fruit. 



IllSrORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 621 

Some varieties of pears may be grown with success, but with raodenite re- 
turns only. Peaches and quinces are subject to severe cold in winter, 
and die badly, while apples prove hardy and return a pretty sure and 
abundant crop. 

This is emphatically a cattle and hog producing district, and probably 
more attention has been paid to the raising and improvement of these 
classes of stock than to any other of the branches of husbandry. The 
aim has been to produce beef to the neglect of milkers, hence short-horn 
breeds have been the favorite with cattle-growers. Large herds of cattle 
are less frequently met than formerly, not that there are fewer cattle bred, 
but they are scattered around more generally and not kept together in 
large bunches as in the days before the county was so thickly settled. 
Among those who have been prominent in this branch of industry, are A. 
J. Kent (deceased), William Russell, Thomas Barker, Joseph Law, Dr. 
Triplett, G. N. Stewart, T. S. Brecount, L V. Speck, Blake Wilson and 
others. 

Corn holds a prominent place among the sources of revenue to the 
farmer, eighty bushels to the acre, in a good year, being a common prod- 
uct, the county reaching an aggregate of upwards of two and a half 
millions of bushels. A large proportion finds its way to market throu'^h 
the three large elevators at Kentland and one at Goodland. Hay is be- 
coming a large feature in the marketable produce of the county, a con- 
siderable quantity finding its way to market each year. Next to 
cattle, corn and hay, hogs find an important sale here. The breeds are 
Berkshire, Poland-China, and Jersey Red, with a decided preference for 
the first named, either pure breed, cross or common grade. Sheep hold 
a modest place, no large flocks are kept, but many farmers own from a 
dozen to fifty head. The long- wool breeds, and their crosses with the 
natives are the favorites. The horses are chiefly what may be called 
general-purpose animals. The introduction of the Norman and Clydes- 
dale breeds has made the stock on many farms much more serviceable 
and marketable than before their advent. The quarter crosses of these 
large breeds upon scrubs are excellent horses for the general use of the 
farmer. 

Swamp lands constitute a large part of the territory of Newton 
County, and, as in Jasper County — of which Newton was then a part — 
were the prey of unprincipled schemers. These land5 were granted to the 
State by the General Government for the purposes of drainage, and by a 
law enacted in 1852, the State provided for the drainage of such counties 
as needed it by the revenue arising from the disposition of these lands. 
Newton was one of the counties most directly interested in this provision. 



622 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

and had the property thus granted been properly administered, most of 
the hind now a barren waste would have been long ajzo reclaimed. The 
plan of operations by which the frauds were carried on are thus described 
in an oflRcial report by a committee of the Legislature : 

"• The Commissioner, at a letting of a large amount of ditching under 
the law of 1852, let almost the entire work to one man for the sum of 20 
cents the cubic yard, although at this letting there were other good and 
responsible bids for the same work at 14 cents the cubic yard, and one as 
low as 10 cents. The ditching contracted for at this letting has never 
been finished according to the plans and specifications, and some of the 
ditches are worthless. The entire estimate of this work, amounting to 
$39,451.59, has been paid to the contractor. According to the testi- 
mony before us, this one transaction has resulted in great loss to the 
Swamp Land fund, and loss to the value of real estate in the vicinity of 
the work." 

So easily were these frauds committed, and so little check were the 
ofiicials in charge of this interest, that a spirit of speculation entered into 
these operations, and several companies were formed which obtained 
deeds for large amounts of land in Newton and adjoining counties. When 
these proceedings were discovered, an act was passed by the Legislature 
requiring the return of these fraudulent conveyances, but providing that 
the loose contracts, by which these frauds had been effected, might be 
ratified and confirmed by the Swamp Land Commissioner. Through the 
loop-hole thus left the balance of these lands, amounting in this and 
Jasper County to some one hundred and seventy-five thousand acres, were 
absorbed without the return of any adequate equivalent. This, of course, 
could be done only through the complicity of ofiicials, but where there 
was so great a corruption fund, and so little check against malfeasance, 
the officials were readily won. Under the provision that the contractor 
might at any time, by depositing |1.25 per acre with the County Treasurer, 
for the whole or any part of the lands in his list, take out certificates 
and procure patents for the same, and that the money so paid into the 
county treasury should then be retained, to be repaid to the contractor 
at the rate of seventy-five per cent upon estimates of work done, until the 
contract was completed, when all should be repaid, the officer in charge 
confirmed old contracts at prices much higher than originally let for, and 
contractors were permitted to file lists of lands to any amount they 
desired. By arrangement with the proper official, even this requirement 
was abated, and many obtained certificates of purchase for which no 
deposit had ever been made. The land, being thus absorbed and there 
being no money on deposit to compel the completion of the contract, the 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 623 

great project for which there was originally abundant means to carry out 
failed and the county at large is no better for the generous donation of 
the General Government. Newton takes pre-eminence in this general raid 
upon the swamp lands, in that a considerable amount of land was actjuired 
without the observance of even this limited show of legality. In refer- 
ence to this transaction, the report above cited, goes on to say : 

" There is evidence before the committee showing that M , with- 
out the shadow of authority or law, issued to , in the name of his 

brother and others, certificates of purchase for a large amount of these 
lands previously filed for, by contractors, and upon these fraudulent certi- 
ficates obtained patents ; and that the contractor, whose lands he had 

thus stolen, in order to avoid troublesome and expensive litigation, com- 
promised with him. permitting him to retain 3,f>00 acres of these lands 
thus obtained, of which M got a portion." 

A considerable portion of this county is now suffering from this general 
misappropriation of the drainage fund, but the settlement and tillage of 
these lands will, in the near future, effect what the State failed to do. 
Already a great transformation had been effected, and every year brings 
new energy and new resources to this effort, of such vital importance to 
lands bordering the Kankakee. 

The change that has been effected in the character of the surface of 
the country since the settlement of the whites is marvelous. Only the 
pioneer, who beheld the broad prairie covered with ever-present joint 
grass, the varying height of which rendered the broad expanse a decep- 
tive level, and contrasts that with the rolling area of cultivated forms of 
the present, can fully appreciate the change. The timber lands that fringe 
the margin of the streams have undergone a hardly less remarkable 
change. Unlike the experience in a timbered country, here the wooded 
area has increased. The young growth and saplings which the fires of 
early times kept in check, have developed into considerable trees under 
the fostering care of the farmer, and the timber has encroached upon the open 
land, so that the area of woods is now much larger than fifty years ago. 

The prairie fires were as regular a phenomenon as the recurring sea- 
sons, and while, fortunately, they were less destructive than the uninitiated 
mjght expect, they were none the less serious to deal with. The pioneer 
farmer built as tew fences as possible, and such as he was obliged to con- 
struct cost him an expensive outlay of time. When these with his rude 
barn and stacks of grain began to mark the home of the thriving settler, 
his very prosperity made him the readier victim of this early scourge. 
Against this evil, there was no sure defense, but eternal vigilance. So 
great was the danger from this cause, the State forbade the wanton fir- 



624 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

ing of the grass, which at certain times of the year burned like tinder; 
but the subject was one little able to be controlled by legislative action. 
The inadvertence of hunters or teamsters was sufficient alone to account 
for most of the fires. It was the habit, too, of many farmers to plow a 
few furrows along the line of their fences and tiien a few rods further out 
to plow another series of furrows. Between these lines of plowing the 
grass was burned, care being taken tliat the flame did not leap these 
barriers. This arrangement, when successfully carried out each year, 
proved a sufficient protection against an ordinary fire, as the flames would 
not leap the space thus bared of fuel. This operation, however, often 
proved the direct cause of igniting the prairie beyond, and once thoroughly 
fired there was no checking its fury until a stream or heavy body of tim- 
ber checked its progress. 

The tall joint grass was of considerable body nearer the .ground, and 
when dry and partially broken down by frost and wind, it afforded fuel 
substantial enough under a high wind to feed a terrible flame. The fire 
when once started proceeds with the rapidity of the wind which propels 
it. The heat which precedes it prepares the dry grass to ignite at the 
touch of the blaze, and the fiery tide passes almost like a flash. The 
central portion keeps the direction of the wind, but the tinder-like mate- 
rial needs but little fanning to burn, and the fire spreads slowly sideways 
as it advances. The lateral fire advances but slowly, and is successfully 
checked by back firing, i. e.. by starting from some barrier, and firing the 
grass, and allowing it to burn slowly to meet the approaching conflagration. 
The property principally endangered was the fences. The cabins and 
stacks, after a few years at least, were generally safe from distruction. 
The joint grass was destroyed by the constant tramping of animals, and 
the mowing and grazing to which it was subject, and its place supplied by 
the blue grass which springs upon its place spontaneously, and will not 
burn. Blazing grass, however, is often carried far out of the track of the 
fire, and in very dry seasons, this caused some anxiety, as there was dan- 
ger that a stack or even the roof of the cabin might afford material for it 
to ignite. With all the precautions that were taken several severe losses 
were experienced in this county, and the fires did not entirely cease to 
run until about 1860. 

TRACES OF EARLIEST INHABITANTS. 

The white, if the evidences of archaeology teach anything, is the third 
race to inhabit this region. The traces of former inhabitants, while not 
the most perfect or abundant, are sufficiently well attested as to leave no 
doubt but that there are some relics of that prehistoric race that scientists 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 625 

have agreed to call Mound-Builders, The principal remains of this race 
which have been discovered are several mounds, which furnish in the 
characteristics of their construction the evidence of their origin. One is 
found in Washington Township, and is plainly marked. Others are to be 
seen some three miles north of Morocco, where excavations have been re- 
warded by the discovery of human bones and primitive stone implements. 
Still another mound, with large sized trees growing upon its surface, is 
found near the Illinois State line, on the south bank of the Iroquois 
River. No scientific examinations of these structures have as yet been 
made, and it is quite probable that the bones and implements found be- 
longed to the Indians, and were placed there by the intrusive burials, 
which are so frequently found elsewhere in these mounds. Still other 
evidences are so complete as to leave little doubt that this mysterious race 
once had their existence here. 

Robinson Crusoe's unexpected discovery of a human footprint upon 
the sands of his solitary island, was hardly more startling than have been 
the discoveries of antiquarians in Europe within the past twenty-five 
years. Scientific followers of Usher and Petarius had placed the various 
migrations of men, the confusion of tongues, the peopling of continents, 
the development of types — the whole evolution of human society, within 
the narrow compass of a little more than four thousand years, when the 
discoveries of the geologist and ethnologist developed the trace of human 
existence dating back to a possible period 30,000 years ago. Nor are 
confirmatory evidences to the truth of these discoveries entirely wanting 
in the new world. The gold-drift of California has supplied abundant 
testimony to the high antiquity of man, and notably the " Pliocene skull," 
the popular conception of which is derived more widely, perhaps, from a 
characteristic poem by Bret Harte than from scientific publications. Ex- 
plorations in Illinois Missouri and South Carolina have yielded similar 
testimony, and while it should be stated that in many cases these evi- 
dences rest upon the testimony of single observers, and that there is not 
that recurrence of " finds " which would render "assurance doubly sure," 
yfet there seems to be no doubt in the minds of scientists that the " elder 
man " was also an inhabitant of this new world. 

Descending to a later time, and one probably falling within the his- 
toric period, we find the more tangible traces of an early race of men. 
Of this race, named from the character of their remains, the Mound- 
Builders, we find the evidences vastly multiplied, and of such character 
as to aflford means of forming a reasonable conjecture as to their mode of 
life, their advancement in civilization, and final destiny. These evidences, 
though first accepted with great distrust, have been so amplified and con- 



626 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

firmed by more recent researches, as to leave no room for reasonable 
doubt as to the former existence of this race. The remains upon which 
this conclusion is based, " consists," says Mr. Foster, " of tumuli symmet- 
rically raised and often inclosed in mathematical figures, such as the 
square, the octagon and circle, with long lines of circumvallation ; of pits 
in the solid rocks, and rubbish heaps formed in the prosecution of their 
mining operations, and of a variety of utensils, wrought in stone, or cop- 
per, or molded in clay."* To the uninstructed mind these mounds, 
doubtless, seem a very slight foundation upon which to construct the fabric 
of a national existence, and yet to the archaeologist they furnish "proofs 
as strong as Holy Writ;" in them they find as distinctive characteristics 
as mark the pre-historic remains of the Pelasgi, the "wall-builders" of 
Europe, a not dissimilar race in many respects, and one who long ago 
found a place in the realities of history ; and while they differ in ex- 
ternal form and are scattered over a wide scope of territory — character- 
istics in marked contrast with those of the aboriginal race found here in 
possession of the country, yet the scientist finds in each mound the never- 
failing marks of a race peculiarity. 

The widest divergence from the typical mound is found in Wisconsin. 
Here, instead of the circular or pyramidal structure, are found forms, for 
the most part, consisting of rude, gigantic imitations of various animals of 
the region, such as the buffalo, bear, fox, wolf, etc.; of the eagle and night 
hawk, the lizard and turtle, and in some instances the unmistakable form 
of man. These, though not raised high above the surface, and even in 
some cases represented intaglio, attain the largest dimensions ; one repre- 
senting a serpent extending 700 feet, and another representing a turtle, 
had a body fifty-six and a tail 250 feet long. The significance of these 
peculiar forms has not been determined, but unmistakable evidences have 
been discovered which mark them as the work of the same race whose 
structures are found elsewhere, so numerous throughout the Mississippi 
Valley. Typical structures are sometimes classified with reference to their 
purpose, as " Inclosures — 1. For defense; 2. Sacred; 3. Miscellaneous. 
Mounds — 1. Of sacrifice; 2. For temple sites ; 3. Of sepulture; 4. Of 
observation." Of the first class, the inclosures for defense seem to have 
been constructed simply for protection against hostile attack. The loca- 
tions chosen are those best adapted naturally to repel a military attack. 
The only approach is generally by a steep and narrow way, requiring the 
assailant to place himself at immense disadvantage, while the garrison 
provided with parapets often constructed of rubble stone, could fight 
under cover, and may be found in these stones his store of ammunition. 

•Foster's " Pre-hietoric Races of the United States." 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 627 

The " sacred " inclosure included within its lines the mounds of the 
three leading classes, as the uses to which they were put were all sacred 
to this people, and yet in the "American Bottom " in Illinois, where the 
mound system reaches, perhaps, its highest development, the mounds of 
these classes are not inclosed. The mounds of sacrifice, or altars, as 
they are variously termed, are generally characterized by the fact '* that 
they occur only within the vicinity of the inclosures or sacred places; 
that they are stratified ; and that they contain symmetrical altars of 
burned clay or stone, on which were deposited various remains, which in 
all cases have been more or less subjected to the action of fire."* In re- 
lation to this latter characteristic, it should be said that it is not at all 
plain that the use of fire was intended for cremation. A thin coating of 
moist clay was applied to the body nude, or wrapped in cloth, and upon 
this a fire was maintained for a more or less prolonged period, but in 
most cases the heat was not sufficient to destroy the cloth sometimes fouml 
in a good state of preservation. This evidently did not result from a lack 
of knowledge, as cremation and urn burial was also practiced. 

Temple mounds are described by Squier and Davis as " distinguished 
by their great regularity of form and general large dimensions. They 
consist chiefly of pyramidal structures, truncated and generally having 
graded avenues to their tops. In some instances they are terraced or 
have successive stages. But whatever their form, whether round, oval, 
octangular, square or oblong, they have invariably flat or level tops," and 
upon these were probably constructed their temples, but which, con- 
structed of perishable materials, have left no trace of their existence. 
This class of mounds are not found along the lake region or that line 
which seems to mark the farthest advance of this people. The principal 
structures of this class are found at Cahokia, in Illinois; near Florence 
and Claiborne, in Kentucky ; at Seltzertown, Miss. ; at Marietta, New- 
ark and Chillicothe, in Ohio, and at St. Louis, Mo. The mound at Ca- 
hokia, " the monarch of all similar structures in the United States," may 
well serve as a type. When in all its integrity, this mound formed a 
huge parallelogram, with sides at the base, respectively, 700 and 500 feet in 
length, towering to the height of ninety feet. On the southwest, there 
was a terrace, 160x300 feet, which was reached by a graded way, and 
the summit was truncated, affording a platform, 200x450 feet. This 
structure, upon which was probably reared a spacious temple, perhaps the 
principal one in the empire, covered an area of about six acres, while in 
close proximity were four elevated platforms, varying from 250 to 300 
feet in diameter. The great mound of St. Louis reached a height of 
thirty-five feet, and that at Marietta to about the same height. 

•Squier kod DavU' "Ancient MonumenU," etc. 



628 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

" Sepulchral mounds," says Mr. Foster in his volume on the pre-his- 
toric races, " consist often of a simple knoll, or group of knolls, of no con- 
siderable height, without any definite arrangement. Examples of this 
character may be seen at Dubuque, Merom, Chicago and La Porte, which, 
on exploration, have yielded skulls differing widely from the Indian type. 
* * * The corpse was almost invariably placed near the original sur- 
face of the soil, enveloped in bark or coarse matting, and, in a few in- 
stances, fragments of cloth have been observed in this connection. Some- 
times a vault of timber was built over it, and in others it was inclosed in 
long and broad flags of stone. Sometimes it was placed in a sitting 
position, again it was extended, and still again it was compressed within 
contracted limits. Trinkets were often strung about the neck, and water 
jugs, drinking cups and vases, which probably contained food, were 
placed near the head. Over the corpse thus arrayed, a circular mound 
was often raised, but sometimes nothing more than a hillock." Other 
mounds have been found that favored the theory that many of these 
structures were used for miscellaneous burial. A notable example is the 
" Grave Creek Mound," in West Virginia, twelve miles below Wheeling. 
This mound is something over seventy feet high, of circular form, with a 
circumference at the base of about 900 feet. In the center of this mound, 
on a level with the oriorinal surface, was found a vault with twelve human 
skeletons, and thirty-four feet above this was found a similar vault, in- 
closing a skeleton which had been decorated with a profusion of shell- 
beads, copper rings and plates of mica. In a mound at Vincennes, " a 
bed of human bones, arranged in a circle eighteen feet in diameter, 
closely packed and pressed together." In another, at Merom, three 
tiers of vaults were found, in each of which were found from five to seven 
human skeletons. Mounds of observation is a rather fanciful classifica- 
tion intended to mark mounds found on elevated points of land. The 
authors of this classification think that these may have been used as plat- 
forms on which to build signal fires, and such is their elevation and out- 
look that such signals could have been seen at great distance. This 
theory of a special purpose, however, has not been accepted, as supported 
by any special evidence. They may have been so used, or simply as an 
eligible site for residence. 

There is in addition to these mounds a large number which are not 
embraced in this classification, which, following Mr. F. W. Putnam, 
whom Mr. Foster quotes at length, may be called " Habitation Mounds." 
A large number of these are described as located at Merom, Ind., and " a 
group of fifty-nine mounds " at Hutsonville, 111., a few miles above the 
former place and across the Wabash River. These mounds were care- 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 629 

fully examined " to ascertain' if they were places of burial," without dis- 
covering a single bone or irapleraenc of any kind, but, on the contrary, 
the excavations " showed that the mounds had been made of various ma- 
terials at hand, and in one case ashes were found, which had probably 
been scraped up with other material and thrown upon the heap." In the 
ancient fort at Merom, in depressions found within the earthworks, 
were found striking evidences of food having been cooked and eaten 
there, and the conclusion drawn by Mr. Putnam is "that these pits were 
the houses of the inhabitants or defenders of tiie fort, who were probably 
further protected from the elements and the arrows of assailants by a roof 
of logs and bark, or boughs." Another writer in a paper* read before 
the American Association for the Advancement of Science at their Bos- 
ton meeting, August, 1880, says: "There is in this region a peculiar 
class of mounds that was for a long time a puzzle to me. They are usu- 
ally found in groups of from two or three to twenty or thirty, and even 
more, and are generally on some pleasant knoll or rising ground in the 
vicinity of a spring of water-course, especially in the vicinity of our prai- 
ries or level areas of land. These mounds are from one to three, and in 
a few instances, even four, feet in height, and from twenty to fifty feet in 
diameter. One mound of the group is always larger than flie rest, and 
always occupies the commanding position. Sometimes the group is ar- 
ranged in a circle; other groups have no apparant design in arrangement. 
Numbers of these mounds can be seen in the cultivated fields. 

" Although I have made excavations in them, and dug trenches en- 
tirely through them, I have found nothing but ashes, charcoal, decayed 
portions of bones of fishes and animals partially burned, shells from the 
adjacent streams, flint chippings, and in one or two mstances a flint im- 
plement of a rude character. 

" After examining many of these structures, I am induced to believe 
that they are possibly the remains of ancient dwellings, made by placing 
in an upright position the trunks of young trees in a circle, or in parallel 
rows, the tops of the poles inclining inward and fastened together, the 
whole being covered with earth and sod to form a roof, or in the same 
raantier as many Indian tribes make their mud lodges; as, for instance, 
the Mandans and the Omahas. Such a structure, after being repaired 
from time to time by the addition of more earth on top, would finally, by 
the decay of the poles, fall inward and the ruins would form a slight 
mound. 

'• Conant and Putnam describe such mounds in Missouri and Ten- 
nesse, some of the largest of these ancient towns being provided with 
streets and highways. They are also found in Southern Illinois, Indiana 

* Hon. William McAdams, Jr., Otterville, 111. 



630 " HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

and Ohio. Putnam has described an inclosed town in Tennessee, in 
which were many low mounds, or rather, as he calls them, earth circles, 
that he has pretty conclusively shown to be sites of the lodges or houses 
of the people." 

To which of these classes the mounds in Newton County shall be re- 
ferred can only be determined by a thorough investigation, but it is prob- 
able, from such reports as are current among the well informed persons 
of the county, that they are pretty well described in the language of Mr. 
McAdams. 

These mounds, with the implements formed in stone, metal and pot- 
tery (of which the scope of this work allows no mention), form the data 
upon which is founded the historical speculation concerning this people. 
Once having reasonably established the former existence of this extinct 
race, the absorbing question presents itself — Who were the Mound- 
Builders ? The limited space devoted to this subject, however, forbids 
any extended consideration of the interesting scientific deductions made 
from these data, though the conclusion arrived at may be briefly stated in 
the language of Mr. Foster, * as follows : " Their monuments indicate 
that they had entered upon a career of civilization ; they lived in station- 
ary communnties, cultivating the soil and relying on its generous yield as 
a means of support ; they clothed themselves in part at leai3t, in garments 
regularly spun and woven ; they modeled clay and carved stone, even of 
the most obdurate character, into images representing animate objects, 
even the human face and form, with a close adherence to nature '■> 
they mined and cast copper into a variety of useful forms ; they 
quarried mica, steatite, chert, and the novaculite slates, which they 
wrought into articles adapted to personal ornament, to domestic use, or to 
the chase ; unlike the Indians who were ignorant of the curative proper- 
ties of salt, they collected the brine of the salines into earthen vessels 
molded in baskets which they evaporated into a form which admitted of 
transportation ; they erected an elaborate line of defense, stretching for 
many hundred miles, to guard against the sudden irruption of enemies ; 
they had a national religion, in which the elements were the objects of 
supreme adoration ; temples were erected upon the platform mounds, and 
watchfires lighted upon the highest summits ; and in the celebration of the 
mysteries of their faith, human sacrifices were probably offered up. The 
magnitude of their structures, involving an infinitude of labor, such only 
as could be expended in a community where cheap food prevailed, 
and the great extent of their commercial relations reaching to widely 
separated portions of the continent, imply the existence of a stable and 

* " Pre-historic Kaces," etc., p. 350. 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 631 

efficient government, based on the subordination of the masses. As the 
civilizations of the old world growing out of the peculiar conditions of 
Boil and climate developed certain forms of art which are original and 
unifjue, so on this continent we see the crude conception in tiio truncated 
pyramid, as first displayed in Wisconsin, Ohio and Illinois, and the 
accomplished result in the stone-faced foundations of the temples of Uxmal 
and Palenque. And finally, the distinctive character of the Mound- 
Builders' structures, and also the traditions which have been preserved, 
would indicate that this people were expelled from the Mississippi Valley 
by a fierce and barbarous race, and that they found refuge in the more 
genial climate of Central America, where they developed those germs of 
civilization originally planted in their Northern homes, into a perfection 
which has elicited the admiration of every modern explorer." 

The obvious inquiry suggested by these conclusions is, Who succeeded 
this extinct race? To this question science offers no answer. Two hy- 
potheses are entertained as the origin of Mound-Builders here, the one 
supposes them to be of autothionic origin, and that semi-civilization orig- 
inating here flowed southward and culminated in the wonderful develop- 
ments of the Toltecs of Mexico ; the other supposes them to have origi- 
nated in the South American continent or in Central America, and to 
have emigrated northward from natural causes, and later to have returned 
to Mexico, driven from their northern empire by an irresistible foe or by a 
powerful political irruption among themselves. Upon any theory, the line of 
their most northward advance is pretty clearly defined, and writers upon 
this subject generally agree that the line of defenses " extending from 
sources of the Alleghany and Susquehanna, in New York, diagonally 
across the country, through Central and Northern Ohio, to the Wabash," 
accurately indicates the region from whence attacks were made and ex- 
pected, and marks the farthest extent of the Mound-Builders' empire. 
But what was the character of the foe, what his action on the retreat of 
the Mound-Builders, and what his final destiny, is an unwritten page of 
science, and for which there exists no known data. It is a late suggestion 
that the North American Indian may be a degenerate but legitimate de- 
scendant of the dominant race, but there is a broad chasm to be bridged 
before the Mound-Builder or his successful assailant can be linked with 
these aboriginal tribes. Without making any such attempt, however, the 
Indian naturally succeeds this people in regular historical order, and 
passing over the vexed question of his origin, it is sufficient for the pur- 
poses of this work that the whites found him everywhere in full posses- 
sion of the country.. 

The Indians. — With the advent of the white man in America be- 



632 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

gan the '* irrepressible conflict " which was destined never to cease so 
long as the red man retained a vestige of power. In this struggle the 
absence of national organization or affiliations on the part of the Indians, 
made the final success of the whites inevitable from the beginning. Tak- 
ing each tribe or section of country in succession, the little band of ad- 
venturers conquered this vast country, and planted here one of the mighty 
nations of the world. It was due to this lack of any bond of union that 
the Indiana tribes were allowed to rest so long undisturbed in their fancied 
security. Rumors of the conflict waging on the Atlantic border were borne 
to their ears by chance visitors from other tribes, and later by remnants 
of vanquished tribes who sought with them an asylum from their foes, 
but still no apprehension of impending disaster dawned upon their super- 
stitious ignorance, while the reflection that the Iroquois, the enemy which 
their experience had taught them most tc fear, had met an overpowering 
foe, gave them no little satisfaction . 

The great family to which these tribes were allied by language, phys- 
ical and mental peculiarities, was the Algonquin. Before the encroach- 
ment of the whites the numerous tribes of this family occupied most of 
the territory now embraced in the United States, between the 35th and 
60th parallels of latitude, and the 60th and 105th meridians of longitude. 
According to Davidson,* the starting poiat in the wanderings of the Al- 
gonquin tribes on the continent as determined by tradition and the 
cultivation of maize, their favorite cereal, was in the Southwest. Passing 
up the western side of the Mississippi Valley*, they turned eaatward 
across that river, the southern margin of their broad tract reaching about 
to the 35th parallel, while the center probably covered the present terri- 
tory of Illinois. 'On reaching the Atlantic coast, they seemed to have moved 
northeasterly along the seaboard to the mouth of the St. Lawrence; 
thence ascending this river and the shores of the great lakes, they spread 
northward and westward to Hudson Bay, the basin of Lake Winnipeg and 
the valley of the Upper Mississippi ; and thence the head of the migratory 
column, circling round thesource of the great river, re-crossed it in a south_ 
easterly direction above the Falls of St. Anthony, and passing by way of 
Green Bay and Lake Michigan came into the present limits of Illinois, 
Indiana and Ohio. Thus after revolving in an irregular ellipse of some 
3,000 miles in diameter, they fell into the original track eastward. This 
extended course of migration, induced by a variety of causes and circum- 
stances, continued through a long period, the original stock probably re- 
ceiving considerable accessions from the nomadic tribes of the Pacific 
slope, and leaving behind large numbers at each remove, until the head 

♦Davidsons and Stave's "History of Illinois." 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 638 

of the column came to rest from sheer lack of momentum or other mov- 
ing influences. Thus scattered over a large expanse of country, and 
broken into numerous tribal organizations, they lost much of their family 
affiliations and characteristics, and the early whites found the Algonquins 
everywhere possessing the border lands, and waged with them their first 
and bloodiest wars. Situated within the ellipse above described, were the 
nations of the Iroquois family, who held together by circumstances 
and posted advantageously on the inner side of the circle, able at any 
time to mass their forces upon a single point of the circumference, Hoon 
proved a devastating scourge to the Indian world, and especially so to the 
Algonquins. 

Of the tribes of this latter family, the Pottawatomies are the only 
ones closely identified with this county. The various tribes of this nation, 
to the number of 4,000 persons, occupied the northern part of the State 
up to 1832. Their chief village was early at Chitchakos, near the Tip- 
pecanoe River, where the earliest French explorers found them, and 
where a mission was established nearly 300 years ago. The nation ori"- 
inally occupied a part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, whence they 
were driven by the irresistible Iroquois. They subsequently found a 
place of refuge in Wisconsin, but when the power of their enemy was 
broken by the whites, they returned to a place near their own haunts. 
The Pottawatomies were a bold, warlike people, and were generally found 
allied against the whites. Among them were found some of the most 
prominent warriors and chiefs of the Western nations, the record of whose 
eloquence and feats of daring is found in all the history of the frontier 
wars. They were allied with the French against the Iroquois and En- 
glish, with the English against the Americans, and took a prominent part 
jn Pontiac's conspiracy, yielding only to ihe inevitable in the general 
pacification which closed the war of 1812. Notwithstanding their bitter 
hostility to the whites, arising from their conviction that the pale face, if 
unresisted, would drive them to the western ocean, when once thoy had 
plighted their faith, they were less vacillating than many of the tribes. 
During the Winnebago outbreak in 1827, they resisted the entreaty of the 
hostile tribes, and again in 1832, when Black Hawk strove to unite the 
savage nations in a combined attack upon the whites, he met a fatal obsta- 
cle in the faithful attitude of the Pottawatomie nation. Shabbona, who 
shares with Shakespeare the distinction of having his name spelled in an 
endless number of ways, was a prominent civil chief of the nation in 
Eastern Illinois. He was known among the natives, as the " white man's 
friend," and when Black Hawk was betrayed into hostilities, at the news 
of the Indians' fir»t blow and success, he sent his son and nephew in differ- 



634 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

ent directions, while he went in still another to warn the settlers of the 
impending danger, thus saving tl\g lives of many in the isolated settle- 
ments. In the operations which followed, with Waubonsie, " Billy Cald- 
well," and a considerable number of Pottawatomie warriors, he enlisted 
with the army under Gen. Atkinson, who at once placed Shabbona in 
command of the Indian contingent. 

The State of Indiana was the last retreat east of the Mississippi. 
When finally subdued here and removed to the West, the race of the red 
man was henceforth no longer independent. Though assuming an atti- 
tude. of tribal freedom, the Indian yet accepted the position of " ward " to- 
ward the Great Father at Washington. The section of the State of which 
Newton County forms a part, was occupied some years after the larger 
part had been abandoned, and,here they trapped and hunted, oblivious of 
the fate which was delayed but not thwarted. The earlier settlers had 
but little knowledge of them by actual contact. Hunters, whose occupa- 
tion took them far beyond the lines of the frontier settlements, found 
them along the Iroquois River, here and there, in small villages, and 
the settlers afterward saw the traces of their habitations and corn-fields. 
The Algonquin was the great family to which these tribes belonged. 
Traditions among them set forth their wanderings over a great scope of 
the country. Early settlements along the Atlantic coast, from Florida to 
Maine, and explorers along the great water-way from the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence to the farthest shores of Lake Superior, found the traces every- 
where of this great family of the Indian. Much has been written of the 
origin of the tribal division and peculiarities, but research has done but 
little more than to show how little has been developed of this interesting 
question. Of this family, the Pottawatomie tribe was found here — a 
small village or two of the three or four thousand that occupied the 
principal portion of the northern part of the State. Their chief village 
was on the Tippecanoe River, where the earliest explorers had found 
them some three centuries before. In their relations to the whites during 
the early history of the country, they were bitterly hostile, and not 
until defeat after defeat did they yield their enmity in the treaties 
which closed hostilities in the West at the close of 1813. From that 
time forward, they were as firm in their loyalty to the whites as they 
had been vindictive in their hostility, and in the subsequent Indian 
disturbances in 1827 and 1832 their friendly disposition prevented 
the outbreak of a general Indian war. 

During their stay in this vicinity of the country, they were fre- 
quently visited by French priests from Vincennes, who gained a 
strong influence over them. The Kickapoos were sometimes found in 





^i^-z ?C. >i'a.^^. 



mSTOllY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 637 

• 

this region in quest of game and fish. They seem to have received 
durable impressions from the teachings of the priests, and incidents are 
related of their peculiar forms of worship while here. The Pottawato- 
mies that were found along the Iroquois, however, were not marked 
for their observance of Christian institutions. They were, nevertheless, 
well disposed to the whites on that account, and during their stay not 
a single rupture of this friendly feeling is reported. There was but 
one village within the limits of Newton County, and that was situated a 
few miles north of Morocco, This had been abandoned before the 
whites had made settlements here. The country was the Indian's 
typical paradise; the river swarmed with fish, the prairie supplied in- 
numerable deer and grouse, while the marsh lands attracted thousands 
of aquatic birds, and afforded some of the best trapping grounds in 
the State. Indian corn-fields were found in a number of places about 
the county, and the sites of many of them are still pointed out, with the 
places of the hills plainly to be seen. The character of these fields 
indicate a peculiar cultivation, which would seem odd enough to one ac- 
quainted with the white man's method. The lack of proper imple- 
ments, as well as ignorance of the best methods, had its influence upon 
the Indian's practice. The squaws worked with a rude sort of a hoe, 
and, selecting a site where the joint-grass could best be kept down, the 
seed was planted in hills, irregularly placed in the chosen area. The 
practice in planting was first to remove the sod from a small spot, 
which was placed in a small pile near. The next year the spot cov- 
ered by the piled-up sod was found free from grass, and here another 
hill was planted, and this plan was continued until the whole available 
area was occupied or sufiicient was had for the needs of the family. A 
hill once used, was planted on each subsequent season, and the suc- 
cessive seasons of hoeing gradually raised small mounds, which are 
now the lasting monuments of female industry. The character of the 
product was quite as peculiar as the culture. Those who have seen it, 
often describe it as invariably of a blue and white color and soft 
texture, never attaining that flinty texture which the white farmer 
finds a necessary characteristic. Fish was a staple article of food with 
the Indians, and the whole village would repair to the rapids of the 
Iroquois, where the Indian method of catching was most successful. 
Here the men would wade the stream at night with a torch and pad- 
dle in either hand, and by a dexterous dip, would toss large num- 
bers of fish on the bank. The dog fish was the only variety the In- 
dians used, and these were prepared in large quantities by the squaws 
for winter use. The plan was to bake and dry them, and finally reduce 

38 



638 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

them to powder between the palms of the hands. Thus prepared, this 
powdered fish was stored in deer skins to furnish the winter's chowder. 
The Indians were formally removed in 1838 or 1839, the larger part 
having left this county before. 

THE EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

It would be difficult to determine who was the first white man to settle 
temporarily in this county. Something more than one half of its terri- 
tory was originally a wet, marshy country, inhabited by a vast number 
of fur-bearing animals, which early attracted trappers. There is but little 
definite information to be had of this country during that period. The 
beginning of the permanent settlement was not later than that of Jasper 
County, but the nearer location of the county seat, for several years 
after 1839, operated to the disadvantage of this section. Immigration 
naturally gathered about the county seat, and this western settlement re- 
mained at almost a " stand still," and showing only a slow growth up to 
1854. 

Josiah Dunn and John Elliott are known to have been in the county, 
on the Iroquois, as early as 1832 ; among the very oldest settlers was an 
old man Joseph Redding, who came from Ohio, and settled near the 
Iroquois River, in the western part of the county. He subsequently 
moved further west. About the close of the year 1832, the Brook settle- 
ment was formed by James W. Lacy, G. W. Spitler, Squire Lyons, 

Meekins, T. K. Barker and Samuel Benjamin. The latter first 

settled on the river in the western part of the county, but left on the break- 
ing-out of the Black Hawk disturbance, returning, however, and settling 
on the eastern side of the county. About this time came, James Cuppy, 
Jacob Trout, John Meyers, Bruce Dunn and Matthias Redding. 

About 1836, Jacob Kenoyer came from Southeastern Indjiana, to near 
Spitler's Creek, and about 1845 erected the first saw mill and corn- 
cracker in the county. It was run by a dam thrown across Spitler's 
Creek, and stood near the present residence of Zachariah Spitler. 
Samuel and Frederick Kenoyer came in soon afterward, and Amos Clark 
and Charles Anderson. These families formed the nucleus for the entire 
settlement which gathered in the middle- western part of the county. This 
colony was further reinforced at an early date by Amos White, Michael 
Haney and Philip Earl. 

In 1838, John Murphy came to this region and settled north of the 
Kenoyer settlement on Beaver Creek. He was a native of Virginia and 
removed to Ohio in 1808. In 1825, he removed to Indiana, choosing a 
site on the Tippecanoe River, opposite the site of the city of La Fayette, 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 639 

which was then a wilderness. In 1838, he came to the territory which 
is now Newton County. At that time, there were but about twelve fami- 
lies in the county, among whom were the families of Bridgeman, Cuppy, 
Smith and himself in the edge of the Beaver timber, while on the Iro<{uois 
there were but a few families — John Lyons, Job Hunt, Frederick 
Kenoyer, John Myers and a few others. The rest of the county was an 
unbroken solitude. 

The first time he went to Chicago was in June, 1822, when he 
assisted in driving cattle from Ohio to Green Bay, for the United States 
garrison located there. It took two months and two davs to make the 
trip. From Piqua, Ohio, to Green Bay was an unbroken wilderness, 
except a small settlement at Fort Wayne, and the garrison at Chicago. 
Just after the town of La Fayette was laid out, Taylor and Linton opened 
a store, and Mr. Murphy engaged to take an ox team and find a road 
to Chicago for them, by which goods could be bought at less expense than 
to haul them from the east. In company with two other teams, he pro- 
ceeded through Parish Grove, to Buncombe, 111., and thence to West 
Point. Buncombe, at that time, consisted of four or five log cabins and a 
French trading post about a mile up the Iroquois River, on the north 
side. From this point, he had to make his own road, there being no trace 
to Chicago. The latter place had increased since his first visit to some 
twenty-five dwellings, but land was still very cheap. Mr. Murphy was 
offered lots, near where the 2Ve6wne building stands at ^10 each, the pay- 
ment to be made in potatoes or oats at 50 cents per bushel. Murphy 
was subsequently joined on the Beaver Creek by James Elijah, John 
Darroch, David Kestler, Daniel Deardorff, Benjamin Roadnick, Silas John- 
son and others. 

PRAIRIE BANDITTI. 

In the interval between the actual possession of the Indians and the 
coming of the class of permanent settlers, a transient class of whites took 
possession of this region. It was not unusual for professional trappers to 
take up their abode here for the larger part of the year, and even squat- 
ters found this a congenial location, and gathered here in considerable 
numbers. Under cover of this practice, a class of outlaws found their 
way to the northern part of the county, and from the jungles that 
skirted the banks of the Kankakee, plied their vocation to the no small 
detriment of Newton County's fair name. As originally constituted, 
Newton alone furnished refuge for these people, but by the change of di- 
vision line, Jasper shared the opprobrium of their presence. Horse- 
stealing and counterfeiting were the prevailing crimes of pioneer times, 
and 80 common were they that the practice was looked upon by the com- 



640 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

munity as more inconvenient than criminal. As society became more 
firmly established, the orderly and law-abiding element became the con- 
trolling power, and these peccadilloes became crimes and were safely prac- 
ticed only by banded outlaws, who had to resort in some obscure corner 
of the country. This, Newton County supplied, and for fifteen or twenty 
years was the abode of a luost desperate gang. Their method was to 
take the lighter horses of one State and sell them in another, making the 
return trip with a heavier class of horses, which were in demand in the 
timber country of Iowa and Michigan. For years, these operations 
were carried on almost in open daylight. Their perfect acquaintance 
with the country, their many sympathizers who aided, while not engaged 
in the business, enabled them to elude pursuit. An incident is related of 
a farmer being awakened by some unusual noise in the night ; he rushed 
out, fearing that some one might be after his team, and startled two men 
who were sleeping on his haystack. They did not stop to parley, but 
made their escape as rapidly as their feet could carry them. He found 
two good horses left behind, and for a considerable time had no reason to 
believe them stolen, save from the manner in which they came into his 
possession. Subsequently they were found to belong to farmers in an ad- 
joining county and were restored. Such a state of affairs could not long 
continue without some attempts being made to bring such depredators to 
justice, but these early attempts were made too often single-handed or 
without sufficient organization, and too often resulted in failure. When 
once involved in the meshes of the law, so complete was the organization 
of these bandits, that sufficient evidence was always forthcoming to clear 
them of the charge. Counterfeiting was closely allied to horse-stealing. 
The stolen horse was frequently traded for a better one, and the difference 
paid in counterfeit money. The horse then rapidly changed hands by 
means of accomplices, and usually no trace of either man or animal could 
be found. Occasionally, when a pursuing party came close upon the 
thieves, discretion seemed the better part of valor, and the chase was 
given up. So prevalent was this experience throughout the State, that 
the Legislature passed " an act authorizing the formation of companies 
for the detection and apprehension of horse-thieves and other felons, and 
defining their powers." Under this act, a company was formed in Feb- 
ruary, 1858, to ferret out the author of these crimes. This company 
consisted of a captain, and two men from each township. Their proceed- 
ings were extra-judicial, and partook somewhat of the character of a vig- 
ilance committee. The members were volunteers, and served without 
pay. Their discipline was of the strictest sort, and implicit obedience the 
rule. The Captain would summon a man to be ready in an hour's notice, 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 641 

armed and rationed. Alone, or in company with one or two others, he 
would be sent to investigate some clew, or to arrest some suspected in- 
dividual. No warrant was required, and the culprit was hauled before a 
Justice forthwith. 

The characters of the people dealt with, were of the most desperate 
sort. Emboldened by success in one class of crime, burglary and murder 
were added to the list, and isolated settlers, who could give evidence, 
were so terrorized by whippings or threats, that few could be got to testify 
against them. The company organized here was known as the Jasper 
County Rangers (the two counties being one at that time), and was com- 
posed of men noted for their nerve, l^he effect of its work was prompt 
and salutary. Within two weeks of its first organization, it had efi'ected the 
capture of a noted criminal, and a week later had him incarcerated in the 
penitentiary, undergoing a sentence of a five years' penalty. The honest 
residents of the county cordially aided the company, which in a year or 
two rid the county of the gang which infested this region. This organi- 
zation was successful in ferreting out the retreat of these outlaws, and de- 
stroyed their dens in McClellan Township, Bogus Island and further 
west. These places were evidently the workshops of the band, and con- 
tained guns, ammunition, saddles, bridles, counterfeit coin, dies, pro- 
visions, etc. There was no serious encounter at this time, though armed 
men appeared to dispute the party's advance. Finding a determined 
show of force would not turn the Rangers from their course, they made a 
hurried retreat. These encounters were not always so harmless. Many 
a deed of violence is related, and several of the noted characters were 
killed here. With the growth of the settlements, this species of out- 
lawry was crowded out, and Newton County possesses a reputation as a 
law-abiding community second to none in the State. 

THE GAME. 
The settler placed in Newton County, tiiougli deprived of any near 
source of supplies, found no difficulty in finding support for himself and 
family. A new-comer brought with him a limited amount of flour, coffee, 
tea and sugar. With this stock, he found no difficulty in furnishing his 
table with all that he needed. Deer were found in great abundance, and 
the earliest settler found no difficulty, even if not an adept in the use of 
the rifle, to kill all he needed without leaving the precincts of his cabin. 
Large droves of these animals were seen on the prairie, and the pioneer, 
who was in the habit of carrying his gun wherever he went, need not 
spend much time in the special duty of providing meat for his family. 
Grouse were found here in unlimited numbers, and, while it required a 



642 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

marksman to secure them, no cabin was deprived of this delicacy. Wild 
geese, cranes, herons and the whole list of the varieties of ducks were 
found here, and shot in great numbers, and are still here in scarcely di- 
minished profusion. The Iroquois River, the praise of which was upon 
the lips of every hunter and trapper before the coming of the settler, 
furnished bass, bream, pike, salmon and less noted varieties of fish, and 
the older residents never tire of telling the famous catches that have been 
made all along its length. The wild hog, a gaunt, long-legged species, 
which had escaped from older settlements and run wild in the course of 
nature, were almost as plentiful as the regular game of the region. These 
were not so desirable eating as the tame hog, but they furnished a variety 
in the fare, and their hides, it is said, were very serviceable on occasion, 
when properly dressed, to patch the harness, or make a collar. They 
were often hunted for the sport. Wolves, however, were better for this 
purpose, while their scalps at the same time brought in a very respectable 
revenue. The coyote was the principal variety found her(^, and these 
haunted the prairie in great numbers. They were a small animal, and 
dangerous only to sheep, small pigs and, occasionally, calves. They 
were of the most cowardly nature, and were never knoAvn to attack a 
person, though their howling at night did not tend to impress the hearer 
with their friendly disposition. In the winter, when driven to despera- 
tion by hunger, or attracted to the cabin by the scent of food, the inmates 
could distinguish their footsteps about the door and hear their vicious 
snapping at each other. When only a blanket guarded the entrance, as 
was frequently the case, the sound was anything but assuring. They were 
no match singly with a well-trained dog, and whenever overtaken would 
fall upon the ground and fight like a cat. They were sometimes hunted 
on horseback, and when heavy with a recent meal could readily be over- 
taken and dispatched with a club. They were no kin to the timber wolf, 
and would be captured rather than take refuge in the woods. In the 
timber, the larger species were found. They were a bolder and fiercer 
variety, but never attacked persons. There was therefore no dearth of 
food, nor of material for the best of sport for the hunter. There were 
some who devoted their time to hunting, and for the time made more 
profit than the farmer. The trapper was always well repaid for his intel- 
ligent efforts, and found a good market right in the county for all the 
peltries he had for sale. But the prime reason for the presence of most 
of the pioneers in this. county was to build up a home, and lay the founda- 
tion of a future competence, and to achieve this end there was little capi- 
tal to employ save energy and hard work. The early thoroughfares lead- 
ing from one principal point to another did not pass through this region, 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 643 

and the first comers often broke the first trail to their destination. Thus 
cut off from the source of supplies, the greatest privation in the matter 
of food was the lack of those necessities which are so common to-day 
that we overlook them in our estimates. Salt was one of the luxuries of 
pioneer days and often so expensive that a wagon-load of grain would 
scarcely suffice to buy a barrel of it. Flour could not be secured at any 
price. No wheat was raised at first, and when a crop was secured the 
first mills were so distant that it required a long journey, a week's valu- 
able time, to secure the flour. The ordinary meal of to-day was a lux- 
ury in that early day of hominy and corn cakes. Fortunately, there was 
generally a supply of milk, and butter could be had. With this, the 
grated corn, or, when the corn became hard, the pounded meal supplied 
the lack of more palatable food. 

THE CABIN. 

The regulation cabin seems to have been from sixteen to twenty feet 
square, daubed with mud, covered with clapboards, a log cut for a win- 
dow, with a greased paper in lieu of glass, and a stone fire-place, sur- 
mounted by a " cat and clay " chimney. Often the cabin had nothing 
better than a dirt floor. The furniture was such as the settler could 
raariufacture with an ax and auger. Hand tools, when possessed, were 
always part of the load, and nothing were more advantageous to the 
pioneer in setting up housekeeping in a new country. Bedsteads were 
often made by boring a hole in the cabin wall, in which rested one end of a 
pole, the other end of which was supported by a forked stick in the ground. 
Upon this was placed impromptu slats, supported by one side of the 
cabin and this foot-rail, and upon this structure prairie hay was placed. 
This composed the bed of many of the first settlers, and. though scarcely 
as soft " as downy pillows" are, sufficed until more elaborate accomoda- 
tions could be provided. Chairs were blocks of wood, with holes bored 
in them, in which legs were put; and tables were a packing box fort- 
unately brought with the family, or were constructed of puncheons, split 
from the tree, provided with legs as were the chairs. These character- 
istics were true in only the earliest cabins, and were seldom all combined 
in any one. A few nails and some glass and hardware were occasionally 
brought in by some rather well-to-do immigrant or thoughtful pioneer, 
but the other picture had its counterpart in every settlement in the county. 
15ut with such inconveniences, the people, many of whom had known 
something of refinement in older communities, had no time for repining 
or melancholy, and it is often said by those who survive to the present 
that they seemed to enjoy themselves more then than to-day. People 



644 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

were more sociable then ; all were neighbors for miles and miles about. 
A man would divide his last crust with another, and loan him anything 
he had, and to know that a man needed help to raise his cabin or roll his 
logs was all the invitation he needed. " The latch-string is always out," 
was the type of the early hospitality. This latch and its string were 
novelties in their way, and could not have been evolved except from the 
brain of the pioneer, whose necessities were truly the mother of many 
inventions. The latch was made in the form of an ordinary barn door 
or gate-latch, only it was of large size and made of wood. The latch, 
instead of being outside, was placed inside of the door, and to enable one 
without the door to raise it a hole was bored a few inches above and a 
leather thong was attached and drawn through the hole, with one end 
hanging out. At night, this string was withdrawn, and thus the door 
was locked in such a manner as to render it difficult for a burglar to pick. 
When the string hung out, it was taken to mean, " Come in without 
knocking." 

The site chosen for the erection of the earlier cabins was in the edge 
of the timber. Most of the pioneers who came to this county were 
familiar with the experiences to be met with in a frontier settlement, but 
most of them had been reared in a timber country and knew but little of 
the difficulties or advantages of the prairie. The wisdom of the first 
settlers in clinging to the line of timber, and beginning their farms by 
laboriously clearing off a space here, when the prairie seemed to offer a 
place so much easier adapted to their purposes, has been often challenged. 
But such criticism proceeds too often upon a misconception of the early- 
character of the open country. The luxuriant growth of joint grass, 
after fall, unless burned over, became a tangled mass that was not easily 
penetrated. The new grass sprung up and presented the appearance of a 
beautiful meadow, which, however, was grossly deceptive. The rainfall 
during the year saturated the ground, and the dense growth of grass, 
shielding it from the sun, the natural drainage being deficient, the surface 
for a large part of the year was too wet to till. There was room enough 
at first in the timber, and, acquainted with its demands, the pioneer 
wisely began here." This nearness to the streams, however, exposed the 
inhabitants to the miasmas of which they were the fruitful source. The 
" shakes " seem to be the inevitable companion of the pioneer wherever 
he may be, and it may be doubtful whether there is any escape from their 
baleful presence. The clearing off of timber, or the breaking of prairie 
sod, which involve the decay of large amounts of vegetable matter, bred 
disease, and no settler was considered naturalized until he had experi- 
enced the distress of chills and fever. Sickness of this kind was generally 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 645 

confined to the latter part of summer and fall. The cold of winter 
seemed to destroy the germs of the disease, and there was but little sick- 
ness in this season, save a few lingering cases which had become chronic. 
The spring and early summer were generally healthy, and the old nurses 
were in the habit of saying that when the resin weed and other yellow 
flowers appeared it was time to look for ague. Particular localities were 
more marked than others for the prevalence of this trouble. High water 
in the spring, which flooded the lagoons and low places along the bottoms, 
which slowly dried out under the hot suns of July and August, was a 
fruitful cause of this disorder, and in such localities there was consider- 
able sickness, when in more elevated places it was perfectly healthful. 

Against these evils, the pioneer was forced to contend single-handed. 
Boneset, Culler's physic, and a long list of herbs, of which teas were 
made, were familiar to every housewife, and were found in every cabin. 
Doctors were not to be had, or were situated at long distances from the 
isolated cabins, but when they were to be had within practical distance, 
the former, impelled by the urgent necessity to practice every economy, 
led the settler to depend upon the skill of his own family. Such at- 
tacks were not looked upon as serious, and were generally deemed the 
natural way of becoming acclimated. But these frequent attacks made 
their eff'ects to be seriously felt. The new-comer, who brought buoyant 
spirits and a fresh, healthful countenance to his new home, soon took on 
the pale, sallow hue of semi-invalids, and some never outgrew these evil 
eff'ects. None were spared, and it was no uncommon thing for a whole 
neighborhood to be prostrated at once, and to be so confined and inca- 
pacitated as to be unable to attend to outside duties. Sometimes the 
whole family would be sick at the same time and only the more resolute 
left to care for the younger and weaker. But with the clearing of the 
country, the wider spread of the cultivated area brought about great 
changes, and the succeeding generations reaped the result of the toil and 
suffering of the pioneers. 

THE FARM. 

The pioneers brought but a meager outfit of this world's goods, but, 
strong in faith and hope, expected to increase their worldly store and pro- 
vide a home in old age. Some came in frontier wagons, drawn by horses 
or oxen, and some used the more primitive pack-horse as means of migra- 
tion. Either way was slow compared to the more modern modes of 
travel ; but as they then knew of no other way than that mentioned, un- 
less a river lay in their course, they were content. While on their 
journey, if away from the settled route, their encampment for the night 



646 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

was made wherever night overtook them. A fire was built by the way- 
side, over which an iron kettle was suspended, in which the evening meal 
was cooked. The father's gun through the day provided abundance of 
fresh meat, for game was abundant, and deer could be had for the shoot- 
ing. Yet, let the advantages of the journey be the best, it was one 
of toil and privation. Then there were no bridges over the streams, no 
fences by the roadside, no well-trodden highway. Each emigrant fol- 
lowed the general trail, but each sought a new track for his own team. 
This cut the way into innumerable ditches and ruts made by the wheel of 
the wagon or the hoof of the horse or ox. If the season was one of much 
rain, the swamps they were often compelled to cross would be almost 
impassable, and the roads heavy. If dry, the roads were rough, so that 
at its best, the journey could not be said to be pleasant. Under such 
circumstances, nothing but the necessities and those small in bulk could 
be brought hither. For farming implements the farmer was forced to 
depend upon what could be secured at the nearest village. The plows of 
that time, everywhere, were rude, ungainly tools, and not at all fitted to 
do the work of " breajcing the prairie." As before intimated, the early 
settlers all sought the timber and cleared out farms. Here the land, 
thickly shaded, had not produced the heavy, tough grass roots of the 
prairie, and was comparatively easy of cultivation. The roots of the 
prairie grass were almost as tough and hard as hickory withes, and the 
small bar-share, wooden mold-board was not equal to this tougher soil. 
The question of cultivating the prairie was often discussed, but the con- 
clusion generally arrived at was that this broad expanse of natural 
meadow was designed for a great pasture-field, and must forever remain 
such. But the necessity of the occasion developed the heavy sod plow, 
which, though in comparison to modern inventions seems illy-conceived, 
nevertheless revolutionized the farming of the pioneer days. This was 
an immense machine, with a beam ten or fifteen feet in length, a share 
that would cut about two feet in width, and a mold-board constructed of 
iron bars. To this giant plow was attached all the team power the farmer 
could command, and it was no infrequent thing to see six yoke of cattle 
attached. The sod was found tough, and so tenacious that the share 
turned out one unbroken strip of earth of several rods' length. Occasion- 
ally this stubborn glebe would turn back to its natural position, and the 
plowman was then forced to lift by hand yards of this unwilling turf. The 
expenditure of all this labor was generally well repaid the first year, if 
the sod became thoroughly rotted, even though it produced only a small 
crop. The second year, a " Gary," or some other kind of two horse side 
plow was used to turn the dead sod back again. Besides this, a small 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 647 

side plow, or shovel plow, was subsequently added, which, with the hoe, 
made up the sum of the farmers' implements, until the harvest, when the 
old reap hook, the cradle and the scythe and flail came into use. Corn 
was the crop usually first planted. Some experimented with wheat, but 
it grew too rank and produced sickness, or else miserably failed under 
the conbined attack of insects and unpropitious weather. Corn was for a 
number of years the only crop, and furnished food for man and beast. 
While the sod was being turned over, it was customary to drop the corn 
in the edge of the furrow which grew and produced an inferior crop. 
Each settler brought in at first his team and cows. Horses were generally 
brought first, but oxen were soon found to be more serviceable, and in- 
volved a less outlay of capital, and one horse was often traded oflF for a 
yoke of oxen, which for years became the motive power of the farmer's 
business. Hogs were soon secured, and multiplied. These, fattening 
upon the mast which the timber supplied in abundance, not only afforded 
the farmer with a good, substantial meat, but also afforded a source of 
income, which, though not as considerable as now, was of great advantage 
when a " little money went a great way." Though what he had to sell 
brought the farmer but little money, it generally cost him still less to 
produce it, so far as stock was concerned. The wide range of wild grass 
afforded the most nutritious of pasturage, and this suflSced for his stock 
with a very little addition of corn. 

MILLS AND MARKETS. 

It is difficult at this day to imagine a state of society where even the 
commonest means of social progress must be invented and set in motion, 
but the pioneer found this fact a very prominent and practical one- in his 
early experience. The supplies brought into the country by the immi- 
grant were occasionally by the closest economy made to last until the grow- 
ing crop or garden could supply the necessities of the family. For years, 
in some of the settlements here, the people were thrown entirely upon their 
own resources. The nearest point where flour could be got or wheat 
could be ground was at La Fayette and other older points on the Wabash 
River. A temporary supply of corn was occasionally secured from some 
older settler who had harvested a crop, which sufficed until the growing 
corn becam§ of sufficient size to eat. When the kernel was sufficiently firm, 
the grater was brought into requisition, and a sort of bread and porridge 
was made. The grater often got the name of " blood mills," from the 
mishiip which befell the fingers of the operator. This simple machine 
was made by perforating the bottom of a worn-out tin pan with numerous 
small holes, which were punched with a nail or similar instrument, and 



648 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

upon the ragged edges of these perforations the immature corn was rubbed 
until little but the cob remained. This old grater was an eye-sore to most 
of the children, as it occupied the greater portion of their leisure time. 
It might be fun at first, but it soon became real work that was exceeding- 
ly tiresome in its monotony. Still food must be had, and the task of 
supplying a family of hearty eaters with meal thus manufactured took con- 
sidei'able time and labor. When the grain became hard, and the grater 
no longer effective, the mortar was brought into requisition. This con- 
sisted of a large block or stump in which a kettle-shaped excavation was 
made by burning and scraping. A pestle was made of a heavy pole, to 
the end of which was often fixed an iron wedge. This was suspended to a 
sweep, such as is still seen at wells, the lower end of which was fixed to 
the ground by stakes, converting it into a spring pole. Every cabin had 
its "hominy block," and among the earlier sounds about the cabin was 
the monotonous pounding of the frontier mill. This machine furnished 
several grades of meal, from fairly fine meal to simply cracked grains, 
and this was separated by sieves that were often constructed with a deer 
skin tightly stretched over a frame, and punctured with small-sized holes. 
The finer part was transformed into the dodger which was baked upon the 
hearth, while the courser product was served up as hominy. Some of 
the better provided settlers possessed hand mills which were made of 
"nigger-head" buhrs. In the upper stone was made an "eye" and a 
handle inserted, and the boys would grind hour after hour at this slow 
method. The meal was of a finer quality, but the progress was much 
slower than the mortar. Others on especial occasion resorted to the coffee 
mill for meal to furnish the material for the entertainment of some guest. 
Although the streams afforded good sites for the construction of water 
mills, the necessary machinery and the mechanical skill was for a long 
time wanting. Horse mills came in to supply this need, and while they 
were called corn-crackers, did a much more effective service than the 
name would imply. These consisted of a small set of "nigger-head 
buhrs," propelled by a large cog wheel set upon a perpendicular axis. 
This wheel was often ten or fifteen feet in diameter. In the lower part 
of this axis horizontal levers were attached, so that two teams might be 
attached to give motion to the machinery. Such a mill was constructed 
in several places in the county at different dates, and greatly relieved the 
farmers in the task of making meal. They ground very slowly, and the 
patron was obliged not only to furnish teams, but often was obliged to 
wait several days for an opportunity to use it. Several water mills were 
attempted, but the character of the streams made the experiment very 
unsatisfactory. During the larger part of the year, the mill could not 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 649 

run for the lack of water, and other times the sudden rising of the water 
would wash out the rudely constructed dams. But all of these mills were 
adapted only to the grinding of corn. Wheat was ground in them, but 
it was a slow and unsatisfactory method, and the flour was bolted by 
hand. Of course, such mills were only employed on custom work, and 
had no capacity for other work, even if circumstances would warrant it. 
Markets were reached only by a long journey over tedious roads. Chi- 
cago furnished the only market for the surplus produce, and shelled corn 
was wagoned to that place and sold for 30 cents per bushel. Shelling 
corn for market was the evening work for the whole family. The ear 
was held in one hand, while with a sharpened stick or other similar 
instrument a row of grains was stripped from the cob. Hundreds 
of bushels of corn have been shelled in the county in this way. Another 
method sometimes resorted to, was to seta pole horizontally upon legs. On 
this, by means of pegs and boards, a shallow trough was made in which 
the corn was placed, and beaten with a flail. A little later, stock formed 
a considerable source of income and was driven to market, though the 
farmer generally disposed of his surplus animals to buyers who found 
their way among the settlers. In addition to the peltries taken at such 
seasons as the demands of the farm would permit, honey formed quite an 
article of trade for some time. Bee-trees were found in every piece of 
timber, and large quantities were sold. The bees were easily domesti- 
cated, and a great many of the farmers prepared rude hives and thus 
established a source of regular supply. In addition to its market value, 
it served a much more valuable purpose in the culinary department of the 
cabin. Newton County had the advantage of the surrounding region in 
the possession of some sugar trees, from which the Indians made sugar, 
and the settlers after them, but it never was produced in such quantities 
as to become an article of commerce. 

PRAIRIE TRAVEL. 

In this day of established roads and multiplied landmarks, when what 
was prairie can only with difficulty be distinguished from the original 
woodland, it is not easy to understand the inconvenience and peril of the 
early traveling from one neighborhood to another. And yet the remin- 
iscences of almost every settlement are marked by incidents of death or 
extreme danger arising from the vagueness of early lines of travel across 
these plains. This region was especially dangerous, from the fact that 
at an early date none of the great thoroughfares leading to Chicago from 
the older settlements passed through here. The first settlers found their 
way here guided only by surveyors' stakes, or the natural landmarks of 



660 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

groves or streams. Each one made his own road, and so light was the 
travel that even after a considerable settlement had formed, the usual 
wagon trail was discovered only by the low flower that springs up where 
the sod of the prairie had been bruised by the wheel. The traveler who 
felt confident in his ability to maintain a given direction took no heed to 
the usual course of travel, but made his own way unhindered by fence or 
boundary. Like distance at sea, the broad expanse of the prairie was 
deceptive to all but the most expert. Horseback was the prevailing 
mode of travel save when the whole family or a load was to be taken, and 
the settlers soon learned to have little fear in their own immediate neigh- 
borhood. But new-comers and transient visitors were constantly exposed 
to the danger of being lost in broad daylight. At night, crossing an un- 
cultivated prairie was a very uncertain adventure to all save the most 
expert. When clear, the moon and stars were a very reliable 
guide to the experienced, and many of the pioneers became as 
proficient in making a desired course as the pilot upon the water. 
The tendency, when the traveler becomes confused, is to travel in 
a circle, and when this is once observed, the only safe plan is to 
wait until daylight reveals some point of timber, or other recognized 
landmark. It was generally safe, when no other course seemed open, to 
make for the timber, as some sign of habitation or trail was likely to be 
met with there. In a cloudy night, or in the midst of a fog by day, the 
danger and difficulty were increased, and nothing but necessity induced the 
experienced pioneer to venture off the well-marked trail. When one of 
the family was belated on such a night there was the greatest anxiety 
manifested in the household, and a light was kept at the window to mark 
the site of home to the belated traveler. When it was necessary to make 
a journey which involved a late return home, some signal was agreed upon, 
and many were in the habit of hoisting one of the old perforated tin 
lanterns upon a pole near the chimney of the cabin. In the winter the 
danger was increased. The broad expanse, covered with an untracked 
fall of snow and swept by an icy blast which pierced the heaviest cloth- 
ing, was a route that the stoutest heart might well hesitate to attempt, 
and one in which many a traveler perished. 

PRIMITIVE SOCIETY. 

Society can hardly be said to have had much organization here 
•before the year 1850. The population was small and widely scat- 
tered. Many were squatters, and save in one or two more thickly 
settled localities, few knew anything of the antecedents of their nearest 
neighbors. The earliest settlers of Newton County came principally 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 651 

from Southeastern Indiana, but were originally emigrants from and 
natives of Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Later years 
have brought considerable numbers from New York State, Maryland and 
Illinois. The date of the principal settlement of this county is of so 
recent a date that many of the characteristics so prominent in early com- 
munities were lacking here. There was, however, sufficient of that disre- 
gard of self-restrait and ignorance of the general rights of the commu- 
nity, so common in frontier society, to mark society here as in the early 
formation period found in a new country. There were many who were 
betrayed into counterfeiting that could not be justly termed outlaws. They 
were almost as open in their operations as when engaged in legal occu- 
pations, and manufactured the coin more as righteous plunder of the gov- 
ernment than to defraud their neighbors. There were others who 
affiliated with the outlaws who infested this region, but they were 
never received as a part of the community, and were gradually shunned 
out of the county. When law and order reigned supreme their occupa- 
tion was gone, and they left for a more congenial locality. The majority 
of the permanent settlers who came here before 1850 were such as had 
known something of the advantages of older settlements, and brought 
with them a desire for the best development of the new society which 
they founded in Newton County. Whisky never played the prominent 
part here that it did in many a new settlement. It was made and freely 
drank, but unseemly carousals and fighting was not characteristic of the 
pioneers of this county. 

Owing to the early relations of Newton to Jasper County, there was 
not that early division of society into smaller communities. A well- 
defined settlement existed on the west side, and another on the east side 
of the present county limits, but the inmates of the cabins along 
the Iroquois on either side found themselves members of the same social 
circle. There was no marked difference in wealth, and no observance of 
ranks. In such a community, where " the richest were poor and the 
poor lived in abundance," there was no chance for the growth of caste, 
and families for miles around were linked together as one neighborhood 
by the social customs of the time, which in the spirit of true democracy 
drew the line at moral worth alone. The amusements of a people, taking 
their character from the natural surroundings of the community, were 
here chiefly adapted to the masculine taste. Hunting and fishing were 
always liberally rewarded, while log cabin raisings, the opening of court 
with its jury duty, and the Saturday afternoon holiday with its scrub 
horse race, its wrestling match, its jumping or quoit-pitching, afforded 
entertainments that never lost their zest. It was a common remark, 



652 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

however, that a new country furnished an easy berth for men and oxen, 
but a hard one for women and horses. Outside of visiting and camp- 
meetings, the diversions in which women participated at that early day 
were very few ; husking and spinning bees, and " large " weddings, 
where the larger part of the night was spent in dancing, did not have the 
frequent occurrence so characteristic of the Eastern States, and nothing 
here seemed to offer any substitute. 

Pioneer customs and habits have passed away with the times and cir- 
cumstances that gave them existence. Although the pioneers possessed 
some characteristics repellent to refined ideas and modern culture, yet in 
their social- intercourse with each other they displayed those exemplary 
traits of character which might well be esteemed a bright legacy to a 
more advanced age. If they deviated from the strict rules of morality 
and indulged themselves in habits and excesses which have been discarded 
by progressive civilization as enervating and ruinous, they still retained 
those estimable virtues which are the token of a generous and sympa- 
thetic people. Unpretentious and unostentatious, they tendered what- 
ever of hospitality their houses afforded, and were assiduous in their 
efforts to provide for those whom chance brought within the circle of their 
charities. Affectation had no place in the cordial entertainment tendered 
visitor or stranger, and self-seeking was never the incentive which 
prompted their open-doored hospitality. It is worthy the remark that 
society had not yet matured enough at that time to produce the " tramp," 
and the footsore traveler was likely to be a worthy recipient of their 
kindness. But while this modern infliction had not then been grown to 
sour the pioneer's disposition, his unquestioning and unsuspicious dispo- 
sition often made him the victim of the miscreants that infested the 
country in the form of highwaymen. It was difficult to discriminate 
between the worthy stranger and the bandit, and the stranger taken in 
too often proved a robber in disguise. Notwithstanding such discourage- 
ments, the passing stranger had but to solicit entertainment, when the 
"sissing hog" and steaming hominy bespoke the stranger's welcome. 

The early society made no allowance for middlemen. Every man 
and woman was a worker, with enough to do to keep them busy the 
year around. The frontier house, as a rule, had but one room, which 
served all the domestic and social purposes of the family alike. Labor- 
saving appliances were unknown. The crane, hung with iron pots and 
kettles, and the Dutch oven, half submerged in coals, were, in all cabins, 
the instruments with which the cook worked her magic. A few years' 
residence in the settlement placed the industrious family in that " fore- 
handed " condition that enabled them to indulge in hop -yeast or salt- 



HISTORY OK NEWTON COUNTY. 655 

rising bread, chickens and a variety of fresh, luscious vegetables. Pearl- 
ash, which was prepared from the ordinary potash by the housewife, was 
the early substitute for the "baking powder " of to-day. But this part of 
woman's work was made to occupy but the smaller part of her attention. 
The necessities of the situation required that the family depend upon 
themselves for all they required. The surplus product of the farm 
scarcely suflBced to purchase a slender stock of tea, coffee and spices, with 
an occasional hat for the man and a calico dress for the woman ; all else 
must be derived from the soil. Flax was grown, and most farmers kept a 
few sheep. There were no factories near, or carding machines for years, 
and the raw material was placed in the hands of the women to adapt to 
the use of the family. How well they wrought, is the burden of the rem- 
iniscences of that day. To dye and weave, to card and spin, were ac- 
complishments that all women possessed and put in daily practice. The 
women's clothing was made of linsey-woolsey, a mixture of linen and 
wool, and the children's and men's apparel of the same. It was not un- 
common for young ladies to attend gatherings in homespun dresses 
and sun bonnets, and without shoes and stockings. It was a mark of 
improved circumstances when tiie women could wear calico and the 
men wear jeans. 

With all this activity and self-helpfulness in the cabin, there was plenty 
to engage the energy of the men out of doors. The common remark 
that women and horses found a iiard berth, and men and oxen an easy 
one in a new country, was true here in many respects. Men found time 
for attending court, logging frolics and hunting, though it was not diffi- 
cult to find those who had never indulged in the latter sport. But the 
duties of a farmer were in the main severe amd numerous enough to sat- 
isfy the general equilibrium of the share of work among the sexes. Log- 
gings and cabin-raisings, while they involved an element of sport, were 
none the less fatiguing and necessary. In a community where there were 
few or no independent mechanics and no place for loafers, each one was 
forced to depend upon his fellows for assistance in times of especial emer- 
gency. "Changing work" was the only way to secure help, and the 
"hired man" only came in vogue when the great stress of pioneer work 
had been accomplished. What with insufficient tools, and too often an 
inadequate supply of these, and the debilitating effect of disease, there 
was little in his lot that any one should desire to exchange for it. Nowhere 
in the world were husband and wife more necessary to the general success 
as right here in the days of the pioneer. Without a wife the farmer was 
a hopeless failure, and it was no infrequent thing that a settler left 
his improvement without a cent for his labor, or at best a great sacrifice 



656 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

of its value, when his wife died. There were no supernumerary men and 
women, and the older settlements of the East among friends of the family 
was the only resource left in such a case. 

The discouragements of the farmer need to be felt to be appreciated. 
The opinion is too often entertained that the men lead a rollicking sort of 
life, with some privations to be sure, but sure in the outcome to achieve 
a comfortable competence. There could be no greater mistake. Failure 
and abandonment of improvements were too frequent to lead any pioneer 
to imbibe such a notion. Each man was the architect of his own fortune 
here, and it was achieved not by brilliant strokes of policy, but by daily 
effort, self-sacrifice and a courage that surmounted difficulties. How this 
country was settled and improved under the meager inducements held 
out by the situation can be explained upon none of the settled principles of 
political economy. The men who settled and labored here were not 
such as had capital upon which they could afford to wait and see the 
result of their labors. A life-time success or failure, which involved their 
families with them, hung upon the result of their experiment, and it was 
probably this daily struggle for subsistence which gave no time for weigh, 
ing the chances, that led them to struggle on through disappointments 
and difiiculties. Perhaps one of the most serious of the many discourage- 
ments was the little value of the crop, which the farmer had labored for 
through heat and cold and sickness. The markets were distant, the cost of 
transportation considerable, and the crop when sold would scarcely bring 
the cost of getting it to the purchaser. But they had learned from the 
traditions of their parents '' to labor and to wait," and in due time they 
triumphed. When roads began to be established and the flow of immi- 
gration began to build up towns, a home market was established, and, 
stimulated by this improvement in his prospects, the settler began to look 
beyond the difficulties of the present and renew his courage. The influ- 
ence of good roads and thoroughfares upon the society of a country is 
too often ignored. So long as a community is isolated, it lacks the pub- 
lic spirit and emulation begotten by constant contact and contrast with 
others. The change of the old law, which allowed the whole county on 
general elections to vote at the county seat was another powerful influ- 
ence in the right direction. The large community embracing the whole 
county was thus broken into smaller ones, and a proper spirit of emula- 
tion was begotten within the counties. With better means of access to 
the older settlements, improvements were brought in, invention was stimu- 
lated, and some adequate idea of the necessities and possibilities of the 
situation was gained. The rough freedom of society was more subject to 
the control of the more sober minded and industrious ; churches and 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 657 

schools followed and the frontier community began to assume the duties 
it owed to the larger community of the State and world. 

With the general settlement of the prairie, and the laying-out of 
regular roads, traveling became less dangerous, though scarcely less 
difficult. The amount of labor which could be bestowed upon them by 
the few people in the scattered settlements made but little effect upon 
the highways of a country which seemed particularly exposed, by the 
character of the soil and the conformation of the surface, to the unfavor- 
able action of rain, and even now the farming community of Newton 
County pays a heavy annual tribute to muddy, impassable roads. 

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. 

The County Seat. — The question of the highest importance next to 
the formation of the county, to the people of Newton, was the location 
of the seat of justice. On this issue, the sentiment and united effort 
which succeeded, in spite of so many difficulties in respect to the first, 
was entirely wanting. The prime moving cause which led to a division 
of Jasper County, was the remoteness of the county seat from most of 
the western part of the county, and the large majority of the people in 
the new county desired a central location for the new county seat. On 
the formation of the county, Gov. Willard promptly appointed Livingston 
Dunlap, of Marion County, John B. Winstandley, of Floyd County, and 
Joseph Allen, of Montgomery County, to fix upon the location. The 
event clearly showed that the Governor was actuated by personal motives 
in the appointment of this committee, and was present on the ground 
when the Legislative Commission came to view the situation. Samuel 
H. Owen was subsequently substituted for Mr. Windstandley, and on 
March 15, 1860, the Commissioners thus constituted submitted the fol- 
lowing report : 
To THE Hon. A. P. Willakd, Governor: 

The undersigned Commissioners, appointed by the Governor of the State of 
Indiana, to locate the county seat of the county of Newton, in said State, after a 
full and faithful ronsideration of the subject, a view of the various sites proposed 
by the inhabitants of said county of Newton, and after having given an opportunity 
for the making of donations, and having duly considered the same, report that they 
by a majority of said board do locate said county seat of Newton County at the 
proposed and platted town of Kent, on part of Section 22, in Township 27 north, 
and Range 9 west, of the lands in said county; and we return herewith the original 
proposition of donations to said county for said location, to wit: Cash, A. J. Kent, 
frKK); subscription by sundry persons, $245; one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
being the southeast quarter of Section 21^, Township 28 north, Range 8 west, as de- 
scribed in patent, 195 lots of 80 by l^'O feet each, as per proposition, court house 
square. 350 by 250 feet, to be selected bj' the County Commissioners. 

Respectfully submitted this 15th day of March, A. I). IHfiO. 

li. DlNLAP, 
JOSKIMI Al-LEN, 

S.\m'l H. Owen. 



658 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

It is needless to say that this decision gave rise to the liveliest dissat- 
isfaction. Charges of bribery and every unworthy motive were freely 
madCj and the facts in the case certainly gave very good grounds for sus- 
picions. A little east of the point selected lay a considerable tract of 
land, the title of which rested in the name of the Governor's wife; the 
Governor, by his presence here during the visit of the Commissioners, 
gave color to the report that he did not care to trust even his own hench- 
men out of his sight, and his own intimate relations with Mr. Kent 
formed a combination of circumstances that might well give circulation to 
such charges, even among a people less willing to believe them. An 
effort was at once made to change the location thus decided upon, and, 
under the mistaken supposition that if a court house was erected near the 
center of the county the court would decide to remove the county seat to 
that point, a small town was accordingly projected in the southeast corner 
of Beaver Township, a court house erected, and on the 4th of Septem- 
ber, 1860, a petition was prssented to the new Board of County Commis- 
sioners, by John Darroch, John Cofifelt, F. W. Hamey, Andrew Hess, Silas 
Johnston and James Archibald, for the removal of the county seat, and 
for its re-location at and on the south half of the northwest quarter of 
Section 36, Township 29 north. Range 9 west, averring that the petition 
contained the signatures of two-thirds of the legal voters in the county, 
and by affidavits proving that the petitioners were legal voters of the 
county, and that their signatures were genuine, and also at the same time 
filed a deed for a site for county buildings, at and on the point above 
named, containing three and one-quarter acres and upward ; also, at the 
same time, deposited $50, as provided by the statute, to employ an archi- 
tect, etc.; all of which was laid before the board by the Auditor. This 
movement was promptly met by a remonstrance numerously signed and 
headed by A. J. Kent, and after several days of legal sparring the Com- 
missioners gave their decision as follows : 

We find that said petitions had 383 signatures, and after the parties had in- 
vestigated the petitions, the remonstrants, being permitted to introduce evidence 
that persons ^vho were on said petition had since signed a remonstance against said 
removal, and also that persons whose names were on said petitions had died or re- 
moved out of the county; and after hearing the evidence of parties as to who were 
properly on the petition for removal, we find that there w;as, for cause, sixty-two 
names struck from the list of said petitioners, reducing the number to 321 legal 
voters, at the time said petitions were filed; and in mailing up our opinion as to the 
testimony introduced by the parties, we believe that when the petitions were filed 
with the Auditor that all the persons w^hose signatures were on said petition at that 
time, and that were residents and legal voters in the county, and who previously to 
said filing of the petition had not signed a remonstrance against said petitions, were 
properly in court. 

And we find farther, that the remonstrants against said removal introduced a 
remonstrance which we believe was circulated, and the signatures obtained after the 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 659 

filing of said petitions, by which there was twenty-one names stricken from the list 
of signatures for the removal of the county seat; we, therefore, add said twenty- 
.one names to the list of petitioners, making 342 signatures on the petitions for 
removal of the county seat at the time said petitions were filed, which we determine 
to be the true number of persons who are properly on the petitions for the removal 
of the county seat at the time said petitions were filed 

The petitioners introduced the poll of the last spring election, duly certified, 
as the number of voters in the county; and the remonstrants offered as evidence the 
number of names whose signatures were on the petitions for removal, as also the 
number who were properly or the remonstrances against the removal, as evidence 
of the number of legal voters in said county. 

We are of the opinion that the act of 1855, under which the petitioners are 
acting, leaves the question as to the basis upon which Boards of Commissioners are 
to ascertain the number of voters an open question, and to be decided by the board 
as any other fact by the best evidence before them. We, therefore, determine that 
the legal voters in the count}' at the time when said petitions were filed is the num- 
ber that the act of 1855 requires, that two-thirds of whom shall be on the petition 
for the removal and relocation of the county seat. We are of the opinion that the 
492 votes cast at the last spring election would fall short of the number of voters in 
the county at the time the petitions were filed, for the reason that there was only 
township and county officers to be elected, which never draws out a full vote as do 
our annual election.s, when State and county officers are to be elected; and ab^o that 
it is supposed that there is an increase in the voters annually. We therefore are of 
the opinion that the 342 names that are on the petitions, and those who are properly 
on the remonstrances against said petition, and verified by the affidavits, amounting 
to 202 names, making 544 as the true number of legal voters in the county at the 
time of filing said petitions. 

It is our opinion that the petitioners have failed, not having two-thirds of the 
legal voters in the county; and it is Ordered that the case be dismissed. 

An appeal was subsequently taken from this decision, but with no 
avail. 

This explicit statement, with its legal verbiage, may be taken as an 
exposition of the points upon which an effort to remove the county seat 
depends, and the manner of procedure in the case of both petitioner and 
remonstrant. 

On June 3, 1861, C. E. Triplet, Z. Spitler, E. Bridgeman, John Ly- 
ons, Andrew Hess, etal., presented another petition "• for the removal and 
re-location of the county seat," the site designated this time being "near 
the town of Brook, to wit : On the northeast quarter of the northeast 
quarter of Section 19, Township 28 north, Range 8 west." Ten pe- 
titions, said to contain 390 signatures, a deed conveying five acres for 
public buildings, a bond conveying a tract of land not less than 160 acres 
for the use of the county, a further donation of every third lot in the 
proposod plat of the town, and a bond for the payment of 31,000 in law- 
ful money, were the inducements offered at this time. This movement 
was also met by a counter movement, but fate seemed kind to the be- 
leaguered minority, and a flaw in the money-bond threw the petitioners' 
case out of court. 



660 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

On the 3d of March, 1870, another " petition for the removal and re- 
location of the county seat," signed by Daniel Ash and 609 others, was 
brought before the Board of Commissioners by Messrs. Hammond & 
Spitler, attorneys for the petitioners. The object at this time was to 
move the seat of justice to Morocco. The usual remonstrance was filed, 
but the case was summarily withdrawn by the petitioners without a hear- 
ing of the case. It afterward transpired that they had been made the 
victims of misplaced confidence, some of the important papers pertaining 
to the case having been stolen. Again in December, 1872, John W. 
Deaner, John Thompson and 952 petitioned for the removal of the county 
seat to Brook. This was opposed by a i-eraonstrance signed by C. B. 
Cone, A. J. Kent and 580 others. This remonstrance was at first ex- 
cluded for insufficiency, but was subsequently amended and filed, where- 
upon the petition was summarily withdrawn. 

On June 20, 1876, the last and most determined attempt to remove 
the county seat was made by Daniel Ash, et al., in favor of Morocco. 
The petitioners retained Hon. J. R. Coffroth, Hon. R. S. Dwiggins, 
Carmichael and Darroch. The remonstrance, headed by J. G. Perry and 
Patrick Keefe, was supported by Col. R. DeHart, E. 0. Brian, W. H. 
Martin and J. T. Sanderson. In this case, the petitioners made the fatal 
error of neglecting to deposit with tlie Auditor the money required by 
law to hire an architect and pay expense of assessing damages. A tender 
of this money was made at the time of hearing, but the Board of Com- 
missioners refused to accept it, and an appeal was taken to the Circuit 
Court. A change of venue was taken to Jasper County, and subsequently 
to Tippecanoe County. Here the case was finally dismissed, upon 
motion, on the ground that the Commissioners' Court had original and 
^wa? jurisdiction. 

But the end is not yet. There is little question that the merits of 
the case are with the petitioners in these efforts to remove the county 
seat to a more central location, but the management of details has been 
faulty in every instance, while the minority have shrewdly availed 
themselves of every technical right the law granted them. There has 
been a marked lack of unanimity between the two rival points, Morocco 
and Brook, and the remonstrants have not been slow in taking advan- 
tage of this fact to foment discord, and in every instance the remonstrants 
have been materially aided by those who were naturally opposed to them. 
There is but one voice as to the final issue. Circumstances may delay 
the event, and each year will add difficulty to such removal, but that the 
county seat will eventually be removed is felt to be well assured. 

In the midst of this spirited contest over the site of the county seat, 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 661 

the public business proceeded as steadily as though there was no public 
agitation. The Governor appointed Thomas Barker Organizing Sheriff 
for the new county, who issued his call for a special election to be held 
April 2, 1860. There were six voting precincts, one in Beaver, Jackson, 
Iroquois and Lake Townships, and two in Washington. There was a 
total vote of 492, resulting in the election of Z. Spitler, Clerk ; Alexan- 
der Sharp, Auditor; Samuel McCullough, Treasurer; John Ade, Re- 
corder; Elijah Shriver, Sheriff; A. W. Shidler, Surveyor; Jared Yeo- 
man, Coroner ; Thomas R. Barker, William Russell and Michael Coffelt, 
Commissioners. On the 22d day of April, 1860, these oflBcers filed 
their respective bonds and assumed the duties of their offices. On the 
following day the Commissioners held their first session in a building be- 
longinff to Mr. Kent, facing the railroad. 

The new Board of Commissioners found the county divided into five 
townships, as mentioned above, the oldest of which were Beaver and 
Jackson. How the territory embraced within the limits of Newton 
County was originally divided cannot be ascertained. The Commission- 
ers' records of Jasper County previous to 1849 are destroyed. At that 
date these were the only townships in this territory, and it is probable 
that the line of division was the Iroquois River. Subsequently lless 
Township was formed of that portion of Beaver lying in Ranges 8, 9 and 
10 north, and north of Township 30. In the March term, 1853, the 
Commissioners of Jasper corrected the boundaries of all the townships in 
the county, and at that time made the township of Jackson to consist of 
all that territory in Range 8 west, and Townships 29, 30, 81 and frac- 
tional 32, to the Kankakee River ; Beaver embraced all the territory in 
Range 9 and fractional 10, in Townships 29 and 30 ; Hess, its name 
changed to Lake, occupied the territory in Range 9 and fractional 10? 
north of Township 30; and Iroquois, was formed to embrace the terri- 
tory in Townships 27 and 28 north, in Ranges 8, 9 and fractional 10 
west. In September of the same year, Iroquois, twelve by fifteen miles 
in area, was found to be too large, and for the sake of " harmony," 
Townships 27 and 28 north, in Range 9 and fractional 10 west, were struck 
off and formed into a township called Washington. At the session of 
March, 1857, Lake Township was enlarged to take in that part of Jack- 
son lying in Townships 31 and 32, in Range 8. This was the condition 
of the townships when Newton County assumed control of her own af- 
fairs. The first business to come before the new board was a petition 
signed by Ralph Swiggert and others, for the division of Washington 
Township on the line of the Iroquois River, that part north of the river 
to retain the name of Washington, and the part south of the Iroquois to 



662 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

be called Jeft'erson, which was granted. The designating number of 
townships was provided in 1861 as follows: Ii'oquois, No. 1; Jackson, 
No. 2; Lake, No. 8; Beaver, No. 4; Washington, No. 5; and Jefferson, 
No. 6. In September, 1861, Jackson Township was reconstructed, tak- 
ing a portion of Lake, so that its territory should consist of Townships 
29, 30, 31 and fractional 32, in Range 8, leaving Lake to consist of 
Township 31 north, in Range 9 and fractional 10, as at present. 

In December, 1862, Z. T. Wheaton presented a petition of himself 
and others to strike oflF a portion of Beaver Township to be called Mc- 
Clellan, which should consist of Township 30 north, in Range 9 and frac- 
tional 10, leaving both townships as at present. 

On December 6. 1865, Ziba W. Wood and John C. McMasters pre- 
sented a petition for themselves and others asking for a division of Iro- 
quois Township. This petition, signed by R. C. Currens, Blake Wilson, 
F. E. Pierce, and thirty others, set forth the inconvenience of the pres- 
ent size of the township, and desired the Commissioners to name the new 
township Grant, as an expression of the petitioners' admiration for the 
successful Union General. This petition was granted, the new township 
to consist of Congressional Township 27 north, Range 8 west, and Iro- 
quois of Township 28 north, Range 8 west, leaving both townships in 
their present shape. 

On March 9, 1871, a petition by Philip Miller and others was pre- 
sented asking for the erection of a township out of the territory lying in 
Townships 80, 31 and fractional 32, in Range 8, to be called Colfax. 
This was granted, and on the 8th of June, 1^>72, Aaron Wilson and four- 
teen others petitioned for the division of Colfax Township on the Con- 
gressional township line between the Townships 30 and 31, to be called 
Lincoln. 

There has been no minor changes, and the geography of the county 
is fortunately freed from those arbitrary meanderings of division lines 
which breed so many difficulties. The map presents a symmetrical ar- 
rangement of political divisions, which is a striking exception to the most 
of the State. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 
Among the earliest transactions of the Commissioners of Newton 
County was the appointment of Reuben White as agent to receive the 
donations for the county seat, and the selection of a site for the court house. 
The latter was fixed on Block 16, containing thirty lots, the whole area 
being 450x322 feet in size. On March 6, 1861, the Auditor, Recorder, 
and Clerk of the Circuit Court were appointed a committee, with full 
powers to contract for and superintend the erection of a building for court 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 663 

room and county offices, not to exceed $1,000, which was to be paid out 
of the donation fund. In the meanwhile, the Corainissioners contracted 
for the use of Joel Anderson's store building, which had been erected on 
a lot adjoining Kent's store, for six months, at $6 per month. In June, 
1861, the new court house was completed and accepted. As provided by 
the original order of the Commissioners, the other officers declining to 
take any responsibility in regard to the erection of the building, A. 
Sharpe, taking the assistance of Reuben White, advertised for bids, and 
found the lowest made by James Van Natta. This bid, of $974, was ac- 
cepted by the committee, but the contractor refused to accept the terms of 
payment and did not make out the necessary papers. The contract was ac- 
cordingly awarded to J. B. Cheesbrough, the next lowest among those bid- 
ding, but at the price of Van Natta's bid. This price, however, was in- 
creased to $1,000, and the porticos on either end of the building added 
to the specifications. The building was a plain, framed structure, with 
court and jury rooms above and four offices below. These lower rooms 
were appropriated by the Clerk, Auditor, Recorder and Treasurer, the 
Sheriff finding such quarters as he could. This state of things continued 
until 1867, the grand jury being forced to meet on one occasion in the 
discarded calaboose of the village. In this year, the small building 
fronting the north side of the court house was erected for a jury room. 
One room was immediately appropriated by the Clerk, and soon after- 
ward the Recorder appropriated the other, the Auditor's office being en- 
larged to take in the whole south side of the court house below, and the 
Sheriff appropriating the quarter deserted by the Recorder. This leaves 
the jury as poorly provided as before, the grand jury occupying such 
quarters as occasion offers. 

No jail has ever been built. The only public building, other than the 
court house, is the poor house. This is an ordinary farm dwelling on the 
farm situated on Section 33, in Washington Township. The poor of the 
county were " farmed out" at first, but in September, 1868, a farm was 
purchased of Mary and Solomon Warren for $5,500. This was on Sec- 
tion 13, in Iroquois Township, and in 1871 a part was sold and later the 
whole was disposed of, the county going back to the primitive way of 
caring for the dependent poor. January 24, 1878, in settling with D. 
A. Pfrimmer, a former Treasurer, the present poor farm consisting of 
102 77-100 acres, was taken, at $35 per acre, in part settlement 
of his indebtedness to the county. The Superintendent of the farm 
leases the property at about $225 per year, and is allowed a certain amount 
per week for maintaining the inmates. 

About 1874, the offices of Clerk and Recorder were supplied with fire- 



664 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

proof vaults for the storage of the county records, and the Auditor was 
supplied with a large safe, purchased in 1867 at an expense of $1,600 and 
previously used by the Recorder. 

The question of more commodious buildings is rapidly becoming an 
important one. and will not be kept in abeyance much longer. Aside 
from the usual principle of economy supposed to be the dominating influ- 
ence with all Boards of Commissioners, the bearing a request for a vote 
of money for such expenditure would have on the question of the county 
seat removal will have a tendency to defer the agitation for new public 
buildings as long as possible. The court house square, indebted to the 
taste of Jira Skinner, a former Sherifl", for its fine grove of trees, is a 
marked feature in the village. 

COUNTY OFFICIALS. 

The gentlemen who have filled the ofiice of Clerk of the Circuit 
Court of Newton County are : Z. Spitler, from 1860 to 1864 ; E. L. 
Urmston, from 1864 to 1868 ; Nath. West, from 1868 to December, 
1870, when he resigned. Andrew Hall was appointed to fill the vacancy, 
and was subsequently elected his own successor, filling the office until 
1876. W. W. Oilman was Clerk from 1877 to 1880, and John G. Davis 
from 1880, and is the present incumbent. 

Alexander Sharpe was the first Auditor, and served from 1860 to 1864; 
John Ade, from 1864 to 1868; Alex Ekey, from 1868 to 1871, when he 
absconded. John S. Veatch was appointed to fill the vacancy, and was 
elected to fill the succeeding term, serving until 1876. John Z. Johnston 
was Auditor from 1876 to 1880; Alexander Sharpe, from 1880 to April, 

1883, when he died. John Z. Johnston was appointed to fill the vacancy, 
and was elected to fill the ofiice, so that his term will not expire until 

1884. ■ 

John Ade was the first Recorder, serving from 1860 to 1864 ; John 
Peacock from 1864 to 1872; EzraB. Jones, from 1872 to 1880; George 
M. Bridgeman, from 1880, and is the present incumbent. 

The Treasurers of the county have been : Samuel McCollough, from 
1860 to 1864 ; Samuel Bramble, from 1864 to 1868 ; Abraham A. My- 
ers, from 1868 to 1872 ; D. A. Pfrimmer, from 1872 to 1876 ; John F. 
Johnson, from 1876 to 1880 ; George G. Jenkins, from 1880, and is the 
present official. Each Treasurer has been honored with the second 
term. 

The Sheriffs of the county have been : Elijah I. Shriver, from 1860 
to 1864; H.K.Warren, from 1864 to 1866; Charles Frankenberger, 
from 1866 to 1868; H. K. Warren, from 1868 to 1872; William A. 



HISTOID' OF NEWTON COUNTY. 665 

I 

Patrick was elected in 1872, but served only a short time, when he re- 
signed ; Jira Skinner was appointed to fill the vacancy, and was subse- 
quently twice elected, filling the office from 1873 to 1878 ; Hugh Par- 
ker followed, from 1878 to 1880, and J. W. S. Ulrey from 1880, and is 
the present officer. 

The Surveyors of the county have been : A. W. Shidler, from 1860 
to 1864; Barnett Hawkins, 1864 to 1870 ; C. W. Cliffton was elected in 
1870, but did not qualify for the position, ilnd Hawkins held over until 
the election of Joseph Chambers, who served from 1872 to 1874 ; Milton 
Cook succeeded from 1874 to 1876 ; Benjamin Harris, from 1876 to 
1878, and Otis Shepard from 1878, and is the present incumbent. 

The Coroners have been : John Vandyke, from 1870 to 1872 ; H. 
K. Warren, from 1872 to 1874 ;* J. B. Wescott was elected his successor, 
but refused to qualify, and the office went begging until 1879, when H. 
K. Warren assumed its duties until 1880 ; then J. C. M. Chaffee, dis- 
charged its duties from 1880 to 1882, and Anson Coppocks from 1882, 
and is the present official. 

In 1860, the Board of Commissioners divided the county into three 
districts. No. 1 to be composed of Township 27 north. Ranges 8, 9 and 
fractional 10 west, and Township 28 north, Range 9, and fractional 10 ; 
No. 2 to be composed of Township 28 north. Range 8 west and 
Township 29 north. Ranges 8, 9 and fractional 10 ; No. 3 to be com- 
posed of all territory in the county north of Congressional Township 29 
north, in Ranges 8, 9 and fractional 10. From the District No. 1, Will- 
iam Russell served as Commissioner from I860 to 1865; Reuben White, 
from 1865 to 1868 ; John F. Johnson, from 1868 to 1871 ; R. S. L. Cur- 
ren, from 1871 until his death in 1872; the vacancy was filled by the 
appointment of Blake Wilson, on June 3, 1872, until the election of 
Daniel Gray, in October, 1872, who completed the term. 0. G. Mcllvain 
succeeded from 1874 to 1877 ; T. S. Brecount,' from 1877 to 1883, and 
J. A. Timmons from 1883, who is the present member from that district. 

District No. 2 has been represented by Thomas R. Barker, from 1860 
to 1m64, his first term being for one year only ; Daniel Deardorf, from 
1864 to 1867 ; Andrew Hess, from 1867 to 1873; W. W. Wishard, from 
1873 to 1878, when he resigned , John D. Spohn was appointed to fill 
the vacancy, and was elected his own successor, holding the office until 
1882, and was succeeded by Ebenezer Hunter, the present incumbent. 

District No. 3 has been represented by Michael Coffelt, from 1860 
to 1863 ; Philip Hunter, from 1863 to 1866; Isaac Timmons, from 1866 
to 1869 ; James Halleck, from 1869 to 1872 ; A. M. Skinner, from 1872 
to 1875; A. M. Guilford, from 1875 to 1878; Silas Sinks from 1878 



666 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

to 1881, and J. W. Chizum, from 1881, and is a member of the present 
Board. 

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY. 

The First Settlers. — The early reputation of Newton County (or 
rather the western part of Jasper) in regard to its social as well as phys- 
ical characteristics, greatly retarded the coming in of settlers. There were 
no railroads, no newspapers, and but very few people until about 1860, 
and so long as these characteristics remained prominent, the unsettled 
portions of other parts of the State secured the larger part of the west- 
ward emigration. The tide began to change, however, about 1853, and 
the prospects of the county began to improve until the coming of the rail- 
road in 1860, when its growth received a decided impulse. 

The pioneers of Newton County came principally from Southeastern 
Indiana, but natives, however, of Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and 
Ohio. Succeeding years have brought the principal contributions to the 
population of the county from New York State, Maryland, Pennsylvania 
and Illinois. The early families had been pioneers in older settlements 
from which they came, or had grown up in frontier colonies which their 
fathers had founded, and had been trained in the stern school of experi- 
ence to meet and conquer the difficulties of a new country. But the prob- 
lem here, nevertheless, presented experiences entirely different from those 
with which their earlier life had acquainted them. The Iroquois River, 
with its fringe of timber, divided the vast open plain of grass and flowers 
into two divisions. North of the river the meadow stretched out to the 
marshes of the Kankakee and Beaver Lake ; while to the southward the 
broad expanse of the Grand Prairie, marked here and there by a stray 
clump of stunted trees, stretched away, unbounded save by the horizon, 
and the pioneer with his little retinue of wagons was lost in this luxuri- 
ant wilderness like a convoy of sloops in mid-ocean. 

The first sight of a great prairie in the height of its native beauty is 
one never to be forgotten. The beholder strains his eyes to take in its 
extent until the effort becomes painful, while its beauty and variety foils 
the power of expression. It is a new and wonderful revelation. Strange 
sights and sounds greet the senses on every side. The piping cry of the 
ground squirrel, as he drops from his erect position and seeks the protec- 
tion of his burrow at the first alarm, the shrill notes of the plover, scat- 
tered about in countless numbers, fitfully starting and running over the 
meadow ; the booming of the prairie-cock ; the mad scream of the crooked- 
bill curlew, as you approach its nest ; the distant whoop of the crane ; 
the pump-sounding note of the bittern ; the lithe and graceful forms of 
the deer, in companies of three or five, lightly bounding over the swell of 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 667 

the prairie ; the beautiful harmony of color and rich profusion of flowers 
— it all seems like a new creation — an earthly paradise. 

Every immigrant supplied his own means of reaching his destined 
home. The pioneer from Pennsylvania or the Southern States, betrayed 
his nativity and prejudice in the schooner-shaped wagon box, the stiff' 
tongue, the hinder wheels double the size of the forward ones, and close- 
ly coupled together, the whole drawn by a team of four or six horses 
which were guided by a single line in the hands of a teamster riding the 
" nigh wheeler." His harness was of gigantic proportions. What be- 
tween the massive leather breeching, the heavy hames and collar, the 
immense housing of bear-skin upon the hames, the heavy iron trace 
chains, and the ponderous double-tree, the poor beasts seemed like 
humanity in a chain gang, or some terrible monsters that human 
ingenuity could scarcely fetter securely. The Eastern immigrant, from 
New York or farther east, was marked as far as his caravan could be seen, 
by a long coupled, low boxed, two-horse wagon, provided with a seat, 
from which with double lines the driver guided his lightly harnessed 
pair of horses. There was about each part of the outfit evidences of the 
close calculation of means to an end, and an air of utility which left no 
room to doubt the purpose of the maker in every part of it. 

In such a community, where " the richest were poor and the poor lived 
in abundance," there was no chance for the growth of caste, and families 
for miles around were linked together as one neighborhood, by the social 
customs of the time, which in the spirit of true democracy drew the line 
at moral worth alone. The amusements of a people, taking their charac- 
ter from the natural surroundings of the community, were here chiefly 
adapted to the masculine taste. Hunting and fishing were always liber- 
ally rewarded, while log cabin raisings, the opening of court with its jury 
duty, and the Saturday afternoon holiday with its scrub horse race, ita 
wrestling match, its jumping or quoit-pitching, afforded entertainments 
that never lost their zest. It was a common remark, however, that a new 
country furnished an easy berth for men and oxen, but a hard one for 
women and horses. Outside of visiting and camp meetings, the diversions 
in which women participated at that early day were very few; husking 
and spinning bees, and "large " weddings, where the larger part of the 
night was spent in dancing, did not have the frequent occurrence so char- 
acteristic of the Eastern States, and nothing here seemed to off"er any 
substitute. 

EARLY ROADS. 
The fact that Newton and Jasper Counties were one during the early 
years of the former county's history, had an important bearing upon its dovel- 



668 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

opment. That portion of the consolidated area which is now included 
in the limits of Jasper took the leading place in public matters. It afforded 
the site of the county seat, it was more thickly settled, and had less marsh 
land and low, wet prairie than the territory of Newton County. This 
made a settlement in the eastern part of the old county in many respects 
the more desirable, and had the effect to advance the interests of that 
section, while it proportionately retarded this. It is natural, therefore, to 
find all the early interests tending toward the common county seat at 
Rensselaer. The associations of the Indians were in the same direction 
before the whites. Their trails led eastward along the river to Blue 
Grass, and thence on to La Porte. The first lines of travel followed by 
the settlers were these trails until they became sure enough of their sur- 
roundings to locate lines independent of them. An early if not the first 
road through Newton County was from Buncombe, 111., to Rensselaer. 
Another was from Morocco to Rensselaer ; a third was one direct to La 
Fayette, and another to Momence, 111., and thence on to Chicago. A 
mail route was early between Logansport, Rensselaer and Buncombe, 111., 
with an ofiice at White Post, the residence of Zachariah Spitler. This 
was maintained between the two latter places until 1864. In the fall of 
1854, a post oflSce was established at the town of Morocco, and a mail 
route allowed from there to Rensselaer on condition that it was to be 
sustained entirely by the citizens along the route. At the same time, or 
shortly after, a post office was established at Pilot Grove. The first 
Postmaster at Morocco was John Ade, who remained in office some three 
or four years. The first PostToaster at Pilot Grove was Stephen Ellett, 
who was shortly afterward superseded by Mr. Brenner. This state of 
things existed until about 1859, when the Government adopted the route 
and placed it under the same rules and provisions governing other mail 
routes. 

These lines of communication served the demand of the early com- 
munity until the thicker settlements and the conflicting claims of the vari- 
ous farm owners demanded a more complete system of roads, when the 
numerous local trails from one neighbor to another were made to give 
way to regularly established highways. The marshy character of the 
streams and the unfortunate character of the general conformation of the 
land has made roads and bridges an important and difficult subject. The 
character of the streams has changed from the rather sluggish current and 
pretty constant stage of water to a rapid rise and fall of water. This 
change, with the unfavorable character of the banks, has made bridging 
expensive, and a spirit of short-sighted economy has kept public improve- 
ments in this particular in a rather backward state. Three iron bridges 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 669 

have been constructed at a cost of upward of ^20,000 ; four wooden 
bridges made up the seven which spanned the water-ways of the county ; 
but all of these latter structures have been swept away by the high water of 
the winter of 1882-83. They are now being supplied by more substantial 
structures of wood. La Fayette was the point at which the early mer- 
chants got their goods, and these were brought on wagons over the thirty- 
odd miles of tedious road that intervened. It was, perhaps, not an un- 
mixed good that the county had a railroad before its. growth actually 
demanded it, and while its location has aided in its symmetrical develop- 
ment, had greatly aided in its growth. 

RAILROADS. 

Hopes of securing railroad facilities were entertained as early as 1852, 
but it was not until two years later that any definite plan was urged. 
About this time, a line of road was projected from New London, Ohio, to 
Chicago. This passed through the usual changes incident to railroad 
organizations until 1857, when the money stringency of that time killed 
the project. Early in this year, the question in which Jasper and New- 
ton Counties were interested with reference to their road, was the course 
the line should take from Fort Wayne. Kankakee and Rensselaer were 
ostensible competitors, and the projectors of the road shrewdly kept the 
two places straining their resources to outbid each other in the amount of 
contributions. In this contest, the people in the present area of Newton 
was interested in common with Rensselaer, Rochester and Winamac, 
which made the struggle not altogether uneven. It was held in the first 
named town, as a self-evident truth, that, if the road diverged to Kanka- 
kee, " Rensselaer would be killed dead as a mackerel," and the conviction 
was just as strong that Newton would share in the general " deadness " 
that would follow. It cannot be said that the latter county shared fully 
in the feverish anxiety which possessed the eastern part, as there was 
expectation that the road might not reach the western part of the original 
territory of Jasper. The heavy defalcation of the Ohio State Treasurer, 
upon whose bond some of the men most prominent in this railroad scheme 
were involved, sounded the first note of failure. The air line to Rock 
Island from the proposed junction at Rensselaer, which was to pass 
through Newton, was deferr^, and after a vain effort to secure the sub- 
scription payable when the grade should be made and ties placed upon it, 
the enterprise succumbed to the financial pressure of the times, and was 
heard of no more. 

In 1870-71, this railroad scheme was again revived. The road had 
been projected in Ohio and Indiana under the general laws. These 



670 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

charters were revived, a special charter obtained in Illinois and New 
Jersey, and the line projected to Council Bluffs under the general laws of 
Iowa. In Pennsylvania, this combination purchased an old charter 
granted to the Continental Railway Company of Pennsylvania, which 
^ave the new combination its name of '' The Centinental Railway Com- 
pany." Through each State the organization was independent of any 
other, and when these several organizations were complete a gradual con- 
solidation combined the various fragments of the great line into the Con- 
tinental Company with a line of road projected in practically a straight 
line from New York City to Council Bluffs. The local organization in In- 
diana was known as the Fort Wayne & Western Railroad. Hon. R. S. 
Dwiggins, of Rensselaer, was and is still President of this company, and 
under the plan of consolidation, a Vice President and Director in the gen- 
eral company. A branch to Chicago was also projected, and arrange- 
ments made to locate important shops of the company there. In 1872, 
some fifteen miles of grade was made eastward of Rensselaer, and some 
one hundred and twenty miles in Ohio from New London to Tiffin, and 
elsewhere along the line. In 1870, the Commissioners of Newton County 
granted a petition of a number of the citizens to submit a proposition to 
raise $21,500 (one per cent on the valuation of 1869), by tax, to a vote 
of the people. This proposition was defeated, however, by a vote of 529 
to 367. A liberal private subscription, however, was raised, and the pros- 
pect of a railroad seemed bright, though its former failure guarded against 
too sanguine expectations. 

The Continental Railway, as projected, consumed only fifty-nine 
miles in curvature over the geographical distance between New York and 
Chicago, and only ninety-nine miles between New York and Council 
Bluffs, a geographical distance of 1,131 miles. The line was to be 
constructed with double tracks of heavy steel rails as far as Chicago, and 
with a single track from Rensselaer westward. The whole equipment 
was intended to be first-class in every respect, and the whole cost placed 
at $150,000,000. There is no question that the construction of this road 
would have been of immense advantage to Newton County, though there 
was not that general enthusiasm upon the subject which one might 
naturally expect. The existence of the other railroad divided the inter- 
ests of the people here, and led those in the southern part of the county 
to view its construction as hostile to their advancement. Still the grad- 
ing of the road-bed in Jasper, raised the hopeful anticipations of the peo- 
ple to a high pitch when the financial disaster of 1873 doomed the enter- 
prise to failure and the people to another disappointment. The project 
is still occasionally heard from, but the golden opportunity is lost. Its 





/ 





HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 673 

construction through Newton on the original line, would work great and 
valuable changes here, but the general distrust in its final success would 
operate very much to the discouragement of subscriptions in its aid if it 
should now be revived. 

The Logansport & Peoria Railroad was built through the southern 
part of Newton County in 18-">9, the first train passing over the road 
December 25, in that year. The name of the road was changed before 
its completion here to the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw, the final designa- 
tion, changing from that to Oquawka, and later to Burlington. It subse- 
quently was operated by the C, C. & I. C, and later by the Pittsburgh, 
Chicago & St. Louis, which has recently changed this nomenclature to 
Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburgh. This road was constructed before 
there was any general settlement in this part of the county, and ran 
most of the way through an open prairie country, where there were not 
enough people to sell the " right of way." This latter formality has 
only been attended to in the past year. The report of the Superin- 
tendent of this road, dated July, 1860, reports the gross earnings of 
the road from Logansport to State line, for the first six months, at 
$25,000, and the expenditures at $20,000. The Superintendent adds : 

The local business of the road is quite small. From the dividing line between 
the States of Indiana and Illinois, eastward to Reynold's Station, the junction with 
the New Albany & Salem Railroad, a distance of thirty-tive miles, the country is 
very thinly settled and but slightly improved. There is not a town or village in 
this entire distance, and at the time of opening the road, there were but two or 
three dwellings. Improvements are now being made which will add materially 
to the business of the road. At Kent's Station, four miles east of the Illinois State 
line, a village is rapidly springing up, which will tend to draw grain and other 
produce to this point for shipment, which has hitherto sought a market at La 
Fayette. The same may be said of Carpenter's Creek Station, a point seventeen 
miles east of Kent. 

The actual result has amply confirmed the judgment expressed in this 
report. 

The Plymouth, Kankakee & Pacific Railroad is a line that has been 
agitated for some ten or twelve years. It is now known as the Indiana, 
Illinois & Iowa Railroad Company, and at the present writing, is building 
through Jasper and Newton Counties. This line passes through the 
northeast corner of Lincoln Township, but does not affect the interest of 
the county at large. 

The Chicago & Great Southern Railroad is another recent but more 
important enterprise. A railroad which should connect the coal fields of 
this State with Chicago, has been the subject of considerable agitation for 
the past twenty-five years. Most of the various enterprises that have been 
entertained have projected lines through Jasper or Newton Counties, but 

40 



674 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

none have " materialized " until about 1879, when the Indiana & Great 
Southern road came before the public. This road proposes to connect at 
Attica with southern roads, and join the Louisville, New Albany & Chi- 
cago at Fair Oaks, in Jasper County. From Oxford, a point on the 
Lake Erie & Western road, in Benton County, to the junction in Jasper 
County, the track is laid and traffic begun. 

In 1880, the townships of Grant and Iroquois voted $15,000 and 
$10,000, respectively, in aid of this road, and considerable subscriptions 
from private parties were received in addition. The line passes through 
Goodland, and along the west line of Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36, 
in Iroquois Township, where some considerable aid was secured from per- 
sons interested in its construction. The township aid was voted on the 
supposition that a two per cent tax upon the valuation of 1879 would 
afford the amount. It is found, however, that property has really or osten- 
sibly depreciated, so that the tax is likely to fall short of the promised 
amount by some $4,000 or $5,000. A case is now before the courts to 
compel the Commissioners to levy an additional tax lo make up the sum 
voted. 

The effect of this road upon the development of the county is yet to 
be fully determined. It is too far east to affect the general interests of 
the county largely. Several towns have sprung into existence along its 
line, only one of which now promises to have any assured prosperity in 
the future. 

THE PRESS AND POLITICS. 

Politics in Newton County has not been an absorbing topic. There 
has been a healthful division of political sentiment here, and " independ- 
ent " tickets have resulted in the election of members of the Democratic 
party ; but, as a rule, the Republican organization has borne rule in the 
county. Before the organization of Newton, the sentiment up to 1857 
was largely in sympathy with the Democratic party. But with the agita- 
tion of that period there was a very general turning to the Douglas school 
of Democracy, or to the rapidly growing party, which had assumed the 
name of Republican. The swamp land difficulty, and the supposed action 
of Gov. Willard in the matter of the county seat, had a tendency to 
further alienate the sympathy of the people from the "Old Line" party. 
With the opening of the war, these subtile distinctions in the Democratic 
ranks were suddenly swept away, and men became Republican or Demo- 
cratic as indicative of their attitude in regard to the prosecution of that 
struggle. The first paper, however, was not started as an "organ," but 
rather as an indispensable piece of furniture for a new county, and on 
September 26, 1861, the first issue of the " Newton Ohronotype " was 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 675 

given to the expectant people. V. B. Cowen was the editor, and Cowen 
& Schoonover, proprietors. It was a six-column folio. Price, per year, 
^1.50. April 2, 1863, Bissell, Ade & Ross bought the office and 
changed the name of the paper to the Newton County Union. December 
16, 1863, H. Wyatt became editor. June 23. 1864, John Myers became 
a partner in the paper, and March 24, 1864, it suspended till May 5, 
1864. February 2, 1865, Streight & Watson bought the office, and 
changed the name of the paper to the Neiotori County Gazette. May 22, 
1864, the office was sold to J. I. Horrell & Co. Afterward Horrell & 
Streight became proprietors. In August, 1865, J. I. Horrell again be- 
came proprietor, and November 28, 1865, he changed the name to the 
Citizen. February 15, 1866, H. 0. Bowden purchased the office and 
became publisher, and changed the name to Newton County Gazette. 
February 22, it was enlarged to a seven-column folio, and July 21, 1866, 
McKernan & Horrell became publishers and proprietors. October 27, 

1866, D. S. McKernan became publisher and proprietor. February 16, 

1867, 0. P. Hervey becameeditor and proprietor. May 25, 1867, D. S. 
McKernan again became editor and proprietor. Up to this time it had 
been Republican in politics, but it was now run as a neutral paper until 
August 3, 1867, when J. B. Conner became editor and proprietor, and 
made it a Republican paper again. July 23, 1874, the Gazette was pur- 
chased by J. M. Arnout and S. P. Conner, the present proprietors, who 
enlarged it to a seven-column quarto. May 24, 1877, John French 
bought the interest of Arnout, and the business was continued under the 
firm name of French & Conner. April 17, 1879, Edwin Graham pur- 
chased the interest of S. P. Conner, and the firm became French & Gra- 
ham, which was finally changed to French & Conner, by R. A. Conner's 
purchase of Mr. Graham's interest. 

On the 13th of December, 1870, the entire office, with presses, 
type and material was consumed ; but on the 24th inst. a half sheet was 
issued, giving the editor's idea of what had "hit 'em." In April, 1883, 
another fire swept a large part of the business part of the town away, 
and destroyed two papers. The Kentland Gazette still survives. Owing 
to the improved outlook and the natural ambition of progressive men, the 
proprietors now propose to enlarge the facilities of the office and the size 
of the paper, which is now a five-column quarto. 

The Newton Democrat was established August 6, 1862, with W. C. 
Kose, editor. In the spring of 1863, the office passed into other hands 
and Mr. John McCarthy became editor and publisher, continuing to run 
the paper till the fall of 1865. The paper then suspended for a time, but 
was re-established August 24, 1867, with W. C. Rose, editor. Novem- 



676 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

ber 19, 1867, J. B. Spotswood became editor. May 18, 1868, E. M. 
Howard and J. B. Spotswood, were its editors and publishers, and August 
12, 1869, Mr. Howard retired. March 13, 1873, C. Root and Ed Gra- 
ham became the publishers. June 13, Mr. Root retired and Mr. Spots- 
wood became editor. July 10, 1873, the Democrat suspended, as its 
editor stated in its obituary, from eating too much crow. August 28, 
1874, the paper came forth again under the name of the People s Press, 
with J. B. Spotswood and W. L. Dempster as editors and publishers. No- 
vember, 1874, Mr. Spotswood became sole editor and proprietor. Under 
its last name the paper was allied to the " Greenback " interests, with 
notalarge constituency. The fire-of 1883 destroyed the office, and no 
attempt has since been made to revive its publication, but it is expected 
that the summer will see its revival in the form of a neutral paper. 

The Newton County Neivs was a late venture in the interests 
of the Democratic party. It was started by D. J. Eastburn in Decem- 
ber, 1881. In March, 1883, it was leased by Abram Yager, but its ca- 
i'eer was summarily ended by the fire. It was a five-column quarto, with 
co-operative inside pages. 

The Goodland Saturday Herald was founded in 1877, by Ingraham 
& Keyes, who published it for upward of two years. The paper was 
then sold to William C. Coppock, who continued its publication until 
September, 1878, when the office was destroyed by fire. It was revived 
in the following January, and soon afterward purchased by A. J. Kitt, 
who has been publisher, editor and proprietor ever since. On the 28th 
of December, 1882, the office was again swept away by fire, but in a few 
weeks new presses and new material, with the renewed energy of the pro- 
prietor, were again sending forth the Herald. The paper is now enjoying 
a healthful " boom " of business prosperity, and circulates very exten- 
sively in the adjoining county of Benton. The office is supplied with a 
good job outfit, and facilities equal to the best country offices. The Her- 
ald is now a six-column quarto, at this writing the largest sized paper in 
the county. 

CHURCHES. 

In the early settlement of the county, the United Brethren were the 
most numerous denomination here, and under the ministry of Frederick 
and Jacob Kenoyer, father and son, and both now deceased, was an im- 
portant influence in shaping the character of the early community. New- 
ion County owes a debt of gratitude to these early pioneer preachers, 
who, at their own expense, labored for the spiritual advancement of its 
people, at a time when " no other help was nigh." 

The United Brethren built the first place for public worship in the 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 677 

county, and located it on the farm of Frederick Kenoyer. This was a 
log cabin, and was afterward replaced by a hewed log structure. The 
first church edifice erected in Kentland was by this denomination, and 
was mainly due to the efforts of Frederick Kenoyer and Mr. Merz. The 
church in Kentland has lost ground, however, and has recently sold its 
church building. Elsewhere in the county the denomination has in- 
creased in numbers and in influence, and has six organizations with two 
good church buildings in Washington Township. 

The First Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Morocco prior 
to 1850. At that time it seems to have been recognized by the General 
Conference as Morocco Mission, which embraced the whole county, and 
numbered some 100 members. Since then its progress has been marked 
and now it has some fifteen organizations in the county. In 1862, Kent 
Station was left to be supplied. In 1871, Kentland Circuit was organized 
by A. E. Anderson, Presiding Elder, and in 1872, both Goodland and 
Beaver Lake Circuits were formed. There are now five charges in the 
county, at Brook, Goodland, Kentland, Morocco and Rose Lawn. Each 
of these have good places of worship. The church at Kentland was 
organized about 1861, and subsequently erected a good frame building at 
a cost of some ^4,000. 

The first class organized at Goodland was in 1855, and was called 
" Cherry Grove Class." There were ten original members, but others 
were united, making a vigorous organization for a time. In 1860, the 
class was re-organized, and named " Tivoli class," from the name of the 
town at that time. In 1863, the name of the class was changed to 
" Goodland," and in 1872 a fine frame church building was erected at a 
cost of $8,000, and is the finest building of its kind in the county. 

The Baptist denomination was early represented here, and were early 
gathered about Brook. There is an organization at Goodland with a neat 
place of worship, and another in Washington Township. 

The Presbyterian denomination has a church in Kentland, which was 
organized in 1867, by Rev. C. Palmer, of Watseka, 111. There were 
ten members who united in the organization of the church. Rev. A. 
Jones preached for the church nearly two years. On the 3d of October, 
1870, Rev. J. B. Smith was called to the pastorate, who built up the church, 
and largely increased its numbers. Mr. Smith continued to labor here 
until 1872, when he was followed by Rev. R. E. Hawley. In 1875, 
Rev. C. McCain began pastoral labor for the church, and continued with 
eminent success until 1882. He was succeded by Rev. J. MacIIatton, 
who is the present pastor. A neat frame church edifice was erected in 
1870 at a cost of about $1,000. 



678 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 



The Goodland Presbyterian Church was organized November 11, 
1866, with six members. It has a pleasant church building and parson- 
age, and is one of the stable churches of the county. 

The Christian denomination has two organizations in the county, one 
at Kentland and one in Washington Township. At Kentland the church 
has bought the building formerly occupied by the United Brethren. 

The Lutherans have a church at Goodland, with a substantial house 
of worship. 

The Catholics have churches in Kentland and Goodland, the former 
being among the earliest churches at the county seat. 

Other denominations are represented here ; the German Reform have 
two organizations, and the Mennonites one. The following statistics 
were gathered by the County Superintendent of Schools, W. H. Hersh- 
man, and ai^e the best information upon the topic at this date : 





a 
o 

•s 

u 

3 

la 


3 
Q 

o 


MEMBERSHIP. 


it 

a'-' 
Mm 

■S.S 

So 

o « « 
3 O g 


|3 so 
^ a 

3 s 

3m 


m 
<a 

3 

P..- 

"a 2 

3" 
-3 ho 

3 3 

50 


u 
cs 

t. 3 

II 

>.o 

HO 

.23 



to 

-a 
a 

3 M 

MS 

in 


■g fcObO 

3.2 .S 


3 



DENOMINA- 
TIONS. 


6 
"3 


0) 

•3 

a 




lis 

< S so 


8 
a . 

(U > 

bo;S 




^ 


'A 


S 


f^ 


H 


iz; 


> 


■< 


c 


S 


5?; 


;z; 


<5 


Methodist Epis- 




























copal 


15 


5 


284 


479 


763 


33 


S14000 


$2380 


$304 


$273 


57 


540 


1375 


Presbyterian 


2 


2 


4G 


85 


131 




4000 


1200 


220 


39 


16 


100 


175 


Baptist (New 




























School) 

Catholic . 


2 
2 
6 


2 
2 
3 


55 

215 

75 


58 
235 
125 


113 
450 
200 




2700 
5000 
3350 


600 
800 
500 


100 
300 
100 








120 


46 
20 


150 
212 






370 


United Brethren 


29 


135 


450 




2 

1 
1 
1 


2 
1 


53 
125 
35 
50 


76 

135 

25 

50 


129 

260 

60 

100 




2700 
2000 


200 
300 
300 


10 
50 


39 


16 


100 


150 






150 












40 


















75 





















Totals 


32 


17 


938 


1268 


2196 


99 


S33750 


S6280 


$1084 


$713 


118 


875 


3905 



SCHOOLS. 

Among the active forces that are influential in the development of 
society, the public school is hardly second to any, and Indiana, with the 
whole " Northwest territory," enjoys the advantages of the enlightened 
legislation of the General Government, which laid the foundation of the pres- 
ent excellent system nearly a century ago. On May 20, 1785, when this 
State was under the unquestioned control of the savage. Congress passed 
an ordinance reserving the "■ sixteenth section " in all the territory north- 
west of the Ohio, for the maintenance of public schools. Two years 
later, this policy was re-affirmed in the famous ordinance of 1787, 
which declared that " religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 679 

good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means 
of education shall be forever encouraged." 

The great principle thus enunciated made but slow progress, however, 
in this State during the early years, although public-spirited men were 
not wanting. In 1807, the Territorial Legislature incorporated a uni- 
versity at Vincennes. October 26, 1808, and December 14, 1810, the 
Legislature provided for the administration of the school lands, the first 
act authorizing the Common Pleas Court to lease the reserved sections 
for a period of not to exceed five years, with the obligation that lessees 
should clear ten acres upon each quarter-section, and the latter act pro- 
hibiting the wasting of sugar trees and timber thereon. The Constitu- 
tionof 1816 provided for the enactment of laws for the suitable improve- 
ment of these lands, to prevent their sale before 1820, and to adopt meas- 
ures for the security and proper management of the school fund. The 
Constitution further provided for a general system of public schools as 
follows: " It shall be the duty of the General Assembly, as soon as cir- 
cumstances will allow, to provide by law for a general system of education, 
ascending in regular gradation from a township school to a State univer- 
sity, wherein tuition shall be gratis and open to all." In the Constitu- 
tion of 1851, the same provision is made, with the exception of a State 
university. December 14, 1816, the General Assembly provided for 
the appointment of Superintendents of school sections in the several 
townships, who were authorized to lease the land for a term not exceed- 
ing seven years, every lessee being required to set out, each year, twenty- 
five apple trees and twenty-five peach trees, until 100 of each had been 
planted. January 9, 1821, the General Assembly provided against "any 
distinction between the rich and the poor," which eventuated in the first 
general school law of the State. 

It would be impossible, within reasonable space, to trace the varied 
course of legislation upon this important subject. Almost every session 
of the Legislature has witnessed the passage of some special or general 
law in relation to the school interests of the State. The difficulties in 
the way of the early progress of the system were numerous, and for a 
time insurmountable. Funds for the pay of the teachers and for erect- 
ing schoolhouses were lacking, qualified teachers could not be found, the 
school districts were sparsely settled, much of the legislation was imprac- 
ticable, the school funds were mismanaged, and more fatal than all was 
the strange prejudice, entertained by many, against popular education 
under the name of " free schools." Against the various hindrances, 
however, the system has slowly made its way, until, in efficiency of or- 
ganization and extent of the public fund, the public schools of Indiana 
are equal, if not superior, to the best in the Union. 



680 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

SCHOOL FUNDS. 

There are eleven sources of school revenue, which the State Superin- 
tendent, in his report of 1872, divides into three classes : Productive, 
Contingent and Unproductive. Of the first class is the Congressional 
Township Fund, which consists of the money arising from the sale of the 
" sixteenth sections," most of which have been sold and the money placed 
at interest. 2. The Saline Fund, which arose from a second grant by 
Congress to the State in the act enabling the Territory to form a consti- 
tution and State government. This act provided "that all salt springs 
within the said Territory, and the land reserved for the use of the same, 
together with such other lands as may, by the President of the United 
States, be deemed necessary and proper for working the said springs, not 
exceeding in the whole quantity contained in thirty-six entire sections, 
shall be granted to the said State for the use of the people of the said 
State, the same to be used under such terms, conditions and regulations 
as the Legislature of said State shall direct." The Legislature afterward 
saw proper to make this a part of the permanent school fund. 3. The 
Surplus Revenue Fund, which originated under the administration of 
President Jackson. At this time, the national debt, contracted during 
the Revolutionary war and in the purchase of Louisiana, was entirely dis- 
charged, leaving a large surplus in the treasury. In June, 1836, Con- 
gress distributed this money among the States in the ratio of their re- 
presentation in Congress, and $860,254 fell to the share of Indiana. Feb- 
ruary 6, 1837, the Legislature set apart $573,502.96 as a permanent 
part of the school fund. By the terms of this distribution, this amount 
is subject to be recalled into the national treasury, but the strong proba- 
bility is that it will not be. 4. The Bank Tax Fund arose from the 
" State Bank," chartered by the Legislature in 1834. A part of the 
stock in this bank was owned by individuals and part by the State. Sec- 
tion 15 of the charter provided that " there shall be deducted from the 
dividends and retained in bank each year the sum of 12J cents on each 
share of stock, other than that held by the State, which shall constitute 
part of the permanent fund to be devoted to the purposes of common 
school education under the direction of the General Assembly, and shall 
be suflfered to remain in bank and accumulate until such appropriation by 
the General Assembly." 5. The Sinking Fund, which also originated 
in the operations connected with the State Bank. To pay her subscrip- 
tion to the stock of this bank, and to assist individual stockholders to pay 
the second and third installments upon their stock, the State borrowed 
$1,300,000. A fund was created out of the unapplied balances of this 
loan, and out of the principal, interest and dividends of so much as was 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY, 681 

loaned to individual stockholders, for the sinking of the debt of the 
bank. A section of the original charter provided that, after full pay- 
ment of the bank's indebtedness, principal, interest and incidental ex- 
penses, the residue of said fund should be a permanent fund and appro- 
priated to the cause of common school education. From this source, the 
educational fund of the State received about ^5,000,000. The summary 
of these funds in 1872 amounted to the following : 

Congressional Township Fund $2,281,076 69 

Saline Fund 85,000 00 

Surplus Revenue Fund 573,502 96 

Bank Tax Fund 80,000 00 

Sinking Fund 4,767,805 89 

The contingent class of funds arise under the provisions of law from, 
1. All fines for a violation of the penal laws of the State, which are made 
a part of the permanent fund ; 2. All recognizances of witnesses and 
persons indicted for crime, when forfeited; 3. Moneys arising under 
the statute which provides that " the estate of a person dying intestate, 
without kindred capable of inheriting, shall escheat to the State, and 
shall be applied to the support of common schools, in the manner pro- 
vided by law." This fund, in 1872, amounted to ^17,866.55 ; 4. From 
the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands under a clause in the constitution 
which provides that " all lands which have been, or may hereafter be, 
granted to the State, when no special purpose is expressed in the grant, 
and the proceeds of the sales thereof, including the proceeds of the sales 
of the swamp lands granted to'the State of Indiana by the act of Con- 
gress of the 28th of September, 1850, after deducting the expenses of 
selecting and draining the same," shall be a part of the common school 
fund. These lands were disposed of, not without some loss by specula- 
tion, and a considerable fund derived ; 5. From " taxes on the property 
of corporations that may be assessed by the General Assembly for com- 
mon school purposes." This clause of the constitution is not clear either 
in its application or purpose, and has not been productive of any revenue 
to the school fund. 

Under the unproductive class falls so much of the " sixteenth sec- 
tions" as remain unsold. Nearly all of such lands furnish no revenue to 
the general fund, though a part has returned something in the way of 
rents or profits. 



682 HISTORV OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

The summary of the school fund of the State for 1882 is as follows : 

Common School Fund held by counties in June, 1882, .$2,838,675 65 
Non-negotiable bonds 3,904,783 21 

Total Common School Fund 6,743,458 86 

Congressional Township School Fund 2,463,952 65 

Grand total 9,207,411 51 

Grand total held in June, 1881 9,133,577 09 

Increase for year 73,834 42 

The early settlers of Newton were not behind the general sentiment 
of the State in their appreciation of the advantages of schools, and long 
before the State could render efficient aid, they had solved the problem 
for themselves — had erected schoolhouses and maintained schools by sub- 
scription. Neighborhoods turned out and built the cabin, and each patron 
paid the expense of the teacher's salary in proportion to the number of 
children sent. Money was scarce, but anything the settler had was 
generally valuable to the teacher, and by exchange the farmer's hog or 
cow was transformed into the children's education. The pioneer school 
was held in the Kenoyer settlement, and among its earliest teachers was 
Byron Kenoyer. When the county was organized, there were twenty- 
five schools, and the enumeration showed some 900 children of school 
age. Since then the advance has been rapid, modern methods have 
found willing acceptance, and most of the schools are supplied with maps, 
globes, etc. In 1871, a fine brick building for the accommodation of the 
village schools was erected in Kentland at a cost of $25,000, 

Until 1873, county examiners were appointed by the Commissioners; 
since that time County Superintendents have been elected by the united 
board of Township Trustees. The first examiner appointed was Na- 
thaniel West who served from June 8, 1861, to 1864. He was followed 
by W. C. Rose, from 1864 to 1865; J. M. Nelson, from 1864 to 1865; 
0. P. Hervey, from 1865 to 1868; D. M. Graves, from 1868 to Decem- 
ber 8, 1870, when J. B. Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy to June, 
1871. The first Superintendent was J. H. Merchant, who served until 
1873, and was followed by B. F. Niesz, from 1873 to 1875; D. S. Pence, 
from 1875 to 1877 ; R. F. Kerr, from 1877 to 1878, when he resigned 
to go to Japan. Pierce Archibald was appointed to fill the vacancy until 
May 1, 1879, when W. H. Hershman was elected, and has continued to 
the present. The following statement covering the period from 1877 to 
1882 gives an outline of the growth of educational interests : 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 



683 



Enumeration 

Enrol linen t 

Average daily attendance 

Len^b of school year in days 

Number of districts in which school 
was taught 

Number of teachers employed 

Average compensation of male teach- 
ers per day 

Average compensation of female 
teachers per day 

Tuition expended during year 

Number of new schoolhouses built... 

Estimated value 

Special school money expended 

Total value of school property 

Number of brick schoolhouses 

Number of frame schoolhouses 

Number of log schoolhouses 

Total number of schoolhouses 



1877. 



S14: 



2,851 

2,:}()9 

1,260 

119 

58 

87 

81 72 

81 61 

,847 68 



$47 



,a50 87 

,940 00 

1 

59 



CO 



1878. 



2,781 

2,284 

1,589 

133 

62 
83 

81 88 

81 76 

818,491 63 

1 

8450 00 

812,188 34 

852,995 00 

1 

62 



63 



1879. 



2,743 

2,164 

1,301 

158 

62 



81 83 

81 52 

816,903 18 

2 

81,500 00 

810,713 96 

§57,360 00 

1 

63 



64 



1880. 



2,743 

2,205 

1,410 

144 

64 

74 

$1 60 

81 63 
815,410 51 
3 
81,450 00 
810,196 58 
855,920 00 
1 
65 



1881. 



819,187 83 



66 



89,345 64 

853,300 00 

1 

65 

1 

67 



1882. 



2,720 

2,248 

1,379 

129 

75 
81 

82 13 

81 77 

818,432 66 

1 

8500 00 

85,180 05 

859,205 00 

1 

67 

1 

69 



It will be observed that a log schoolhouse appears in 1881. A 
colony of colored people gathered here about that time with some sixteen 
pupils, and there being no schoolliouse at convenient distance, a log cabin 
was appropriated and fitted up for their use, and is now maintained as a 
distinctively colored school. The report for 1881 is unfortunately de- 
fective from the fact that no printed report is made for this year, and the 
duplicate retained by the County Superintendent was partially destroyed. 



BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 

Morocco Lodge, No. 372, Free and Accepted Masons, is the oldest 
lodge of the order in the county. It was instituted in 1865. 

Newton Lodge, No. 361, of the same order, was instituted at Kent- 
land July 13, 1867, with A. L. Brecount, W. M. ; E. L. Urmston, 
S. W. ; E. G. Smith, J. W. ; and John Ade, Secretary. The lodge has 
been unfortunate enough to lose its hall and furniture in each of the fires 
that have devastated the business quarter of the county seat, and has there- 
fore no accumulated fund ; at this writing it has no regular place of abode. 

Kentland Chapter, No. 89, Royal Arch Masons, was instituted Jan- 
uary 9, 1873, with William Perry, H. P. ; A. L. Brecount, K. ; Gil- 
bert Goff, S., and John Peacock, Secretary. This organization suftered 
with Newton Lodge in both fires in Kentland. 

Goodland Lodge, No. 445, was instituted in 1869 ; and Brook Lodge, 
No. 458, soon afterward, with J. T. Graham, W. M. ; G. N. Stewart, S. 
W. ; H. F. De Haven, J. W. 

Goodland Lodge, No. 346, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
was instituted April 22, 1870. The first officers were W. M. Scott, N. 
G. ; W. B. Canine, V. G. ; C. W. Wilson, Secretary ; Blake Wilson, 
Treasurer. The lodge met with serious loss by fire February 28, 1874, 



684 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

when all its effects, together with charter and books, were destroyed. 
The members with undaunted courage and energy went to work and re- 
fitted the hall, and it is now the oldest and strongest lodge of the order 
in the county. 

Beare Lodge, No. 378, of the same order, located at Morocco, was 
instituted August 21, 1871. The first officers were T. G. Flowers, N. 
G. ; Joseph McClain, V. G. ; J. B. Schissler, Secretary, and H. R. 
Fields, Treasurer. 

Kentland Lodge, No. 390, of this order, was organized May 24, 
1872, with J. J. Saunderson, N. G. ; H. K. Warren, V. G. ; J. S. 
Veatch, Secretary ; B. F. Drake, Treasurer. 

Brook Lodge, No. 423, was instituted August 7, 1873, when 
Andrew Hess was installed Noble Grand, and S. Mather, Secretary. 

Western Encampment, No. 126, was instituted at Goodland, January 
28, 1874, with the following officers : Blake Wilson, C. P. ; W. B. Pat- 
terson, H. P. ; C. W. Wilson, S. W. ; John Higgins, J. W. ; J. A- 
Lovett, Scribe ; R. C. Currens, Treasurer. One month after the En- 
campment was instituted its affects were all destroyed. 

Harmony Degree Lodge, No. 108, was instituted at Goodland March 
31, 1874. 

Damon Lodge, K. of P., No. 72, was instituted at Kentland No- 
vember 9, 1876, with the following charter members : J. S. Veatch, 
C. H. Miller, W. R. Payne, N. R. Donaldson, R. C. McCain, E. T. 
Scott, D. W. Fletcher, E. A. West, J. Skinner, J. E. Arnold, N. K. 
Fowler, B. C. Kent, R. W. Allen, G. Shonio, J. W. Randall, E. P. 
Gard. The lodge has been unfortunate in losing a large number of 
its members by removal from the village. Its membership now num- 
bers about thirty-five. 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 685 



NEWTON COUNTY IN THE WAR. 

IN the early wars of the Union, the Revolution, the war of 1812, 
the Black Hawk war in 1832, the war with Mexico in 1846-47, New- 
ton County took no part. The county was but sparsely settled at this 
later period, and while some of its citizens may have found their way 
into the army, there was no military ardor or warlike enthusiasm mani- 
fested here. 

From the formation of the State to 1830, the State militia was in 
high repute, and afforded the surest channel through which to achieve 
civil distinction. Four years later, the organization was entirely aban- 
doned, and public sentiment seemed to react and render the later efforts 
to revive the system a failure. On the 14th of June, 1852, an act was 
passed for the organization of the militia by Congressional districts ; 
and on the 12th of February, 1855, an act concerning the organization 
of volunteer associations was passed, providing for the formation of mili- 
tary companies by filing articles of association in like manner as pro- 
vided for organizing building, mining and manufacturing companies. 
These laws were practically of no value, merely providing, in a general 
way, for the organization of the militia, without regulations sufficient to 
secure any successful result. Many commissions were issued, in most 
cases for the mere purpose of conferring honorary military titles upon 
the recipients ; but with the exception of probably a dozen companies 
(most of which had but a brief existence) formed in various parts of the 
State in 1859 and 1860, aggregating about 500 men, no organizations 
were made.* Such was the condition of the militia force of the State 
when Fort Sumter surrendered on the 13th of April, 1861, and when 
Gov. Morton, on the 15th, telegraphed to President Lincoln the tender 
of 10,000 men " for the defense of the Nation." 

The Senatorial campaign of 1858, with the succeeding Presidential 
contest in 1860 (in both of which Lincoln was the exponent of political 
principles that were rapidly gaining the ascendency in Newton County), 
served to fix the attention of the people here upon the political storm 
which seemed to be gathering with portentous mutterings over the south- 
ern portions of the country. It is doubtful whetiier hope or fear pre- 
dominated in the minds of the people as the day approached when Lincoln 
was to be inaugurated; but the hope and expectation of the great majority 

• AdJuUnt Gnoeral'i Report. 



686 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

seemed to be that in his grasp the viper of secession would be summarily 
strangled, as Jackson had done before with the "nullifiers." It was in 
this state of vacillation between hope and fear that the reverberations of 
Fort Sumter's guns assailed the ear of the eager North. It was this 
explosion, echoing round the world, that gave pause to political bicker- 
ings and made men Union or non-Union. Niceties of political distinction 
were generally lost sight of, but there were some who, too obtuse to catch 
the inspiration of the hour, and caught in the re-action of the patriotic 
outburst, developed a determined opposition to the dominant party, and 
to the prosecution of the war. The first demonstration of patriotism, 
when men struggled for the privilege of defending the nation in the 
army, silenced all disposition to give expression to this opposition, but 
when the disastrous result of McClellan's futile campaign gave pause to 
the nation's enthusiasm, this disloyal sentiment came forth to work its 
disgraceful mission. It existed in many parts o^ the North, and, con- 
cisely stated in the Adjutant General's report — " it showed itself strong 
enough to take Indiana out of loyal hands in 1862, and leave her nothing 
but the iron will and unfailing sagacity of her Governor to prevent her 
own soil being made the scene of endless and ruinous local wars. It was 
strong enough to endanger the loyal control of Congress; it was wide- 
spread enough to cripple the army by encouragement of desertion, and to 
provide protection for deserters in every township. It organized secret 
societies in the interest of the rebellion, of which the members were sworn 
to resist the just demands of the Government, and obstruct the prosecu- 
tion of the war. It murdered draft officers, and destroyed enrollment 
papers. It distributed arms for treasonable uses, and plotted the destruc- 
tion of Government arsenals and storehouses. It conspired to release 
rebel prisoners and arm them for a raid upon our own soil. It created 
riots in nearly every county of the Northwest, and in the East it excited 
the most inhuman and dastardly mob ever known in this country. 
* * * * The righteous wrath of loyal men for awhile awed it into 
silence, if not into inactivity. But the disasters of the Government and 
the failures of men, whom its own influence had weakened or depraved, 
encouraged it to show itself again within a year." 

Newton County shared in this state of things to a limited extent. 
Opposition to the general course of the State and national administra- 
tions was manifested by a minority, though no violent demonstrations 
were made. In 1862, H. H. Dodds, of Indianapolis, made a violent 
speech denouncing the policy of the National Government. This aroused 
considerable temper, but it was allowed to pass oif without demonstration. 
At Rensselaer, on the succeeding day or two, Dodds was arrested, but 



HISTORV OF NEWTON COUNTY. 687 

soon released. His sympathizers in Jasper proposed to rescue him, and 
burn the village. Fortunately, no collision occurred, but Newton County 
contributed a number of recruits to the force, that, like the famous King 
of Spain, " marched up with twice five tiiousand men, and then marched 
back again." 

Saturday, April 13, 1861, Fort Sumter fell. The rumors of the 
night before were confirmed on Sunday, and on the 15th Gov. Morton 
telegraphed to the President his tender of 10,000 men " on behalf of 
the State of Indiana." On the same day, President Lincoln issued his 
proclamation calling forth the militia of the several States of the Union, 
to the aggregate number of 75,000 men. The quota of Indiana was sub- 
sequently fixed at six regiments of infantry, comprising in rank and file 
4,683 men, to serve for three months, if not sooner discharged. No 
militia existed in fact, and on the 16th inst. Gov. Morton issued his 
proclamation, in which, after stating the cause, he called " upon the loyal 
and patriotic men of this State, to the number of six regiments, to organ- 
ize themselves into military companies, and forthwith report the same to 
the Adjutant General, etc." The response from every part of the State 
was prompt and unanimous ; the day after the call there were 500 men 
in camp, on the 19th there were 2,400 men, and in less than seven days 
more than 12,000 men had been tendered. Contests to secure the accept- 
ance of companies were earnest and frequent, and all seemed anxious to 
discharge their perilous duty of citizenship. The response from Newton 
County to the Governor's call was prompt and enthusiastic ; the ranks of 
one of the earliest companies formed in the State were filled by the volun- 
teers of Newton and Jasper. 

The first call for troops by the President was April 15, 1861, for 
75,000 men for three months' service; the second was May 3, 1861, for 
42,034 men, for three years' service; the third was August 4, 1862, for 
300,000 men, for nine months' service ; the fourth was June 15, 1863, 
for 100,000 men, for six months' service ; the fifth was October 17, 1863, 
for 300,000 men, for three months' service; the sixth was July 18, 1864, 
for 500,000 men, for one, two and three years' service ; the seventh was 
December 19, 1864, for 300,000 men, for one, two or three years' service. 
Up to the sixth call, Indiana furnished her quota of troops without resort- 
ing to draft, but under this demand something over 12,000 men were 
conscripted. 

No serious diflBculty was felt in Newton County in obtaining volun- 
teers to fill the quota until the fifth call. Under this demand, Newton 
County's quota was thirty-six men, and the Commissioners authorized E. 
L. Urmston and two others to proceed to Indianapolis and secure the re- 



688 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

quisite number of men. This was done at an expense of $15,949.40, 
besides a payment of $200 to Mr. Urmston for his services. Under the 
sixth call, the quota was filled by volunteers, but large bounties were paid 
by both townships and county. On February 15, 1865, the Commission- 
ers passed an order to pay |250 to each accepted volunteer accredited 
upon the quota of the county. It was also provided that this should be 
paid only where the township's bounty did not exceed $200. This 
bounty was to be paid also to each drafted man, or the substitute. The 
Adjutant General's report credits the county with but one man raised by 
draft, and he from Jefferson Township. The total expenditure of the 
county for bounties is as follows : By the Commissioners, $26,900 ; by 
Iroquois Township, $2,200; Jackson, $2,200 ; Beaver, $1,500; Wash- 
ington, $2|000; Jefferson, $3,000; making a total of $37,800 paid by 
the whole county in securing the quota of troops during the war. 

The expenditure for the relief of needy families of the county's vol- 
unteers on the part of the whole county was $3,288.50 ; of which the 
Commissioners applied $1,288.50, and the various townships as follows: 
Iroquois, $400 ; Jackson, $300 ; Beaver, $500 ; Washington, $200 ; Jeff- 
erson, $600. The miscellaneous expenditures of the county with refer- 
ence to the war amounted to $800; which swells the grand total of 
amount expended to $41,888.50. The ladies were not idle here, and in 
a private way sent such comforts as stockings, mittens, delicacies for the 
sick, or for a holiday dinner, etc. There were no regular societies formed, 
but each one took the opportunities as they were afforded. 

THE VOLUNTEERS. 

The county was but sparsely settled at the opening of the war, and 
most of its volunteers joined companies from Jasper County, save Com- 
pany B, of the Ninety-ninth Infantry, which was chiefly made up of 
Newton County men. The county was represented as follows : 

Ninth Regiment, Company D — Thomas M. Clark, died in service ; 
John Deardurff, John D. Goddard, Joseph Shaffer, died in service ; 
Adonijah Smart, killed ; Isaac Smart. 

Company G — William H. Peck, killed; Jacob H. Sager, Fred K. 
Bartholomew, John M, Bloomer, died ; Edmund Catt, died ; Thomas J. 
Cashaw, William H. Earl, died ; Christian Enfield, George C. Hawkins, 
Charles W. Lynch, Milton J. Mooreman, Theodore F. Maxwell, Anthony 
Odell, Jefferson T. Reading, killed ; George W. Smith, William M. 
Strench, killed ; John H. Thornton, Ezra S. Treadway, died. 

The Ninth Regiment participated in the following battles : Green- 
brier, Alleghany, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Wild Cat Mountain, Stone 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 689 

River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, all of the battles 
of the Sherman campaign to Atlanta, and bactles of Franklin and Nash- 
ville. A more extended notice of the campaigns of this regiment will be 
found in the sketch of Jasper County, 

Fifteenth Regiment, Company H — Horace K. Warren, commis- 
sioned Captain April 25, 18(U ; L. H. Bartholomew, Warren T. Haw- 
kins, John Blue, died; Henry C. Jones, David F. Sager, Charles Mess- 
horn, Joseph T. Hardesty, William Kennedy, William V, Rutledge, Ira 
J. Baker, A. J. Bartholomew, died; Jared S. Benjamin, William T. 
Beardsley, John Billings, Josiah Burton, died ; William Burton, James 
Burton, John M. Butler, G. D. Campbell, George W. Deardurff, William 
L. Graves, John H. Grants, George D. Hardesty, Christian Hundershell, 
John A. Isaacson, Moses A. Jones, John Jungling, killed ; Samuel 
Kelley, Daniel K. Laforce, died ; John B, Blake, John R. Linton, J, C. 
Nottingham, John Nulligan, killed ; Jackson Plummer, Aaron Reed, 
killed ; Thomas Smith, Charles G. Spear, Ira Steel, John Stout, George 
Welch, Henry Wishorn, died. 

The Fifteenth Regiment was in the battles of Greenbrier, Rich 
Mountain, Shiloh, Corinth, Porryville, Stojjie River and Mission Ridge. 
This regiment is noticed fully elsewhere in this volume. 

Fifty-first Regiment — David A. McHolland, commissioned Colonel 
March 17, 1865; Erasmus B. Collins, commissioned Surgeon November 
19, 1861 ; Amos Esterling, commissioned Assistant Surgeon December 
19, 1863 ; Adolphus Wonder, Captain Company B, died in rebel prison; 
William A. Lewis, Captain, John D. Morgan, Captain ; Albert Light, 
First Lieutenant, died ; Edwin R. Arnold, First Lieutenant ; Charles 
Mallatt, First Lieutenant ; Jeremiah Sailer, Second Lieutenant, died; J. 

F. Shaffer, Aaron Kenoyer, G. E. Tilfiney, killed; J. S. Hurst, killed; 
William Deweese, A. Arnold, D. Doty, Samuel Yeoman, John Bramble, 
Robert Barr, I. N. Bush, Samuel Clark, killed ; William Collins, John 
Cashew, killed ; Thomas Crawn, Reece Denney, Alexander Ekey, 
Patrick GriflSn, George W. Haney, William Haney, Walter Hawkins, 
George W. Heshner, died ; Jacob Hasier, J. H. Harrington, Ezra G. 
Handley, James Helms, Henry Hawery, died ; John T. Harris, E. T. 
Ham, died ; Lemuel J. Johnson, James Kenoyer, L. II. W. Kelley, 
James Kenan, Samuel Lyon, Able Lyon, Cyrus Louthan, John Lowe, 
Dennis P. Morris, H. W. Merridith, Alexander A. Myers, James Not- 
tingham, died; Stark Olmstead, Jonathan Pruett, G. W. Smith, David 

G. Smith, died ; Jonathan Stateii, Edward Sherman, John Sherman, 
Harry Troup, killed ; Barden B. Best, Ira Yoeman. 

Joined after organization of regiment : 

41 



690 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

Henry Bishop, James Corn, J. S. Christopher, Charles W. Clifton, 
I. C. Denney, Jessie Dodson, Charles B. Davis, John A. Guinn, John J. 
Horn, Ephraim Haney, Levi Haney, Charles W. Lynch, Hiram H. Mc- 
Clain, Warren Marst, Albert Myers, W. E. Roney, W. W. Thoroughman. 

Ninety-ninth Regiment — Samuel Moore, commissioned Major May 
3, 1865 ; Daniel Ash, commissioned Captain August 22, 1862 ; William 
W. Downes, commissioned Captain March 1, 1865 : Elias W. Shaner, 
First Lieutenant; George W. Smith, First Lieutenant ; Carroll L. Shidler, 
Second Lieutenant; James W. Graves, Abraham W. Bebout, Stephen 
D. Kerns, Austin M. Darroch, John Barker, Clark A. Wood, William 
Rinker, died ; William T. Board, B. T. Roadrick, J. E. Longwell, Solo- 
mon Ash, W. H. Alexander, William Airhart, died ; George C. Bartholo- 
mew, killed ; Charles Bartholomew, Abner Bartholomew, died ; Sylvester 
Board, John Brown, William Brown, died ; James Burns, Cyrus Brun- 
ton, Allen Catt, Christian Enfeldt, Jacob Houscheldt, John Holoway, 
died ; William Holoway, died ; Joseph Hooks, A. B. Hosier, Jonas L. 
Horner, died ; E. L. Humphries, John Johnston, F. B. Jones, died ; 
Joseph Kennedy, Hiram W. Kelley, died ; Henry S. Kramer, Paul La- 
force, Joseph L. Laforce, died; D. W. Lowe, Benjamin Martin, Thoma8 

C. Moore, Andrew Murphy, died; William A. Patrick, John Reynolds, 
A. J. Saunderson, died ; E. J. Shidler, Soloman Shriver, Joseph Shafer, 
S. M. Skeggs, John C. Sarver, John Starkey, died ; Thomas Starkey, 
Thomas L. Thornton, Young Thompson, died ; G. C. Vannatta, J. Web- 
ber, died ; John D. Wyatt, died ; Levi White, killed ; Andrew S. Young, 
Asa Yeoman, died ; James Atkinson, John W, Moore, died. 

Joined regiment after organization : 

James Anderson, John Grenfeldt, James Griffith, died ; William Wil- 
son. 

One Hundred and Twenty -eiglith Regiment, Company A — James 
Bissell, Captain, killed ; Joseph Blessing, Second Lieutenant ; George D. 
Boyd, Jeremiah Branson, died; William Sherwood, A. L. D. Scott, pro- 
moted First Lieutenant ; Abel Lyons, A. W. Scott, M. L. Ham, S. V. 
Peabody, John L. Mercer, William Burnes, Theodore Broadfield, J. Bell, 

D. P. Brenesholtz, N. K. Carraichael, H. B. Childers, W. Clark, John ' 
Corn, J. N. Drake, D. Dexter, C. Frankenberger, John Glaspy, S. 
Green, John Glaze, George Garrison, N. Holt, S. Headly, George Hoff- 
man, A. Herrington, D. Headdington, L. J. Johnson, Eph Kesler, died; 
John W. Knight, J. J. Lamb, J. H. Lothain, James H. Lowe, F. M. 
Line, John W. Maxy, J. W. Murphy, Thomas Metts, B. Mullet, C. 
Musson, J. M. Moone, William Odel, M. Ottemwalter, J. M. Patterson, 
J. Reynolds, J. A. Smith, L. Stroup, G. Scratnblin, G. A. Story, W. 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 691 

T. Smith, W. L. Veatch, J. G. Vanfoasen, John ,Vaughn, I. Yeoman, 
killed ; A. Yoeman. 

C. E. Triplett joined the Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteers as As- 
sistant Surgeon. Was afterward promoted to Surgeon of that regiment. 
John Brodrick and B. F. Evans were also members of the Eighty-seventh. 

J. Staton, T. Staton, S. Pierce and two or three other Newton County 
boys — whose names we cannot ascertain — enlisted in an Illinois regiment. 

Newton boys in Fifth Indiana Cavalry — C. Leaming, S. Carroll, J. 
Howenstine, A. A. Harrington. 

J. A. Hatch joined the Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry as Assistant 
Surgeon. Was afterward promoted to Surgeon of that regiment. 

Joseph Ade enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Infantry. 

Charles E. Ross enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and was with 
that regiment all through its campaigns in the East. 

Newton County boys in Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, Company K — 
Daniel M. Graves, Captain ; Henry E. Ash, Mahlon Fell, William 
Flemming, Albert S. Graves, Thomas Staten, Elijah M. Standridge. 
John Strohn, Company L. 

Newton also sent a full company in defense of the State against the 
raid of John Morgan. They were recruited and on their way to the 
front within twenty-four hours after receiving news of the invasion. 
Horace K. Warren, Captain; John Ade, First Lieutenant; John B. 
Chesebrough, Second Lieutenant. 

In the Mexican war, the State had five regiments, and to avoid his- 
torical confusion, the regiments raised for the war of the rebellion were 
designated by numbers beginning with six. 

Fifty-first Infantry. — This regiment was organized at Indianapolis 
on the 11th of October, 1861, and mustered in on the 14th of Decem- 
ber, 1861, with Abel D. Streight as Colonel. From Indianapolis it pro- 
ceeded to Kentucky, going into a camp of instruction at Bardstown. In 
February, 1862, it marched with Buell's army toward Nashville, where it 
encamped for awhile and then moved to the Tennessee River, reaching 
the field of Shiloh too late to participate in the battle at that place. In the 
movement upon and the siege of Corinth, it took an active part, and after 
the evacuation it marched with Wood's division of the Army of the Ohio 
through Northern Alabama to Stevenson. When Buell's army fell back 
from Nashville to Louisville, the regiment marched with it, and after the 
campaign in Kentucky it returned to Nashville, from whence it marched 
with Rosecrans' arniy toward Murfreesboro in December. 

The regiment was engaged in the battle of Stone River, on the 3l8t 
of December, 1862, and 1st and 2d of January, 1863, losing five 



692 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

killed, thirty-six wounded and missing — making a total of forty-nine. 
After this engagement, it remained in the vicinity of Murfreesboro until 
the month of April, when it left on the Streight expedition. The forces 
engaged in this expedition had been organized as a provisional brigade by 
Col. Streight at his own solicitation, and by command of Gen. Rosecrans, 
and consisted of the Fifty-first and Seventy-third Indiana, Third Ohio, 
and Eightieth Illinois, with two companies of cavalry and two pieces of 
artillery. The brigade, numbering about 1,700 men and 800 animals, left 
Nashville under command of Col. Streight on the 11th of April, and 
proceeded to Palmyra, on the Cumberland River, by transports, and then 
marched through the country to Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, 
picking up on the route all the serviceable horses and mules that could 
be found. From thence it proceeded on transports to Eastport, Miss., 
which place it left on the 21st of April (about two-thirds of the command 
being mounted), and marched in the direction of Rome, Ga., for the pur- 
pose of making a raid in the rear of Bragg's army, then at Tullahoma. 
The expedition reached the base of Sand Mountains on the evening of 
the 29th, and on the 30th were overtaken by the rebel cavalry under 
Forrest, when a battle ensued, resulting in the defeat of the enemy. 
This was the battle of Day's Gap, in which the Fifty-first lost thirty-one 
killed and wounded. Among the latter was Lieut, Col. Sheets, who fell 
mortally wounded. On the 1st of May, another fight took place on 
Crooked Creek, in which the enemy was again repulsed. On the 2d of 
May, another engagement was fought on Blunt's farm, near Gadsden 
Ala., the enemy being again defeated. In this fight. Col. Hathaway, of 
the Seventy-third Indiana, was killed. The command pushed forward in 
hopes of capturing Rome, Ga., but on the 3d of May it was overtaken 
near Gaylesville, Ala., by the command of Gen. Forrest, and compelled 
to surrender. The whole force was consigned to rebel prisons, and the 
officers were treated with great severity. After being kept prisoners for 
some time, the enlisted men were paroled for exchange, and went into 
parole camp at Indianapolis until their exchange was effected. On the 
9th of February, 1864, Col. Streight escaped from Libby Prison, by 
means of a tunnel, after ten months' imprisonment. 

In November, 1863, the regiment was exchanged, and at once returned 
to the field, joining the army at Nashville. During the fall of 1863, the 
regiment was engaged in guarding the communications of the army be- 
tween Nashville and Chattanooga. It was afterward sent into East Ten- 
nessee, and in the months of January and February, 1864, a portion of 
the regiment re-enlisted as veterans. On the 29th of February, the vet- 
erans reached Indianapolis on veteran furlough, and about the 1st of April 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. C93 

returned to the field. During the campaign of 1864, the regiment did 
duty at Chattanooga, and after the occupation of Atlanta moved to that 
place, where it remained until the Fourth Corps marched northward, 
when it moved with the First Brigade, Third Division of that corps, reach- 
ing Pulaski, Tenn., in November, and, upon the advance of Hood's army 
on Nashville, it fell back toward that place. On the 14th of December, 
the non-veterans were mustered out of service, and proceeded home. On 
the 15th of December, the regiment participated in the battle of Nash- 
ville, and afterward joined in the pursuit of the routed rebels, going as 
far as Huntsville, Ala. At this place it remained until March, 1865, 
when it moved with the Fourth Corps into East Tennessee. About the 
1st of May it returned to Nashville, where a number of recruits that re- 
mained in service after the muster out of the Seventy-ninth Regiment 
were transferred to the Fifty-first. 

In June, the regiment moved on transports to New Orleans with the 
Fourth Corps, and from thence was transported to Texas, and landing on 
the coast marched into the interior of Western Texas, as far as San An- 
tonio, where the regiment was stationed until November, 1865. It was 
subsequently ordered North, and was mustered out December 13, 1865. 

Ninety-ninth Infantry. — The Ninety-ninth Regiment was organized 
during the months of August and September, 1862, in the Ninth Con- 
gressional District, and rendezvoused at South Bend. Three companies 
recruited in the Sixth Congressional District for the Ninety-sixth Regi- 
ment; were assigned to the Ninety-ninth, completing its organization, and 
it was mustered into the service October 21, 18d2, with Alexander Fow- 
ler as Colonel. The regiment moved in November to Memphis, Tenn., 
and upon its arrival there, was assigned to the Third Brigade, First 
Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. On the 26th, the regiment moved 
with its corps on the Tallahatchie campaign, and, returning, was placed 
on duty on the Memphis k Charleston Railroad, at La Grange and Moscow, 
Tenn., where it remained during the winter of 1862 and 1863. 

On the 6th of May, 1863, the regiment moved to Memphis, and em- 
barking on steamers, sailed down the Mississippi River, and joined the 
besieging forces of Gen. Grant, in the rear of Vicksburg. On the 4th 
of July, the regiment marched with Sherman's command for Jackson, 
Miss., and was engaged in a skirmish on the Big Black River during 
that march. Our advance readied Jackson on the 9th, and its invest- 
ment was complete on the 12th. The siege progressed vigorously, and 
for three days the regiment laid under a lieavy artillery fire from the 
enemy, and was engaged in skirmishing. On the night of the 16th, the 
enemy evacuated Jackson, and Sherman's command moved into the place, 



694 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

and destroyed the railroads and public buildings. Expeditions were at 
once sent to the surrounding country, and the railroads centering at 
Jackson destroyed. The regiment assisted in capturing Brownsville, 
Miss. 

The regiment remained in camp at Big Black River until the latter 
part of September, when it moved with its corps to Memphis, and from 
thence, in October, marched by the way of Corinth, luka, Florence, 
Decherd and Stevenson, to Chattanooga, arriving at the latter place on 
the 24th of November. The Ninety-ninth at once took possession of In- 
dian Hill, the eastern extremity of Mission Ridge, and worked all the 
following night throwing up works. By daylight the next morning, the 
regiment had improvised a fine line of defenses, being compelled to use 
sticks, tin plates and cups as intrenching tools, no shovels or picks being 
convenient. On the 25th the regiment was engaged in the battle of 
Mission Ridge. Immediately after the battle, the regiment marched with 
Sherman's army in pursuit of Bragg's, in the direction of Graysville. 
The road was lined with broken wagons, abandoned caissons, and debris 
of a retreating army. As the head of the column emerged from a 
swamp, it encountered the rear guard of the enemy. A sharp fight en- 
sued, but night closed further operations. Upon reaching Graysville, the 
column moved east for the purpose of cutting communications between 
Bragg and Longstreet, and to relieve Gen. Burnside, then besieged at 
Knoxville. The regiment, this dreary march, was almost entirely destitute 
of clothing, blankets and shoes, and without regular rations or supplies 
of any kind, and marched barefoot through mud and over rocks, and 
compelled Longstreet to raise the siege of Knoxville. Returning with 
its command, the regiment reached Scottsboro, Ala., on the 26th of De- 
cember, having made a march of more than 400 miles, and fought its 
part of the battle of Chattanooga. 

At Scottsboro the regiment remained in camp until the 11th of Feb- 
ruary, 1864. It then moved into East Tennessee, and was engaged at 
Rocky Face Ridge on the 25th. The regiment then returned to Scotts- 
boro, and encamped until the 1st of May. 

Sherman's army then moved on its campaign, of which Atlanta was 
the objective point. The Ninety-ninth marched and fought with the 
dashing Army of the Tennessee, and was engaged in every skirmish, as- 
sault and battle, in which that army took part, "under the gallant Mc- 
Pherson. The regiment was engaged at Resaca, May 14 ; at Dallas, 
on the 28th. The enemy made a bold assault upon our columns, but met 
a bloody repulse. On the 15th of June, the regiment participated in a 
charge at Big Shanty. Subsequently it was engaged in skirmishing for 
scvon days, near Kenesaw Mountain. 



HISTORV of NEWTON COUNTY. 695 

The regiment also took part in skirmishes at Nickajack Creek, and 
also at Decatur, on the 20th and 2l8t of July. On the morning of the 
22(1, Gen. McPherson had gained a high hill, which gave him a com- 
manding position within view of the heart of Atlanta. At noon. Hood's 
forces made a desperate assault, and a terrible battle raged along the 
whole front, and after four hours' fierce fighting, the enemy was checked 
and driven back. In this battle, the noble McPherson was killed. On 
the 28th, another battle was fought in front of Atlanta, in which the 
corps to which the Ninety-ninth was attached, was chiefly engaged ; the 
result was a victory to our arms. In both these sanguinary fights, the 
regiment was an active participant. The Ninety-ninth was engaged 
every day in skirmishing from August 3 to the 15th. 

The regiment marched with Sherman's army on its flank movement 
around Atlanta, and had a slight engagement at Jonesboro on the 31st 
of August ; also a skirmish at Lovejoy's Station on the 1st of Septem- 
ber. It then returned with the main army to Atlanta, and went into 
camp at East Point. On the 3d of October, it joined in the pursuit of 
Hood, and had a fight at Little River, Ga., on the 26th. After a march 
of 200 miles, it again reached Atlanta. 

On the 15th of November, the Ninety-ninth marched from its camp, 
and with its colors pointing to the South, moved with Sherman on his 
great march to the sea. The regiment moved with the right wing of the 
army, under Gen. Howard. On the 7th of December, it had a sharp 
skirmish with the enemy at a crossing on the Canochee River, and on 
the 9th a sharp fight on the Ogeechee River. After having marched over 
300 miles in twenty-four days, our array reached the front of Savannah. 

On the loth of December, the regiment took part in the charge upon 
Fort McAllister, which, after a desperate hand-to-hand struggle with 
its garrison, surrendered, and opened Sherman's communications with 
the sea. After a short rest at Savannah, the regiment, with Sherman's 
army, through the Carolinas, was engaged in a skirmish at Duck Creek 
and Edisto River, and occupied Columbia, S. C, on the 17th of Febru- 
ary, 1865. From Columbia, the march was continued through Camden, 
Cheraw and Fayetteville. On the 19th of March, the regiment re-en- 
foi'ced the Twentieth Corps at the battle of Bentonville. The march 
was then made to Goldsboro, from there to Raleigh, and thence, by way 
of Warrentou, Petersburg and Richmond, to Washington, D. C, where, 
on the 5th of June, 1865, the regiment, then commanded by Col. Farrar, 
was mustered out of the service of the United States. Six companies 
only of the regiment were entitled to discharge, but, by a special order, 
the remaining four companies were mustered out of the service. The 



696 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

remaining recruits were transferred to the Forty-eighth Indiana Veter" 
ans, with which organization they served until its muster out. 

The Ninety- ninth left for the field with 900 men, and returned from 
its campaign with 425 oflScers and men. It marched during its term of 
service over 4,000 miles. Upon arriving at Indianapolis, the regiment 
was present at a reception to returned soldiers on the 11th of June, in 
the State House grounds, and was welcomed by Gov. Morton and others. 

One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment. — This regiment was 
recruited from the Ninth Congressional District during the fall and win- 
ter of 1863, rendezvoused at Michigan City, and was mustered into serv- 
ice on the 18th of March, 1864, with Richard P. De Hart, as Colonel, 
and Jasper Packard as Lieutenant Colonel. On the 23d, the regiment 
left Michigan City by rail, and proceeded by the way of Indianapolis and 
Louisville, to Nashville, where the division commanded by Gen. Hovey, 
was organized, and the regiment assigned to the First Brigade. On the 
6th of April, the regiment started on a march for the front, and moving 
by the way of Stevenson, Bridgeport and Chattanooga — through a sec- 
tion of country famed for the beauty of its mountain scenery, where 
hills kiss the clouds, and the silver streams laugh in the sunshine — 
reached Charleston, East Tenn., on the 21st. Gen. Hovey's division was 
then designated as the First Division, and assigned to the Twenty-third 
Army Corps, under command of Gen. Schofield. 

On the 4th of May, the regiment marched with its corps from 
Charleston, and entered immediately on the campaign against Atlanta. 
Sherman's moving columns were concentrating in the vicinity of Chatta- 
nooga, preparatory to moving with determined vigor upon the forces of 
the rebel Gen. Johnston, who, apparently secure behind the inaccessible 
ridges of Rock Face, challenged our advance through the dangerous de- 
file of Buzzard's Roost Gap, leading to Dalton. But Sherman decided 
to take another route, and not expose his men to certain destruction from 
the fire of plunging shot, or the deep waters of the creek, by which the 
enemy flooded the pass. The pass was unapproachable, and the " great 
flanker " turned to the left, and left the enemy in position. 

On the 9th day of May, Gen. Schofield moved with his corps close 
to Dalton, when Gen. Thomas demonstrated with vigor against Rocky Face 
Ridge. Meanwhile, McPherson reached Snake Creek Gap, surprised a 
force of the enemy, and held the Gap. On the 12th, the whole army, 
save one corps, moved through the Gap on Resaca. The battle of Resaca 
followed. Thus constantly moving, threatening, flanking and fighting, 
the approaches to Atlanta were won, the One Hundred and Twenty- 
eighth taking part in the principal movements, culminating in such bat- 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 697 

ties as Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw 
Mountain. Atlanta and Jonesboro. 

From the 8th of May until the 5th of September, under the broiling 
sun by day, and the pestilential dews by night, through difficult ravines, 
skirmishing in dense forests, drenched by heavy rains, struggling through 
mud and mire, our troops pressed on. Some portion of the regiment was 
on the skirmish line nearly every day for four months. 

On the 9th of June, Gen. Hovey retired from the command of the 
First Division, and the First Brigade was assigned to the Third Division 
(Cox's) of the same corps. On the 6th of June, Col. De Hart having 
been disabled by wounds, Lieut. Col. Packard assumed command of the 
regiment. On the 9th of August, the First Brigade was re-organized, 
and the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth assigned to the Third Brigade of 
the same division. After the fall of Athinta, the regiment marched from 
Jonesboro to Decatur, Ga., where it went into camp with the rest of the 
corps. 

On the 1st of October, the rebel Gen. Hood crossed the Chattahoochee 
River with his army, and marched north, by the way of Dallas. Sher- 
man's army, with the exception of the Twentieth Corps, moved in pursuit. 
The regiment left Decatur with its corps on the 4th, and, crossing the 
Chattahoochee, moved toward Dallas, threatening the flank and rear of 
the enemy's forces then assaulting Allatoona. The rebels being defeated 
at Allatoona, moved rapidly to the northwest, striking the railway at 
Resaca on the 12th, and capturing Tilton and Dalton. The army of 
Sherman meanwhile made a march to Rome, where the Twenty-third Corps 
crossed the Oostanaula and drove a brigade of the enemy through the 
narrow entrance of the valley of the Chattooga, capturing two guns. 
Then learning that the enemy had moved for Resaca, the pursuit was 
continued through Resaca, Snake Creek Gap and Grover's Gap to 
Gaylesville, Ala., which place was reached on the 20th. The regiment 
marched in this pursuit over 300 miles. 

On the 30th of October, the Twenty-third Corps was detached from 
Sherman's army, and ordered to proceed to Chattanooga and report to 
Gen. Thomas. The regiment marched with its corps to this point, and wa3 
moved from thence by rail to Pulaski and Nashville. As soon as it was as- 
certained that Hood was moving to invade Tennessee, the regiment moved 
with its corps to Columbia. On the 24th of November, the skirmishers 
of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth encountered the advance of the 
enemy. For six days, severe skirmishing was had with the enemy's 
line at Columbia, one-half of the regiment being alternately on the 
•skirmish line. The enemy pressed our line strongly, but did not assault. 



698 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

Meantime, Gen. Schofield made preparations to fall back to Franklin. 
During the night of the 29th, the regiment marched twenty-six miles, and 
reached Franklin at daybreak of the 30th. The enemy followed closely, 
and repeatedly assaulted our line at Franklin as soon as we had formed, 
but Gen. Schofield had chosen an excellent position, and repulsed the 
rebel onslaught with decisive results. The regiment lost several officers 
and men in this battle, which was fought with great fury and obstinacy, 
the enemy continuing his assaults until late on the night of the 30th. 
The battle of Franklin was the first severe check of Hood's invasion of 
Tennessee. 

The regiment fell back the night after the battle to Brentwood Hills, 
and the next morning marched to Nashville and took position in its de- 
fenses. For two weeks the army of Gen. Thomas faced the rebel force 
of Gen. Hood, who occupied the southern approaches to Nashville. 

On the 15th of December, Thomas' army moved upon the enemy in 
his chosen position, and after two days' hard fighting, utterly defeated 
the boastful foe and drove his demoralized command beyond the waters of 
the Tennessee. This battle closed the existence of Hood's army. From 
that time it ceased to exist as an organized body. The regiment was 
actively engaged in the closing up of Hood, and joined in the pursuit as 
far as Columbia, Tenn., arriving at ttiat place on the 26th. Here the 
command rested for a short time preparatory to another campaign, which 
was to strangle the last army of the rebellion. 

On the 5th of January, 1865, the regiment left Columbia and 
marched by way of Mount Pleasant and Waynesboro to Clifton, on the 
Tennessee River, where it embarked on transports and sailed to Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. From thence the regiment moved by rail to Washington, 
and thence to Alexandria, Va. On the 20th of February, the regiment 
embarked on the steamer Atlantic, and sailed to Fort Fisher, N. C, and 
from thence, without landing, sailed to Morehead City, N. C, where the 
regiment disembarked and proceeded by rail to New Berne. 

Early in March, the regiment set out with its division, and marched 
along the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad in the direction of Kings- 
ton, repairing the railroad as the column moved. On the 8th of March, 
the enemy was encountered in force at Wise's Fork, four miles below 
Kingston. The enemy had met with success in capturing two regiments 
of Eastern troops by surprise, and was pushing on, confident of victory, 
when he was met and checked by Ruper's division, just arriving on the 
field. For two days, heavy skirmishing resulted, and on the 10th, the ene- 
my made heavy assaults, but was repulsed, and fled in great disorder from 
the field. The regiment took an active part in this fight, losing severely 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 



699 



in killed and wounded. The whole command then moved to Kingston, 
which was occupied without resistance from the enemy. 

On the 20th, the regiment left Kingston, and after a march of thirty 
miles reached Goldsboro and marched to Le Noir Institute, where the 
regiment was employed in protecting the railroad until the 9th of April. 
The regiment then returned to Goldsboro, and was assigned to duty in 
that city. It was subsequently stationed at Raleigh, N. C, until the 
spring of 1866, when it was ordered home and mustered out x\pril 13. 




700 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 



VILLAGE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY. 

Kentland. — A. J. Kent was a native of New York. In 1846, he 
went to California and engaged extensively in the China trade. It is 
said he brought the first emigrant from the Celestial Kingdom to these 
shores. He stayed there but a few years, when he returned to New York, 
engaging in the milling business. In 1852, he located 7,000 acres of 
land in what is now Newton County, and, in the same year, building a 
residence on his property, he began farming on a large scale, raising and 
shipping stock, engaging also in milling and shipping grain, and in mer- 
cantile pursuits. His whole life was one of bustling activity, and for a 
time did two-thirds of the business of the town which bears his name. He 
died May 7, 1882. 

In February, 1860, he platted the village of Kent, and submitted his 
proposition for the location of the county seat. This was accepted and 
the seat of justice officially fixed there in the following month. The orig- 
inal plat consists of eighteen blocks, the northern boundary of which is 
marked by Dunlap street. Proceeding south, the streets running east and 
west follow in succession — Graham, Seymour, Goss and Owen. At right 
angles to these, streets cross and are designated by numbers from one to 
five inclusive. At the time the village was chosen as the county seat, 
the track hands were the sole occupants of the plat, William Service erect- 
ing the first shanty, and Michael ColFelt erecting one soon after. Mr. 
Kent and J. B. Chesebrough, however, lived in the near vicinity. Early 
in the year I860, William Ross came and erected the first building, save 
the shanties alluded to ; he was soon joined by John Peacock, Oscar 
Phelps and Isaac Beyea, who occupied Mr. Ross' store as a residence. 
There was no boarding house, hotel, nor even women to take charge of 
the culinary department, and the gentlemen maintained bachelor's hall 
while pioAeering the way for the future city. During this spring, Mr. 
Kent erected a store and a hotel building, in the latter of which Mr. 
Sylvester Root opened a much-needed boarding house and hotel. Orris 
King put up a building and opened a store here in the same spring. A 
building was erected by Joel Anderson, also for a store, but was occupied 
the first six months by the court officers. 

The village at this time gathered about Seymour street, which passes 
through the village along the north side the railroad, and presented the 
appearance of a frontier town of to-day. The railroad had been com- 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 701 

pleted through the village the preceding December. There was no sta- 
tion here as yet, and not a lantern at command, and it is said that one 
individual who wished to board the train gathered a quantity of prairie 
grass and 6red it to attract the attention of the engineer. One of the 
evidences of the growing importance of the town was the appointment of 
an agent and the regular stopping of the trains. People called here by 
election to county offices, or by the opportunities for business, made a 
spirited demand for houses, and business of all sorts manifested consider- 
able activity. In the following year, the court house and the United 
Brethren Church were added, and from thence forward to 1865 thegtowth 
was steady and of a substantial character. The number of business houses 
was not large, but each had a satisfactory patronage. Mr. Kent was the 
animating spirit of the business activity, and gradually enlarged the scope 
of his operations. 

From 1865 to 1870, the growth of the village was characterized prin- 
cipally by the improved character of the buildings, which in new struct- 
ures began to take on the appearance of permanent, substantial edifices, the 
display of taste bespeaking the prosperous condition of the builders. In 
1866, McCullough's Addition to the town was made, and Kent's North- 
ern Addition, which added 123 lots to the town. In 1868, the village 
was incorporated, with A. J. Kent, S. Root and G. W. Arnout as Trust- 
ees ; J. Z. Johnston, Assessor and Clerk ; Joseph Blessing, Marshal 
and Treasurer. 

On the 13th of December, 1870, the thriving village was visited with a 
destructive fire that blotted out most of the business buildings. The Cra- 
zetfe, issued on the 24th, gives this account of the calamity: " The fire 
originated in the upper story of Mr. Kent's building, and is believed to 
be the work of an incendiary. Our neighbor of the Democrat thinks, 
and with some reason, that the criminals whom Constable Mike Coffelt let 
run away from justice did the work. However this may be, there is 
much reason for believing that the building was purposely set on fire, as 
the flames were first seen as much as fifteen feet from any chimney or 
flue, and burned through the east side of the house before it was seen in 
the roof. The Masonic Lodge was in session in the same building on the 
same floor, and just north of where the fire originated. The lamp, which 
was kept burning on meeting nights half way up the stairs, was blown 
out by some one, the incendiary, doubtless, who entered the building up 
the same stairway, and did this to conceal himself from easy observa- 
vation. " The fire was discovered at half past 8 o'clock at night, and by 
11 o'clock it had swept away more than a dozen business houses. A 
smart west wind aided the flames, and they leaped and hissed to the end 



702 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

without hindrance." The whole loss was estimated at $100,000, in indi- 
vidual sums of $200 to $30,000. One loss of $2,300 was by Dr. Tiche- 
nor, who had received it by express too late to place it in any safe. He 
had, therefore, put it in his trowsers' pocket, and piled wood upon them 
in his office to secure it against the possibility of a thief. In the excite- 
ment of the fire, while succeeding in saving all his office furniture, he for- 
got his greenbacks until they were gone beyond recovery. Most of the 
business men replaced their buildings at once, E. G. Smith, the druggist, 
putting up a new building and doing business on the old spot in thirty 
hours after the fire. 

The fire, while causing a heavy loss of property, there being no in- 
surance, effected an advantageous change in the character of the town. 
Business gradually went on to Third street, from Seymour to Dunlap, 
and with renewed vigor began to replace the loss occasioned by the fire. 
Two or three years after the fire, some good brick buisness blocks were 
erected, and in 1880 the town had not only recovered its loss, but had 
doubled the amount of business transacted. The rich farming country 
which surrounded the village had attracted buyers, and the village had 
grown into a valuable shipping point, which gave business to three exten- 
sive elevators. Public improvements had not been neglected ; a system 
of good sidewalks was found reaching to every part of the village, and 
coal-oil street lamps on every corner served to mark the crossings on a 
dark night. After the serious experience of 1870, there was considerable 
agitation on the subject of securing some apparatus with which to fight 
a general conflagration. Many of the business men procured " extin- 
guishers," which have served a valuable purpose on several occasions, and 
the town finally procured a hook and ladder apparatus. There was no regu- 
larly organized company, however, and lulled into a false feeling of security, 
the ladders became scattered, and the wagon rotted down in its tracks or 
was spirited away. A hand fire engine was actually brought to the vil- 
lage and tested, but it did not give satisfaction, and it was returned to 
the owners. This was about the state of things when the village was 
alarmed again by the cry of fire. As before, it originated in the buisness 
part of the village, and aided by favoring winds at one time threatened 
to sweep the whole town before its devastating power, and in the end did 
cause an almost irreparable damage. The Grazettes account of the fire, 
from which we extract the following, gives a graphic description of the 
misfortune : " Of the origin of the fire it is impossible to arrive at the 
facts, as to whether it originated from accident, or was incendiary, or in 
what building the flames started. But at least it started. It is claimed by 
some that it started in the harness shop of David Parks, catching from 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 708 

the Stove; and again, that it started in the building of John Hubertz. 
As to who first discovered it is also unknown, but possibly Mr. Powers, 
who was keeping up the engine fires at the Brown elevators. He was 
early on the scene. It broke out about midnight, and was not discovered 
until too late to check it at the point of its starting, two doors below 
GoflTs store. 

"The fire had evidently been in progress for some time when discovered, 
for it was but a few minutes after it burst out till the harness shop, 
Chris Rettinger's and John Hubertz's were all a sheet of flame. The 
wind was blowing steady and strong from the south, and drove the tougues 
of flame on to GofF's barn and into the west windows of his store and 
residence, below and above. The fiery tide beat onward, and higher and 
higher it threw its devouring flames. Leaping from Goff"s barn it reached 
Capt. Warren's barn, which fell a speedy prey to the rushing and increas- 
ing flood of flames. Through Goff^s fine residence above, and forward 
through the store below, the flames poured like an ocean billow before the 
south gale that blew with violence. 

" From this point it leaped the alley and found food for still greater 
flame in the restaurant building of Bela C. Kent, and the stock of goods 
of Weide & Coff"man. It was but a moment till the flames were observed 
in front and rear of the Discount and Deposit Bank, creeping in at the 
windows, and making short work of the interior. The Park's brick 
block came next in order, but here the bucket brigade met it with a 
dogged and firm resistance Here were the flames to be stayed if stayed 
at all. The second story windows burned out, the upper floor caught fire, 
as well as the wood work in the front, but the steady, persistent and 
stubborn fight of the people with the water, conquered and held the 
raging flames at bay. The Iraes House and outbuildings were also 
saved by timely work. 

" But there was destruction elsewhere. The flames backed from the 
starting point, south to the corner on Front street and licked up Hetzner's 
small shoe shop and attacked Nicholas Kirch's large two-story frame 
saloon and residence, and soon found material to increase it fury. While 
this was going on, the intense heat from the burning west siile of Third 
street set fire to Keefe & Bro.'s on the east side and swept the contents 
away with terrible rapidity. As on the other side of the street, the fire 
backed south to Front street again, licking up the frame buildings like 
chafl" and sparing only the corner building, Flaherty's saloon. From 
Keefe's, it was soon into Mrs. Hull's millinery establishment, then to 
Noble's jewelry and gun store, which buildings were quickly consumed. 
Still driven by a steady and strong wind, it attacked the Phelp's brick 



704 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

block, which was occupied by the following firms on the ground floor : 
South room, A. C. Vanderwater, dry goods and groceries ; center room, 
Mrs. Jesse D. Ganders, millinery and dry goods ; north room, W, S. Mc- 
Cullough & Co., druggists. On the second floor were : Graham & Jones, 
law, real estate and insurance ; Masonic Lodge, G. A. R. Post, and the 
Newton County News. The flames swept through this structure from 
garret to cellar with irresistible power, the tumbling roof and walls 
marking its fateful progress. Just north of the brick stood the block 
which belongs to the Travelers' Insurance Company. Of this the flames 
made short work, and of the one adjoining it on the north. Onward it 
marched unopposed to Poole & Bro.'s hardware store, and it, too, collapsed 
like a paper balloon. Here again was another danger. The building of 
Mrs. Eliza McCray, across on the corner of Graham and Third streets, 
and occupied by I. H. Coulter and the meat market adjoining, were on 
the point of burning from the intense heat from the flames at Poole's cor- 
ner. Nothing but heroic work again saved this building, as heroic work 
an hour before had saved it by stopping the flames at the brick block 
in which Frank Ross and the post office is located. Twice was there 
great peril in that locality. From Poole & Bro.'s store, on the east side 
of Third street, the fiery giant marched his flaming forces eastward in 
unconquerable array, and fell on P. H. Ward's law office, licking it up 
like splinters. Next and last, John Peacock's real estate and collection 
office succumbed, by which time the high wind had fallen to a gentle 
evening zephyr. When the fire had reached and destroyed the bank 
building, the wind wheeled quickly and without warning to the west, or 
nearly so, and this was the salvation of the Imes House, the livery 
stables and the entire square of buildings in which the G-azette is located. 
Their destruction must have been realized but for the change of wind ; in 
which case not a business house would have been left in Kentland on the 
north side. 

" From beginning to end, it was a roaring, seething flame. Buildings 
fell, cartridges popped, walls tumbled, powder exploded and oils in the 
stores sent the flames leaping higher. It was a time when it looked that 
nothing could be saved. The smoke was blinding, the flames scorching, 
and from the earth to half a mile high, the atmosphere was literally filled 
with great flakes of burning shingles, which floated off" burning as far as 
the north end of town. Goods carried and saved from the flames caught 
fire on the streets a square away, and much goods would have burned 
had they not been watched. 

" It was a fearful spectacle as well as a destructive fire. It burned 
nearly four hours, and though bad enough, the loss could have been 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 705 

greater. A continuous rainfall on Wednesday afternoon doubtless 
saved what is saved of the town not in the immediate vicinity of the track 
of the flames. The roofs of houses and outbuildings were wet, and thus 
the flying fire in the atmosphere fell harmless upon them." 

No accurate estimate can be made of the loss occasioned by this fire. 
There was general insurance on most of the property. The effect upon 
the future of the village is equally uncertain, but the disposition to re- 
build is gradually being made apparent, and the most favorable comment 
is that it will not damage the permanent interests of the village much. 

The oriojinal name of the villaui;e was Kent, but there being another 
village of that name in the State, considerable delay and annoyance 
was experienced in receiving mail, and the name was subsequently 
changed to Kent Station. This did not prove satisfactory to the post 
office department, and in December, 1863, the post office was called 
Adriance, and for several years the town and post office bore different 
names. This was the source of a good deal of annoyance, and when the town 
was incorporated it was decided to change the same to Kentville, but this 
name found objectors, as it was so easily confused with other villages of 
similar names. While in this state of perplexity, the G-azette called upon 
some genius to solve the riddle. Hon. Schuyler Colfax had represented 
this county in Congress, and he responded to the appeal with the name 
of Kentland, which was adopted. 

Q-oodland. — The name of this village seems to have been suggested by 
its surroundings. It is located within two miles of the Benton County 
line, and a mile and a half from the line of Jasper County. From these 
counties the town draws a valuable trade in all lines of business, and 
furnishes an active market for grain and produce of the surrounding 
country. The surrounding country is an undulating prairie, with a rich, 
fertile soil, finely adapteil to growing corn, o.its, and grazing stock. Much 
of this land is umlerlaid with a good quality of building stone, which may 
be reached at a depth of from three to six feet. 

Some small tracts of land had been entered previous to 1850, but 
during that year and the following they were all taken in large bodies. 
There had been so much legislation and litigation about Jasper County 
swamp lands, and so much of it forced upon the market, that this whole 
section of country was overlooked and received no attention for years after 
they were entered from the Government. The land upon which Goodland 
is located, with several ailjoining sections on the east, was sold in 1856, 
at Marshal's sale, at an average of ^3.50 per acre, after the building of 
the Logansport & Peoria Railroad. But few farms were improved at 
once. 

42 



706 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

When the road was opened for traffic, a cheap building was put up 
where the stock yards are now, which was used by section men, and this 
was made a flag station and called Tivoli. David Creek, his sons Moses 
and John, Blake Wilson, and John and Charles Wilson were living upon 
farms in the neighborhood at that time. In the fall of 1860, William 
Foster bought some 800 acres of land and built a store and warehouse on 
the north side of the railroad, in which his brother Timothy opened up 
the first business house at this point. It served also as station house, 
post office and rallying point for this section generally. It has since been 
occupied by Martin & Gordon, 0. W. Church, Church & Hartley, 
J. P. Streight and others. 

In 1861, Timothy Foster laid out the village of Goodland, which 
consisted of forty-seven lots, with Jasper and an unnamed street along 
the railroad, and Union streets, passing east and west, and Newton and 
Benton streets crossing these at right angles. The town made rather 
slow progress for five or six years, the surrounding lands finding little 
sale, and several crop failures adding to the general depression. Good 
lands within two miles of the station could be bought at from $5 to $8 per 
acre, that are now worth from |25 to |50 per acre. In 1868, Abner 
Strawn, of Ottawa, III., commenced the purchase and sale of land, and 
brought a large number of buyers from his own and other sections of 
Illinois. These attracted others, and lands advanced in price and sold 
rapidly ; the country filled up and improved more in three years than it 
had in the six years preceding. The village felt the new impulse, and 
in 1869 Haire and Currens each made an addition to the plat, and lots 
found frequent sale. 

The class of farmers attracted to the surrounding lands were men 
who had tried Illinois prairies, but attracted by these rich lands adjacent 
to a good market, have been ambitious to improve their property, the 
effect of which is seen in the fine farm property which lays on every side 
of the village. Their preference for grain culture has built up a lively 
market in the village with mutual benefits. In 1870, Osborne & Pierce 
erected a large warehouse, and a year later doubled its capacity and added 
steam power and elevator machinery. Abner Strawn, in the same year, 
erected a large corn elevator. Mr. Foster added steam and improved 
machinery to his warehouse. These three elevators are now in active 
service and handle immense quantities of grain during the season. 

The Chicago, St. Louis & Pittsburgh is the principal railroad, and 
passes through the center of the village. The Chicago & Great Southern 
is a small road with a large name which passes through the village from 
north to south. Business shows a healthy activity, and the population 



HISTORY OF NHWTON COUNTY. 707 

and extent of the village steadily increasing. In 1868, the village had 
but ten houses and fifty inhabitants ; since that time there has been a 
steady increase by imigration, and new buildings have been in steady 
demand. Among those who have lived considerable time in Goodland, 
and whose influence in building up the town has been felt, in addition to 
those named, are David Creek, Blake Wilson, John Wilson, Ports Wilson, 
William Foster, C. M. Hopkins, I. S. Atkins, 0. W. Church, George 
McCarn, John McCurry, Thomas McCurry, Thomas Gray, G. W. Ball, 
N. Chamberlain, Thomas Shively, William Mills, S. C. Spoor, N. L. 
Dyke, Ansel Pierce, Marion James, J. A. Hansboro, Amos Creider, 
A. M. Culver, B. H. Osborne and others. 

Morocco. — Beaver Prairie is the site of some of the finest farming 
land in Newton County. At the time of its first settlement, it was right 
in the midst of the fiaest trapping grounds, and the chief article of com- 
merce was fur, sold to the Northwestern Fur Company agents, with head- 
quarters at Detroit, Mich. John Day, of South Bend, Ind., traveled in 
their employ for several years, and became well and favorably known to 
all hunters and trappers of those days, the headquarters for fur 
purchasing for several years being at Morocco, which town was laid 
out by John Murphy January 18, 1851. The town was located on 
Section 21, Town 29, Range 9, and was the first laid out in the territory 
now embraced in the county of Newton. The town grew slowly ; the 
first merchant was Elijah Whitson. In 1853, Ayers & Co., of Buncombe, 
111., started a branch store at Morocco. In the fall of 1854, the famous 
Bank of America was thrown upon the world, with reputed headquarters 
at this place. This institution was one of those speculative concerns 
known as "wild-cat banks," which were organized under the laws of the 
State. All that was required by law was to deposit with the Secretary 
of State bonds of any State in the Union to secure the circulation, and 
then the speculator was at liberty to launch out upon the world. The ob- 
ject of the projectors of this bank was to locate as far from the centers 
of business as possible, so as to reduce the necessity for redeeming its 
circulation to the lowest possible amount. 

The first intimation the citizens of the little burg had of the dis- 
tinction thus thrust upon them, was the sight of a large bill issued by 
bank in question. John Ade was temporarily in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 
that time, and saw the bill. On his return by way of Rensselaer, he 
learned, on inquiring, that such a bank had been established, and the 
proprietor tried to persuade Mr. Ade to act as Cashier. Mr. Mur- 
phy was finally prevailed upon to attend to the redemption of any 
bills that found their way to this neck of the woods, but could be in- 



708 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

duced only to accept the guardianship of $100 in gold at a time. A great 
many stories in regard to this bank have circulated in the papers, which 
are simple fabrications or wide exaggerations, but Mr. Ade furnishes one 
which has the merit of being true, and exhibits a part of the capital on 
which the bank did business : " In the summer of 1854, during the exist- 
ence of the noted free-banking laws of Indiana, in what was then the county 
of Jasper, which embraced at that time all the territory now included 
in the counties of Jasper and Newton, three banks were organized, two of 
which were located in Rensselaer, the county seat, and one in Morocco, at 
a point some twenty miles from Rensselaer, almost due west. The country 
between the two points being very sparsely settled at that time, and 
although it has since become one of the finest farming regions in the 
State, at that time it was almost unknown, except what reputation it had 
acquired in the adjoining counties by reason of the breaking-up of a 
gang of counterfeiters on Bogus Island, a short time previous, and which 
was not calculated to invite ti mid strangers to spend their time in look- 
ing for its good qualities. 

" At that time, Bradford, a station on the New Albany & Salem 
Railroad, was the nearest railroad point to Rensselaer, and then the 
two points were connected by a stage route which made daily trips 
and which ran so far as to connect with the trains, which at that time 
went north late in the afternoon, so the trip from Bradford to Rens- 
selaer had nearly all of it to be made after night, and to a person ac- 
quainted with the country at that time, was not very inviting, to say the 
least. 

" One afternoon, late in the fall, five men got off the train at Bradford, 
made their way to the hotel and called for supper, and engaged passage 
in the hack for Rensselaer. Two of them were attorneys from La Fayette, 
going over to Rensselaer to attend to some legal matters ; two of the 
others were citizens of Rensselaer, one an attorney and the other a doc- 
tor. These four were well known to each other; in fact, old acquaint- 
ances, and were ' hail fellows well met ' with each other. The other 
was a stranger, and although he ate supper at the same table, he 
seemed to keep as far away from the others as possible, and it was no- 
ticed that he kept a small satchel which he had, on his lap all the time 
while he was eating his supper ; this and a few remarks to the landlord 
in regard to the location of Morocco and the manner of getting there, 
satisfied one of the parties at least that his objective point was the Bank 
of America, at Morocco, and he communicated his suspicions to the rest 
of the company. After supper, the hack drove up and all got in ; but a 
mile or two had been traveled, when, by a preconcerted arrangement, the 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 709 

two La Fayette gentlemen commenced an attack on the two citizens of 
Rensselaer for the great and terrible system of outlawry allowed to exist 
in their county, in the neighborhood of Morocco, instancing many cases 
of murder, horse-stealing and the gangs of counterfeiters said to exist in 
that neighborhood. The Rensselaer gentlemen defended themselves as 
best they could from these charges, claiming that they were no more 
responsible for violations of law in their county, than the gentlemen from 
La Fayette were for crimes committed in Tippecanoe County. These 
charges and countercharges were kept up until late at night, when Rens- 
selaer was reached and all retired to bed. Early the next morning the 
livery stable keeper was posted by one of the passengers of the night 
previous, and who, on being met by our friend with the black satchel, 
refused to take him to Morocco for less than $30 and take a guard of four 
men ; and also, that he would be responsible for all loss or damage to 
team and wagon. About this time one of his fellow-passengers of the night 
before called him off privately and told him that he supposed that his 
business at Morocco must be of the greatest importance, and as a friend 
would advise him how to go there. In the first place, it would never do 
for him to go in the clothes he had on, for he would be almost certain to 
be murdered if he did. And he proposed letting him have an old suit of 
clo1;hes and a rifle, and, that in the disguise of a hunter, he might on foot 
make his way to Morocco and back with at least some promise of safety. 
Our friend thanked him for his kindness, went back to his hotel, and in 
a short time the hack for Bradford drove up, and he secured passage for 
that point, and the Bank of Morocco was saved, at least, one demand 
for specie at its counter had it been found." 

Under such circumstances, it is not surprising that the " run " 
on the bank was very light. Mr. Murphy deposited his bag of 
gold in the bottom of a barrel of potatoes and redeemed an occasional 
note until the amount was gone, and then, having entire confidence in 
the proprietor, he redeemed other notes, as they were presented by his 
neighbors, out of his own pocket to the extent of another $100. About 
this time, he happened to be in Rensselaer and proposed to turn over the 
redeemed notes for $100 that he had expended, but was informed that 
the bank had changed hands, and there was no one to speak for the 
Mirther action of the institution. There was no clew to the proprietors, 
and Mr. Murphy had $200 of the paper of the "Bank of America," 
without any assurance that he would realize anything for his money ex- 
pended. It is safe to say he did no further banking business ; but when 
the affair was eventually wound up by the Secretary of State, he made a 
reasonable salary besides the return of his money, as the issue was all re- 



710 HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 

'deemed at 80 cents upon the dollar. Mr. Ade was the reputed cashier of 
this bank, though at that time engaged in blacksmithing, and has followed 
the bent of his early initiation in continuing the banking business with 
McCray & Urmston, at Kentland, though this is not a bank of issue, and 
invites the visit of all who have any business in this line. 

Morocco is a village of "• great expectations," and though deprived by 
unavoidable circumstances of realizing upon its undoubted advantages, 
still looks to the future with hope. Could the continental railroad be 
projected through the county and this village, it would probably become 
the seat of justice for the county, and its present enterprise and business 
would proportionately expand. It is now an important point in the 
county, second only to Kentland. 

THE RAILROAD TOWNS. 

The recent construction of the Chicago & Great Southern Railroad 
has given rise to quite an activity in village-building along its line. 
Rose Lawn consists of sixteen blocks, platted on the northwest quarter 
of the northwest quarter of Section 14, in Township 31 north, Range 8 
west, and was made in January, 1882 ; Thayer was laid out by M. A. 
Atherton and J. P. Stratton, September 21, 1882, on the northwest 
corner of Section 3, and on the northeast corner of Section 4, in Town- 
ship 31 north. Range 8 west; Julian was laid out by Martha and J. B. 
Julian in October, 1882, on the southeast quarter of the southwest 
quarter of Section 2, and on the northeast quarter of the northwest 
quarter of Section 11, all in Township 28 north, Range 8 west; Fores- 
man was laid out in December, 1882, by J. B. Foresman, on the south- 
west quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 14, Township 28 north. 
Range 8 west; Mt. Airy was laid out by Louis Marion in October, 1882, 
on the northeast quarter of Section 23, Township 29 north. Range 8 
west. This is the more pretentious and promising of the new railroad 
towns, and has drawn to the older village of Brook, which stood west 
of it and a little south. A correspondent voices the general opinion in 
the Goodland Herald as follows : " Mt. Airy is situated on the railway, 
about fourteen miles north of Goodland, and near the center north and 
south, in Jackson Township. It is certainly a beautiful location for a 
town, being situated on a very elevated tract of land owned by Lewis 
Marion, one of the most substantial and influential farmers of Jackson 
Township, who has, we are informed, made liberal donations to the public 
of a suitable and fine tract of land for a public square, and has also been 
quite liberal with the C. & G. S. R. R. 

" We have been informed by the railway engineer that the location 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 711 

of Mount Airy is over 100 feet higher than Goodland. The town is situ- 
ated three miles south of the timber land on the north, and about one and 
a half miles west of the east belt of timber, and is in the midst of as 
beautiful and productive prairie land as any person could wish to find. 
Among the largest land owners are Messrs. Lewis Marion, Henry 0. 
Harris, Dr. Caldwell, Samuel Long, Mr. Crisler, Harris' heirs and 
Joseph Yeoman, and it is perhaps the wealthiest portion of Newton 
County. 

" The character of the soil is mostly a black loam, with a clay sub- 
soil ; but immediately at Mount Airy there is sufficient sand to prevent 
the streets from becoming impassable with mud. 

" We found the citizens of the town to be wide awake and energetic, 
attending strictly to their interests. Among them we found J. M. Hufty, 
who is engaged in general merchandise ; John Brenner, drug store ; S. 
B. Coen, grain and lumber; S. Royster, lumber; Mr. Ashley, black- 
smith ; George Hufty, boarding house ; Fred Nichols, general hardware ; 
Sayler & Yeoman, groceries and hardware. 

" Mr. Alexander Lardner has built quite a fine business building, two 
stories high, twenty-five feet wide and seventy-five feet deep, which will 
be occupied next week as a general merchandise store room by Messrs. 
Wiiley & Sigler, of Rensselaer, and Mr. Wishard, of Mount Airy. It 
is a building that would be a credit to any town. There is also a steam 
grist mill, owned by J. M. Hufty, which has a capacity of about 100 
bushels per day, and does good work. The village has also the advantages 
of a good school, and the Methodist Episcopal Church congregation con- 
template building a fine church edifice in the near future. Viewing Mount 
Airy from all the diff'erent standpoints, we think it a desirable place for 
any person seeking a location to engage in business pursuits, and we pre- 
dict for the town a bright and prosperous future. We have no hesitation 
in saying that it is our candid opinion that Mount Airy is destined to be 
the leading town in Newton County at no distant day. Building is now 
progressing rapidly, and the town has already assumed a position of no 
mean importance. 

" We found the construction train on tiie railway busily engaged in 
building a commodious side track at the station, which we presume is 
completed ere now. The Chicago & Great Southern Railway Company 
has now forty miles of main track in successful operation between Oxford, 
in Benton County, and Fair Oaks, in Jasper County, and is doing a great 
<leal to improve and develop as fine a country between those points as 
you could wish to see." 

This village is located well toward the northern limit of the well- 



712 



HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY. 



settled part of the county in this direction. In the vicinity of Morocco 
and north into Lake Township, the settlement is in advance of the same 
latitude in other parts of the county. Lake Village, laid out by Malone 
in January, 1876, is the post oflfice point in this township. A disposition 
to try the "far West" is taking a considerable number of Newton 
County citizens away, who are replaced largely by Germans^ The 
Swedes have found homes in the county to some extent, but the percent- 
age of foreign population is not large, the principal immigration being 
from the more eastern States. 




BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

I^EAVTOI^ COUNTY. 

TOWN OF KENtLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN ADE, banker, Keutland, was born September 31, 1828, in Susse.\ Coun- 
ty. England. lie is the eldest of six children, three of whom are living, of John 
and Esther (Wood) Ade. His father came to America in 1840, and settled near 
Cincinnati. Ohio. John, Jr., learned the blacksmith's trade and followed that four 
or five years. From 1849 to 1851, he kept a toll-gate near Cincinnati. In 18,51, he 
was married to Miss Adaline Bush, of Cheviot, Ohio. In 1853, he moved to Iro- 
quois County, 111., resided but a few weeks, and then removed to Morocco, Ind., 
where he resided until 1860, at which time Newton Countj' was formed. At the 
first election of officers in the new county, he was elected Recorder, and moved to 
Kentland, the county seat. This office he held until 1864, when he was elected 
Auditor, which office h6 held until 1868. Soon after his term had expired, the Dis- 
count and Deposit Bank of Kentland was organized. Mr. Ade accepted the posi- 
tion of Cashier, which position he held until 1875, when he became a partner of the 
same, and retained the position of Cashier, which he holds at the present time. 
Mr. Ade is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Kentland Lodge. He is an 
official member of the Christian Church, and in politics is a Republican. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ade have had seven children — Anna, William, Alice, Joseph, Emma, George 
and Ella. Emma died November 3S, 1865, aged five years. Anna married John 
W. Randall May 18, 1871, and Alice married John G. Davis, elsewhere mentioned. 

ROBERT W. ALLAN, wagon, carriage and repair shop, was born June 22, 
1849, in Chateauguay County, Canada East, and is a son of Robert and Sarah Jll. 
(Wilkinson) Allan, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Ireland. These 
parents had ten children, nine of whom are now living. The mother died in No- 
vember, 1869, at the age of forty-four. The father died in 1878, at the age of fifty- 
three. Both were members of the Pre.sb}'terian Church. They came to Illinois in 
March, 1867, andto Benton County, Ind., inl868. Robert W. had limited .school advan- 
tages in Canada, attending but a few years. He worked on his father's farm until 
he was sixteen years of age, when he went to learn his trade. After serving two 
years, he went to Kendall County, 111., and from 1867 to 1H75 lie farmed and worked 
at carpentering and wagon-making in Kendall, Grundy and La Salle Counties, 111. 
He moved to Kentland in 1H75, and worked for C. A. Wood about one year, and 
later he began for himself. He is now pursuing his business in South Side, and is 
doing a good and increasing business. Mr. Allan was married, October Vi, 1881, 
to Miss Patience E. Home, of Sheldon, 111., formerly of Knox County, Ohio. These 
parents have one child — Robert Angelo. Mr. Allan is a chapter member of the K. 
of P., Damon Lodge, No. 72, Kentland, and has twice acted as Past Chancellor. 
"Robert " has been the name of the eldest njale in the Allan family since 1657. 



716 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

JOHN ANDERSON, farmer, was born May 5, 1853, in Newton County, Ind. 
He is the son of Joel and Matilda (Montgomery) Anderson. The father, a native of 
Kentucky, was a farmer and a resident of Newton (then Jasper) County for more 
than twenty-five years. He was married July 14, 1850, and died in 1876, aged sixty- 
one. He was a Democrat. His wife died in 1862, aged thirty-five. These parents 
had five children— Minerva J., John, William, Sarah A. and Andrew J. Minerva 
married, January 27, 1878, Alva Rowley, of Newton Count}' ; they have two chil- 
dren — William and Arthur. Sarah A. married, March, 1880, Nelson Hough, of 
Momence, 111.; they have two children— Flora B. and William. Andrew J. was 
married, October 14, 1880, to Jennie Jones, of Newton County ; they have one child 
— William. John Anderson lived at home until eight years of age ; afterward, at 
Benjamin Timmons', of Benton County ; then at Henry Steerman's ; then at the 
home farm ; at John Roberts', at James Martin's, and again at the home farm. 
From fifteen until twenty-one, he worked for his father, and at the age of twenty- 
three he administered on his father's estate. Mr. A. owns 197 acres of improved 
land. He was married, March 80, 1876, to Miss Ella, daughter of George and 
Elizabeth Herriman, of Newton Countj^ Ind. To them were born three children 
— Estella May, Sarah Amy and Bertha M. Mrs. A.is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and Mr. A., a Democrat. 

GEORGE W. ARNOUT, merchant, was born June 1, 1828, in Clarke County, 
Ohio. He is the son of Alexander C. and Mary (Warwick) Arnout, the former a 
native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Virginia. The mother died in 1829, at the age 
of twenty- two; the father died in 1864, at the age of sixty-four. The father was a 
Mason, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Republican. George 
W. remained at home on the farm until he was about thirty years of age. He was 
married in November, 1851, to Miss Sarah A. Castle, of Cass County, Ind. After 
marriage, they moved to New Waverly, Cass Co., Ind., where he engaged in the 
mercantile business, remaining there about four years, then moved to Kentlaud in 
1866, where he has lived ever since, and has been engaged in merchandising, at 
which he has been quite successful and has acquired a valuable property. These 
parents have had four children, viz., Carrie D., Schuyler, Maud J. and Levanche 
M. ; Schuyler died in 1863, aged about one year; Miss Carrie D. has been a teacher 
in the county for three years; she has taught in the Kentland Public Schools the 
past 3'ear, and was re-elected for the coming year before the school closed. Both 
parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican, also a mem- 
ber of Damon Lodge, K. of P., No. 72, Kentland. 

THADDEUS S. BRECOUNT, farmer and stock-trader, was born January 18, 
1837, in Champaign County, Ohio, and is a son of Solomon G. and Joanna (Robin- 
son) Brecount, natives of Ohio. The father died in 1870, aged sixty. He was Com- 
mis.sioner of his county for six, and Justice of the Peace of his township for twenty 
years, and was a Repul)lican. The mother died in 1838, aged thirty-five years. 
During the French and Indian war, two little boj^s were captured by the French. 
They could not or would not give any name that could be understood by the French, 
who named the one Brecount, the other Decamp. It is said the Brecounts are 
descendants of the prisoner boy. Thaddeus S. Brecount had a good education, 
besides the advantages of several terms at the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. 
His minor years were spent on the farm, but in 1858 he settled on the Iroquois River, 
at that time without a house south or southwest for twenty- five miles. The house 
on the Sears farm was the only one between where he lived and Pine Creek. His 
next move was to improve his farm five miles northeast of Kentland, now a well- 
stocked place containing 240 acres. June 19, 1860, he mai-ried Miss Nancy Jane, 
daughter of Hugh F. and Nancy Warren, old pioneers of this county, now living in 
Cherokee County, Iowa. After marriage, they took the train at Kentland for the 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 717 

East, Mrs. Brecounl beinj? tlie first lady passensjcr on the new railroad. To them 
were born four children — Alice G., Ada T., Solomon (i. and Warren H. Miss Alice 
is a graduate of the Kentland Public School, has a reputation as a teacher also, and 
will teach the coming year. Mr. Brecouiit has been County Commissioner six 
years, and is a Rei)ublican. 

GEORGE M. BRIDGEMAN was born March 18, 1847. in Irotiuois County, 111.; 
is the second in a family of eigiit, and is a son of Levi and Mary J. (Brown) Bridge- 
man, who reside eight miles north of Kentland, and are well known as old settlers of 
thi'i county. George had poor educational advantages. Eight days before he was 
seventeen years of age, March, ls()4, lie enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. De Hart. He was 
in the battles of Chickamauga, Franklin, Nashville. Columbia, and in the Atlanta 
campaign. March 9. 1H().5, at tiie l)attle of Kingston. N. C. he received a gunshot 
wound in the right elbow joint, al.so one less serious in the left elbow. He then 
walked back a mile to the field hospital for treatment, carrying his right ann, which 
was still attached, with iiis left h;ind. He arrived there one hour after he received 
the shots. On arriving, he found the surgeons at work in their quarters, and a 
wagon load of arms and legs outside that had been amputated. As they had poor 
accommodations, he sat down by an oak tree, and there awaited his turn until 
11 o'clock that night, at which time his arm was amputated. From loss of 
blofxl, exhaustion and effects of aniesthetics, he did not return to consciousness for 
twelve hours. He remained there five days, and was hauled by ambulance five 
miles over a corduroy road to the railroad. On this trip he was compelled to rest 
his bod)' on his left elbow to prevent jarring the stump. The rough road 
and the position caused him to be in a perspiration on his arrival. He there 
took passage on a box car thirty-five miles over a terribly rough road to 
New Berne, N. C, where he was well cared for. "That hospital to me," says 
Mr. B., "seemed as much like heaven as anything I can ever expect. It was 
lighted at night, and everybody seemed anxious and willing to do for my com- 
fort, in favorable contrast to what I had experienced." After six weeks, he was 
taken to McDougal Hospital, New York, where he remained until discharged. He 
arrived at home in time to celebrate "the glorious Fourth." The following March 9, 
it became necessary to re-amputate the stump. This wound yet gives Mr. B. much 
trouble and discomfort. Some nights the pain compels him to constantly shift 
positions. Before losing his arm. he weighed IfiT, and now 135, pounds. He 
attended college at Westficld, 111., one year, taught one term, farmed, carried mail, 
herded cattle, etc., until 1878, when he was elected Recorder of Newton County, 
which office expires April, 1884. He was married. March !), 1873. to Miss Ada Ben- 
nett, of Clark County, 111., and has one child, Clarence. Mr. B. is a comrade of 
McHoUand Post, G. A. R., also a member of the M. E. Church. He is well located 
in West Kentland; owns a comfortable house and seven acres of land. He is a 
Republican. 

HENRY CARSON (deceased) was born April 23, 1838, in Prussia, and came to 
this country with a sister, who married Chri.stopher Fehrl, of Goodland, Ind. He 
landed at Castle Garde n. N. Y.. niter six weeks' voyage, June, 18,55; thence he 
went to Warren County, Ohio, where he worked eight years at farming for Jesse 
and Robert Corwin, brothers of Hon. Tom Corwin. He was married, in February, 
1H(HI to Charlotte Carpron, also of Prussia; after which he worked for Jesse 
Corwin two years. In February. lHr»2, they came to Newton C'ounty, and settled 
on a farm four nulcs north of Goodland, and remained three years. Four j'ears 
later, he bought the farm on which his family now resides, four miles nortliea.st of 
Keiitl.ind. He improved this place of 180 acres, and it is a very pleasant home. 
He died. November 17. 1874, of cancer. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, 



(18 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and a Democrat, and the parent of six children — Frank A., Andrew A., Chris- 
tina, Henry, Emma E. and Johnnie W. (deceased). Mrs. Carson is a member of 
the Lutheran Church. Mucli credit is due to Mrs. Carson for her ^ood rearing of 
her family in the absence of tlie natural protector. 

JOHN B. CHESEBROUGH was born in Decatur, Otsego Co., K Y., July 12, 
1835. His parents moved from Albany to Otsego County after their marriage, thence 
to Oneida County, N. Y., in 1837. John B. was educated in the seminary at 
Whitesboro, N. Y. At the age of twelve years, he was Captain and part owner 
of the canal boat " D. C. Balis." He was in this business about two years. He 
then went to California as one of the company equipped by A. J. Kent at Oriskany, 
N. Y., in 1849. On arrival of the company in California, they repaired to the mining 
districts. There the company engaged in mining for about six weeks, when they 
disbanded and divided their stocks. J. B. Chesebrough and W. R. Fowler returned 
to Sacramento City, and engaged in wholesale grocery business, the firm being styled 
W. R. Fowler & Co. After continuing in business about eighteen months, A. J. 
Kent arrived in California and engaged in business with the firm, the firm name then 
changing to Kent, Fowler & Co. After six or eight months, they were burned out, 
and sustained a loss of $150,000, no insurance. But they built again and continued 
the business for about two years. About this time, Chesebrough & Kent bouglit the 
bark Anna "Welsh, Capt. Rider. J. B. Chesebrougli engaged as supercargo, and 
engaged in trade between San Francisco and China. The first trip the vessel made 
to China, on its return brought the first Chinese that ever came to America as a col- 
ony. While engaged in the business, Mr. C. visited the ports of Hong Kung, 
Whampoa, Canton and Shanghai. The firm sold their vessel to a mandarin, and Mr. 
C. returned to New York, where he remained about one year, and then came West 
with A. J. Kent to locate lands, after which he went back to New York. He finally 
came to Indiana in 1855, and engaged in business with Mr. Kent, farming and stock- 
raising, where he has remained ever since. The past seventeen years he has been 
engaged in merchandising. In the fire of 1870, he was burned out — loss $13,000, time 
twenty minutes, insurance none. At the time of the fire, Mr. C. was engaged in 
business for himself. After the fire, he built a brick store and engaged again in 
business. After remaining two years in business, he sold out to A. J. Kent, but con- 
tinued manager of his business to the time of Mr. K.'s death. Since, he has been 
manager of the mercantile business of the firm of John A. Kent & Co. In 1857, he 
was married to Miss Allie Hogle, of Genesee County, N. Y. They were married at 
Iroquois, 111., since which time they have been residents of Newton County. Mrs. 
C. has been a member of the Presbyterian Cliurch for many years. They have four 
children — Clara L., George K., Nora L. and Rosamond. Clara L. was married to 
R. S. Coppock in 1880. They now reside at Logansport, Ind. In 1856, Mr. C. was 
elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held eight successive years, and after- 
ward was elected Township Trustee, which he held tliree successive terms. He was 
Treasurer of the Kentland School Board for several years. In politics, he is a Dem- 
ocrat. He is a Knight Templar of St. John's Commandery, Logansport, Ind. 

FRANK A. COULOMBE, farmer, was born November 18, 1858, in Iroquois 
County, 111., and is a son of Frank X. and Mary B. (Besse) Coulombe, both natives 
of Canada, whence the father came to Kankakee County, III., commenced black - 
smithing, and married. From 1854 to 1859, he kept shop at L'Erable, HI., 
tlience going to Danville, 111. His first wife died in 1859, by whom he had two chil- 
dren, Cornelia and Frank A. The former married, April, 1877, Joseph Gerard, of 
St. Anne, 111. They have one child, Walter. Mr. C. marrieo in 1860 Miss Mary Du- 
rand, of Iroquois County, 111.; they had two children— Benjamin F. and Nellie E. 
Mr. Coulombe was overseer in a saw mill at Danville, 111., where he died in 1861, 
from an accident. Frank A., after his father's death, went to his grandfather, Louis 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND .IKITERSON TOWNSFHP— NEWTON COUNTY. 719 

Besse, who lives north of Kaiikaki'c, and attended school, and later worked on the 
farm until IHTS, when he worked at harness-inakinf? for near three years, part of the 
time in Iventland. In 187(5, he began to work on the farm for Mrs. O. M. West. He 
has been there since, working and overseeing the farm. In IST"), he could not speak 
English. He is a great reader, attentive student, and now speaks fluently. His con- 
tinuing so long in one position speaks well for his earnest work and good manage- 
ment. He is now farming 100 acres with good prospects. Mr. C. is a Republican. 

MARTIN CRAWN, farmer, was born December 24, 1837, in Darke County, 
Oliio, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Smith) Crawn, both of Ohio. The fa- 
ther died in 1853, aged sixty-si\, the mother April, 1875, aged seventy-two. These 
parents had eleven children, four of whom are living, viz., Hester Haney, Elizabeth 
(wife of Daniel A. Pfrimmer), Nancy Nimrod and our subject. Martin's l)oyhood 
w.'is spent on the farm in Darke County, whence he came with his parents to New- 
ton County, Ind., in 1843. He was married, January 1, 18,54, to Phebe Sutton, of 
Newton County, Ind. After marriage, he settled on a farm on Section 8, Jeflferson 
Township, where he owned 130 acres and commenced farming. He now owns 300 
acresof improved land, three miles north of Kentland. He is respected as a pioneer, 
having been in this county forty years, and at present is the oldest resident. He has 
had six children— Mary E., Francies M., Daniel J., William David, Charlie 
E. and Tunis R. Mary E. died October 8, 1855, aged eight months; Francies M. 
died October 6, 1876, aged twenty years; Charlie E. died December 15, 1872, aged 
two years; Tunis R. died March 28, 1880, aged five years. Mrs. Crawn is a member 
of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. C. is a Democrat. 

Q. A. CUMMINGS was born .July 31, 1840, in Lancaster County, Penn., and is 
a son of William and Jane C. (Kennedy) Cummings. When our subject was eleven 
years old, he moved with his parents from Pennsylvania to La Salle County, 111., 
where he spent his boyhood days until the war, when he enlisted in the Thirty-sixth 
Illinois Regiment August 17, 1861, at Newark, and was ordered into camp at Aurora 
September 34, when the regiment was sent to Quincy, and thence to St. Louis; at 
the latter place they drew arms, and were sent to Rolla, Mo. There the real soldier- 
ing commenced, under that old drill master of the Thirty-sixth Illinois, Col. Nich- 
olas Greusel. From this time until discharged on expiration of service, he saw 
pretty rough times. From August, 1863, till spring of 1864, was under Sheridan, 
and to be under him meant business; he was in the fight at Pea Ridge, and fought 
with Sigel; from this department was ordered to Corinth, Miss., to watch Beaure- 
gard; "we watched day and niglit, and when the rebel General left, Halleck's grand 
army followed sixteen and one-half miles; would have gone furtiier but it was ber- 
ry season, and we stopped to gather them. Thence we were sent, under Sheridan, 
to Cincinnati, to check Gen. Ivirby Smith; thence were ordered to Louisville, Ky. 
We left Louisville, under Gen. Buell. after Gen. Bragg." He was in the battle of 
Perryville, and under Rosecrans at Stone River and Chickamauga; under Grant at 
Mission Ridge; under Sherman at Resaca, Adairsville, New Hope, Kenesaw Mount- 
ain, Peach Tree Creek and Jonesboro. He resumed farming in Grundy County, 
111., in 1867; in 1876, moved to his farm in Newton County. In connection with 
farming, he is engaged in breeding Poland-China recorded swine. 

JOHN G. DAVIS. Clerk of Circuit Court Newton County, was born in Miami 
County, Ohio, March 24, 1854. He is the eldest in a family of eight; he attended 
the public school at Pleasant Hill. Ohio, until January, 18)57, at which time he 
entered business as editor and pul)lisher of the Clironicle, jiuitlished at Pleasant 
Hill, Ohio, in which he continued until the spring of 18(58, when he came with his 
parents to Newton County, Ind., where they engaged in the nursery and farming 
business; he was employed from 18(59 to 1871 in tlie nursery and traveling for the 
sale of fruit trees; from 1871 to 1873, he was engaged in farming; in March, 1873, he 



720 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

came into the Clerk's office, as Deputy under Andrew Hall (elsewhere mentioned), 
which position he held until 1876, when W. W. Gilman took the office as Clerk, and 
appointed Mr. Davis his Deputy. Mr. Gilman did not attend the office in person, 
but left the work to his Deputy. In July, 1878, Mr. Davis received the nomination 
for Clerk at the hands of the Republicans by acclamation, he having no opposition 
in the convention. He was elected the following October, being one of the two 
Republicans elected at that time in the county. In 1883, he was re-nominated by 
acclamation, and was elected by a handsome majority; his second term of office 
will expire in April, 1886. Mr. Davis was married, January 1, 1876, to Miss AUie 
M., daughter of John and Adeline Ade, favorably known as pioneer settlers of New- 
ton County. They have one child — William Harry. Both parents have been con- 
sistent members of the M. E. Church since childhood. Mr. Davis is a member of the 
K. of P., and in politics a Republican. 

JAMES DORN, City Marshal, Kentland, is a native of Kilkenny County, Ire- 
land, born August 24, 1844, and came with his parents to America in 1848. After 
remaining in New York, New Jersey and Ohio during three years, they moved to 
Branch County, Mich., wliere they engaged in farming and railroading. The 
parents are still living in that State. Schools were three miles distant, and James 
had poor school advantages, besides having to help his father. August 24, 1863, he 
enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Michigan Regiment Volunteer Infantry, and was 
mustered in at Detroit; went to Louisville, thence to Nashville, where he had 
measles and took cold, from which effects he yet suffers. He took part in battles of 
Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and in the Atlanta campaign. He was 
one of one hundred and forty who guarded the military prison in Chattanooga — 
1864-65 — where they were mustered out. Returning to Michigan, he engaged in 
railroading and farming a year, then got a position as track foreman, then breaking 
oq a construction train, and later freight brakeman; he next moved to Milford, 111., 
where he was conductor on a construction train. These promotions were from 
James Lumsden, who secured him a position on the Pan Handle. His famil}' have 
lived in Kentland since 1873. Mr. Dorn was track foreman on the last-named road 
when elected to his pi'esent position last May. In 1869, he married Bridget Mackin, 
of Ireland. They have six children— Edmund B., Mary, Kate, John, Egmett ;md 
Charley. Both parents are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Dorn is a Na- 
tional in politics, and member of the McHolland Post, G. A. R. 

WARREN T. DRAKE, farmer, was born March 20, 1842, in Hamilton County, 
Ohio, and is a son of Theodore and Sarah (Williams) Drake, natives of Ohio, and 
now living in Kentland, the former aged sixty-eight, the latter fifty-nine; both are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. They have had eight children, seven of 
whom are living. Mr. Drake is a Democrat, and came from Ohio in 1871. Warren 
attended Babbitt's Academy several terms, in addition to the common school, and 
worked on the farm until his nineteenth year, when he went, as teamster, to West 
Virginia and Kentucky, but came home dangerously sick in 1862. Afterward he 
enlisted, in September, 1862, in Company B, Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer 
Cavalry, Col. Gerrard. Their first engagement was Dutton Hill, Ky., where they 
remained until the fall of 1863, when they crossed to East Tennessee and captured 
the rebel forces at Cumberland Gap. In this adventure he lost all his clothes and 
baggage, and was never so frightened as at Rogersville, as, in imagination, he could 
see into Andersonville. At Knoxville, during the siege, he lived on parched corn 
for one week. By order of Gen. Burnside, they killed 800 horses, in order to save 
the corn for the men. After the siege was raised, they joined Sherman at Resaca, 
and took part in the Atlanta campaign, when Sherman started for the sea and Scho- 
field for Gen. Hood. The regiment took part at Franlilin and Nashville, where 
Hood's army was captured and almost annihilated, and were then ordered to join 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTV. 721 

Sherman at Goldsboro. N. C. Mr. D. served three years without being wounded, 
and was sick three months, but did not leave the command, lie was at the surren- 
der of Joseph E. Johnston near Raleigh, and was mustered out at Nashville, 
through General Order 88, June ;W, 186"). Mr. D. is well satisfied with his army 
record, but not anxious to make another. December 14, 1865, lie married Miss 
Mattie, daughter of Rev. Henry and Sarah Wright, of Cincinnati. Miss Lizzie, a 
sister, was married to Lieut. Joseph Hayden, of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, at the 
same time. Rev. R. B. Herron ofHciating. Mrs. Drake taught si.x years in Hamilton 
County. Ohio, and was First Assistant in the Cummingsville Graded School for three 
years. Her sister Lizzie had also taught four years. "When tlie war was over," 
these ladies resigned their positions and took others, " for better or^ worse," as sol- 
diers' wives. Mr. and Mrs. D. are parents of three children — Frederick W., Clara 
L. and Anna E. Mrs. D. is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. D. is a 
Democrat and prosperous farmer. They came to tliis county in 1869, lived in Kent- 
land three j^ears, then moved to their present residence, three miles west of the town. 
It then was wild land, but is now a beautiful and improved home of 120 acres. 

WILLI AJM F. J. EDWARDS, teacher, was born June 11. 1843, in Bartholomew 
County, Ind.. and is a son of James and Sarah (Edmondson-Chenoweth) Edwards, 
both natives of Kentucky. The former died in August, 1854, in his fiftieth year^ 
he was an official member of the Christian Church, his wife also being a member. 
They had five children, four of whom are living — Arthur L., James H., Mary A. 
and William F. J. The two former are preachers in said church. The mother died 
in her sixty-sixth year in August, 1878. AVilliam came with his parents to Clinton 
County, Ind., in 1845, and to White County in 1852. His early school advantages 
were limited, but by close application he procured a license to teach at the age of 
twenty-four. For two years he was engaged in going to school and teaching, then 
farmed for three }'ears, when, being called again to teaching, he abandoned farm- 
ing and prepared himself therefor. During this interval, he had attended the Bur- 
nettsville High School and Northern Indiana Normal and Business Institute at 
Valparaiso, Ind. He joined Kentland Lodge, I. O. O. F.. in 1882; he is a Repub- 
lican, and in 1876 received the nomination for Surveyor of White County. He was 
elected by a handsome majority, and during that year was Principal and Superin- 
tendent of the Burnettsville High School. He has been a teacher for six years in 
Jefiferson Township, and in 1882 taught in Iroquois County, 111. Mr. E. is very suc- 
cessful, and wiis chosen, in 1882, to assist in the County Normal; will also assist the 
present year. In April, 1869. he married Miss Emma Gates, of Perry County, Ohio, 
who died in March, 1870, leaving a child two weeks old, which also died. He was 
next married, December 25, 1872, to Miss Terrissa E. Wolf, of White County, a na- 
tive of Athens Coimty. Ohio. Siie had twelve years' experience inteaciiing. having 
taught in the graded school of Kentland, in the Primary Department at Burnetts- 
ville in 1876, and the following year had charge of the Reynolds Public School. 
She has also been eminently successfid in her work. She was formerly a Baptist, 
having a brother, William L., a minister, but now she and husband are both mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. E. are among the progi'essive teachers 
of Newton County, and have lately been elected Principal and Gramnuir School 
teacher in the Walcott (iraded School. 

WILLIAM H. FERGUSON, farmer, was born in La Salle County. 111., Febru- 
ary 27, 1846. He is the .son of John and Elspit (Moir) Ferguson, l)oth natives of 
Scotland. The former died in 1857, aged fifty-two ; the latter is still living in La 
Salle (bounty, aged st-venty-seven. Tliey c;ime to this country in IHHS. settled in La 
Salle County, and had eleven children, six of whom survive. William H. Ferguson 
attended Mendota College two years, after he was of age. and taught subsequently 
one year, then went to farming in Ford C'ounty, 111., for two years, thence to Jasper 



722 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

County, Ind., where he farmed four years, and thence to Newton County, where he 
now resides. His residence was burned in 1878, with some insurance. He now 
owns 160 acres of valuable land, well improved and situated three miles southeast 
of Kentland. February 33, 1873, Mr. F. married Miss Laura E. Smith, of La Salle 
County, 111. They have five children — RoUie, Harry, Arthur, Grade and Charles L. 
The last two are with their grandma in Illinois. Mr. Ferguson is a Republican. 
January, 1883, he took his wife to California for her health, she being consumptive. 
This effort was in vain, as she died March 5, 1883, at Santa Cruz, Cal., where by 
her request she was buried. 

THOMAS M. FERGUSON, farmer, was born October 30, 1847. in La Salle 
County, 111. His educational advantages were those of "ye olden time." His 
father died when he was nine years of age, and he remained at home until he was 
eighteen, when he went to Livingston County, 111., and worked by the month, then 
returned to La Salle County and worked for his brother two and one-half years. 
He then procured a team and broke prairie in Livingston County one year. Later, 
he rented a farm for a year, after which he returned and farmed three years, his 
mother and sister keeping house. He finally came to Newton County, where he is 
now located, and lived in a shanty 13x14, now used as a kitchen. He improved his 
farm, has now 160 acres of fine land, is engaged in farming, stock-raising and ship- 
ping and is classed among the well-to-do farmers of the county. He was married, 
February 30, 1874, to Miss Adda M. Lamson, a successful public school teacher of 
Illinois of seven years' standing. One child cements their union — Bennie Ray. Mr. 
F. is a member of Kentland Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a Republican. 

JOHN FISHER, retired farmer, was born April 33, 1833, in Sultz County, Al- 
sace, France, and is a son of George and Mary A. (Rosner) Fisher, both natives of 
Alsace. They came to America in 1843, landing in New York after a voyage of 
thirty-seven days. Thence they moved to Louisville, Ky., where the father died 
in August and the mother in September, 1845, and were buried in the Catholic Cem- 
etery; the former was fifty eight and the latter sixty- three years old. George 
Fisher drew a pension while in France, having been a soldier under Napoleon, and 
wounded at the battle of Leipsic. John was eleven years old when he came here. 
From his sixth to eleventh year, he attended school and studied the French and 
German languages. He went to school in Louisville one year before his parents 
died, when he began working for himself, in a bagging factory. The first year his 
wages were $3 per week, the second year $3 and the third $4. From this he went 
to learn his trade, stove molding, at which he continued to work four years, and 
then went as a farm hand in Dubois County, Ind., at $10 per month. He continued 
two years, when he married, May 27, 1856, Veronica Erb, only child of Joseph 
and Anna (Schwab) Erb, of Dubois County, formerly of Baden, Germany. From that 
date he has been farming for himself. In 1869, Mr. F. , his wife and her parents came 
to Benton County and settled two and one-half miles northeast of Earl Park,|where 
he and wife own 120 acres of well improved land. Removed to Kentland in Febru- 
ary, 1883. His father-in-law Erb lives with him, aged eighty, Mrs. Erb having died 
in July, 1877, aged seventy-eight. Mr. Erb and Mr. Fisher are Democrats, and all 
are Catholics. 

DAVIt) S. FLETCHER was born November 30, 1850, in Huntington County, 
Ind., and is the son of George and Jane E. (Binkley) Fletcher, the former a native 
of Virginia, the latter of Ohio. The father died at Lancaster, Ind., in 1865; he was 
by trade a potter, and a Republican politically. His widow resides in Huntington 
County, aged sixty-six, a member of the German Baptist Church. Both parents were 
of German descent. David S. had poor school avantages. His father's death necessi- 
tating help at home, lie worked at farming until he was eighteen, when he served 
three years to fax'm implement making and general blacksmithing, after which he 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY 723 

commenced for himself at Van Buren, Ind. He was in partnership with Elisha 
Ford, the firm being Ford & Fletcher. After several years, Mr. F. sold to Mr. 
Ford and went into business at Marion. Ind., and sub.sequently at Kentland, where 
he has been for ten 3-ears. He then went into partnership with Mr. lloober, the 
firm being Hoober «& Fletcher. The}' are now having a run on the Gopher Plow, 
and have built more than 050. which have been sent to different points in Indiana 
and Illinois, the demand having exceeded the supply. May 6, 18(54, Mr. F. mar- 
ried Mi.ss Elizabeth C"., daughter of John H. and Catharine Hoober. These parents 
have two children— Cloyd H. and Myrtle V. Mrs. F. belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. F. is a member of Damon Lodge, K. of P., No. 72, also of 
No. 396. I. 0. O F., Kentland. 

CHARLES FRANKEXBERGER, furniture dealer and undertaker, Kentland, 
was born in York County, Penn., February 23, 1828, and is a son of Thomas and 
Sarah (Phillips) Frankenberger, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of 
M aryland. They had seven children, three of whom are living. Both were members 
of the M. E. Church, and moved to Indiana in 1836. He died in 1839. The father 
was a mechanic in earh' life, and later a farmer. His wife died in La Fayette about 
18r)6. She was in Baltimore when Gen. Ross landed below tlie fort, intending to 
attack and burn the city. He had been to Washington not long before, and was 
closely pursued and somewhat demoralized. His observation was, " I will sup in 
Baltimore or in hell this eve." He did not sup in Baltimore, for he was killed; but 
wiiere he supped we leave the reader to judge. Charles F. had the educational 
advantages of that day. Farming and carpentering were his occupations until he 
enlisted, in the fall of 1863, in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regi- 
ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Dick De Hart. The regiment's first 
move was to Charleston, Tenn., thence to Dalton; the first battle, "Buzzard's 
Roost." Subsequentl}', they took part in the Atlanta campaign, and afterward 
went to Nashville, thence to Pulaski, thence to Franklin, and thence to Nashville. 
Mr. F. left the regiment on account of sickness, and was sent to the field hospital, 
thence to Nashville, and thence to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., whence he was dis- 
charged after the surrender of Lee. He then returned to his farm of 200 acres in 
Newton County, which he had improved before enlisting. He came to this county 
in 1851, and, in 1866, was elected Sheriff of the county by an overwhelming ma- 
jority. He held this office two years, since which he has been successfully engaged 
in his present business. Mr. F. was married, January 3, 18.50, to Mi.ss Mary E. 
Parks, of Montgomery County, Ind. They have seven children— Susan A., Sarah 
E., Alice A., Willie (died in 1857, aged three years), Dora, Eva and Charles. Both 
parents are members of the M. E. Church, in which Mr. F. has held an official 
relation for many years. He is a member of Lodge No. 396, I. O. O. F., also of 
McHoIland Post, G. A. R. His store is the only one of the kind in Kentland, and 
he has a successful l)usin(iss. In politics, he is Repul)lican. 

JOHN FRENCH was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, July 4, 1832, and is the 
fifth in the family of ten children, all of whom are living, of William R. and Judith 
(Crew) French, the former a native of New York, the latter of Virginia. The 
father was a farmer, and lived to the age of sixty-three years; his wife died in her 
fifty-eighth year. They were buried in Columbiana County, Ohio. John, the subject 
of this sketch, is one of the editors of the Kentland Gazette. Previous to the war, 
he was engaged in carpentering. In 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Fifty-fourth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Since the war, he has been engaged in farming in 
Newton County, Ind., and since 1867 has been a partner in the above-mentioned 
paper. In politics, he is a Rejiublican, and has been a member of the M. E. Church 
about twenty-five years, also of the A., F. & A. M. Lodge, No. 162. Morocco, Ind. 
He has been twice married, first to Mi.ss Harriet Conner, of Jennings County, Ind.; 



724 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

she died in February, 1881, a member of the M. E. Church since her fifteenth year. 
She left five children, all of whom are living — Leanna, William I., Carrie B., 
Jessie F. and Luella. May 31, 1882, Mr. F. married Mrs. E. S. Conner, of Indian- 
apolis, Ind. She has one child living, by her first husband, Bertha. Leanna was 
married, in 1875, to Rev. A. W. Wood, of the Northwest Indiana Conference. 
William I. was married in June, 1881, to Miss Flora Thayer, of Kentland, Ind. 

JOSEPH J. GARDNER, miller, was born August 20, 1838, in Morgan County, 
Va. His parents are John P. and Martha E. (Higgins) Gardner, both natives of 
Virginia; the former died in 1867, aged fifty-five; was a miller, a member of the 
Presbj'terian Church, and a Democrat. The mother is living in White County^ 
Ind., aged sixty-eight; she also is a member of the Presbyterian Church. They 
had eleven children, nine of whom are living. Joseph J. had good advantages, 
having attended school and worked in his father's mill until he was twenty-five 
years of age, and he is a practical miller. He came with his parents in 1860, and 
settled in Monticello, White Co., Ind., where he remained ten years, after which he 
went to Logansport for two years, subsequently returning to Monticello, later to 
Monon, and thence to Kentland in 1875, whel-e he has charge of the Kentland Mill. 
There is, perhaps, no better custom mill than the one he represents in Kentland. In 
1863, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Dr. M. H. and Lucinda Mitchison, of 
Lyons County, Ky. They have seven children— John M., Frank C, Effle L., Mar- 
tha L. (deceased), Joseph F., Roy P. and Earl K. Both parents are members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Gardner of Damon Lodge, No. 72, K. of P. ; he is 
also a Democrat. 

SIMEON B. GILLETT, farmer, was born March 25, 1828, in Hartford, Conn. 
His parents were Gideon and Ruth (Goddard) Gillett, both of Connecticut. The 
father died in 1866, aged eighty-five; the mother in 1849, aged fifty-two. Both were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father was a farmer, and moved 
to La Salle County, 111., in 1833; in politics, he was a Democrat. These parents 
had nine children, only five of whom are now living. Simeon came with his par- 
ents to Illinois at the age of four years. At that time schools were of a very in- 
ferior kind, but by his own exertions he has acquired quite a good business education. 
He came to Newton County in 1869, and settled on a farm of 280 acres in Section 
35. It was then wild land; it is now well improved, and a very valuable property, 
and is nicely located five miles southwest of Kentland. Mr. Gillett has been very 
successful in business, and is numbered among the progressive, respected farmers 
of Newton County. He was married, April 5, 1850, to Margaret E. Baker, of New 
York. They have had six children— Sidney J., Mary D., Cynthia L., David F., Edward 
H. and Margaret N. ; Edward H. died May 8, 1873, aged seven years. Mary D. was 
married March 10, 1871, to John O. Worsley, of Illinois; they have had four chil- 
dren—Alfred v., Allen, Arthur and Cora E. ; Arthur died in 1879, aged two years. 
Cynthia L. was married March 19, 1872, to L. J. Worsley, of Illinois; they have one 
child — Frederick L. Daniel F. was married February 23, 1875, to Caroline Cooper; 
the children were Burton, Harley and Winona; Harley died in 1879, Winona in 
1882; the age of each was about two years. Sidney J. was married to Jessie Mc- 
Call, of Gait, Canada, August 20, 1878; one child— Linna N.— has blessed this 
union. Mrs. Margaret Gillett died January 10. 1872, aged forty-two. January 29, 
1873, Mr. Gillett married Mrs. (Moore-Beam) Clark, of this county. These parent 
had one child— William Lynn— who died July 31, 1876, aged two years. Mrs. B. 
C. Gillett came to this county in October, 1852. She was married to John Beam, of 
Pennsylvania. September 12, 1861; he died November 9, 1861, aged twenty-six. She 
was next married to Amos Clark, of this county; he died December 11, 1871, aged 
sixty-eight; one child, Lillie May, was born to them, but died in infancy. Mrs. 
Gillett, although not an old lady, may be classed amon^ the older settlers of the 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSIl 11'— NEWTON COUNTY. 725 

county. She came here in her twelfth year, 1852, with her parents, and has been a 
resident of the county ever since. She livL-d here when the nearest neighbor on the 
south was Carey M. Eastburn, of Pine Creek; La Fayette tlien was the nearest point 
for trade. In politics, Mr. Gillett is a Greenbacker. 

GILBERT GOFF, merchant, was born in Manchester, N. H., July 28, 1828; his 
parents were Stephen and Mary T. (Cutler) Goff, both natives of New Hampshire. His 
father died in 1836 at the age of thirty-three. His mother is now living at the home 
farm in New Hampshire at the advanced age of eighty. These parents had five 
children, three of whom are now living. Gilbert, the subject of this sketch, lal)()red 
on the farm until he was twenty-five years of age, and then came West and located 
at Ottawa, 111., and engaged in merchandising for fourteen years. In 1869, he came 
to Kentland and opened a dry goods store, and has continued in that business ever 
since. In the Kentland fire of April 5, 1883, his entire store and household goods 
were consumed; insurance, $6,500. April 12, he moved into the Kent Block wilii an 
entire new stock of goods, where he is now selling to a very large and increasing 
trade. He has now the largest stock of dry goods of any firm in the county. He 
was married, June 23, 1853, to Miss Susan E. Post, of Spencer, Tioga County, N. 
Y. These parents have two children— Edward M. and George P. Mrs. S. E. 
Goff died January 27, 1883, aged fifty-two years. Mr. Goff is a member of Occi- 
dental Lodge, No. 40, F. & A. M., Ottawa. III.; he is also a member of Kentland 
Chapter, No. 89. In politics, he is a Republican. 

ABRAHAM HALLECK was l)oru November 15. 1861, in Kankakee County, 
111., and is a son of James and Mary Ilalleck. Abraham had the school advantages 
offered by Lake Township, Newton County, and what they lacked he made up by 
love for books and zeal in study. He worked on the farm and began attending the 
Central Normal School at Danville, Ind., in 1879, from which he graduated in the 
scientific course in 1880, the youngest in a class of seventeen, and had the honor of 
being the alumni speaker at the commencement in 1882. He has been a teacher since 
he was seventeen years of age, and has a most creditable record. The coming year, 
he will teach in this county. He began the study of law in 1882, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1883 and has been in the law office of Judge Ward in Kentland for six 
months; he is a Republican, and represented Lake Township in the county conven- 
tion. 

THEODORE H. HARNISH. photographer, was born June 23, 1856, in Adams 
County, Penn., and is the son of Simon and Margaret A. (Shriner) Harnish, the for- 
mer a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Maryland. They are both living near 
Gettysburg, Penn., the father aged fifty-eight, the mother fifty-two. They had eight 
children, six of whom are living— William F. P. Harnish, a photographer; their 
fourth child died in Milford. III., September, 18S1; the others are Amanda L., Clin- 
ton S.. Charles S., Harry W.. Oliver P. and Aberilla(deceaseil). The father is a 
Democrat and amend)erof the German Reformed, the mother of the United Brethren 
Church. Theodore had good educational advantages until he was sixteen, being oc- 
cupied in attending school and .selling goods. For the next four years, lie was in several 
localities, clerking and harness-making. He came to Kentland in 1874, and except 
two years has been here since; he is now lo';ated in the two story brick on the west 
side of Third street, has a beautiful gallery, and is amply i)repared for doing first- 
class work. He has a good trade, does good work and has the only establishment 
in the county. Mr. H. was married. September 21, 1879, to Miss Idella Self, of 
Franklin County, Ohio. One child has blessed this union, Harley Hamlin. Mr. H. 
is a Democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal and Mrs. H. of the Christian 
Church. 

BARNETT HAWKINS, carpenter and builder x.is born December 9, 1838, 
in Dutchess County, N. Y. He is the .son of Edgar . 1 Lydia M. (Ward) Hawkins, 



726 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the former a native of New York, the latter of the Isle of Nantucket. These par- 
ents had six children, five of whom are now living. The father died in February, 
1863, at the age of fifty-two. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and in politics a Republican. The mother is still living in Goodland, Ind., and has 
married Philip Earl. She is seventy-six years of age, and is one of the pioneer 
Methodists. Barnett Hawkins, the subject of this sketch, had only moderate edu- 
cational advantages. He came West with his parents in 1838, and settled in La 
Porte County, Ind. They moved in 1853 to a farm near Brook, Newton County, 
Ind. Mr. H. worked on a farm until he was eighteen, at which time he went to 
learu his trade and continued at that for two years. In 1854, he began working for 
himself at carpentering, and has pursued that business ever since, and is one of the 
best carpenters in the county. He served as County Surveyor for nine years, hav- 
ing been elected three times and serving an entire term as Deputy. He moved to 
Kentland in 1865, and has been living here ever since, working at his trade. He 
was married, April 25, 1858, to Miss Anna B. Jones, of Newton County. These par- 
ents have had six children — Flora, Homer E., Arthur, Frederick, Edgar and Clyde B. 
Flora died in 1861, at the age of three years; Frederick died in 1870, at the age of 
four years; the other children are living at home. The parents are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Hawkins is a Republican. 

JETHRO A. HATCH, M. D., Kentland, was born in Chenango County, N. Y., 
June 18, 1837; is the son of Jethro and Minerva (Pierce) Hatch, the former a native 
of Connecticut, the latter of New Hampshire. They had five children; all are living. 
Mr. Hatch died January, 1878, aged eighty, and Mrs. Hatch in May, 1883, aged sev- 
enty-six. He was a well-to-do farmer, and an active Republican. Both were mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church; moved to Illinois in 1847, and settled in Kane 
County, of which they were pioneers. Jethro A. Hatch had good schoohng. He 
attended the academy atBatavia, 111., for several years, and subsequently Rush Med- 
ical College at Chicago, graduating therefrom in 1860. He was the first physician 
to locate in Kentland (1861), and practiced until 1862, when he was commissioned 
Assistant Surgeon of the Thirty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry ; after- 
ward promoted to be Surgeon, and continued until the close of the war, and was 
mustered out in October, 1865. He then returned to Kentland and resumed practice. 
In the special legislative session of 1872, and in the regular session of 1873, he rep- 
resented the counties of Jasper, Pulaski and Newton. He has been chairman of 
the Republican Central Committee of his county for two years. Through his energy 
and management, to a great extent, the Republican ticket was elected the past year. 
He married (May 36, 1881) Miss Sarah, daughter of Gilbert and Margaret Shaeffer, 
of Lancaster, Ohio. One child— Darwin S., has blessed this union. The Doctor is 
W. M. of Lodge No. 361, F. & A. M., and C. H. of Chapter No. 89, Kentland, Ind. 
He is also a member of McHolland Post, No. 102, G. A. R. The Doctor's location 
is at Third and Washington streets, and he has a fine residence in the city. He is 
an experienced and successful practitioner. 

THOMAS HAYWOOD, farmer, was born May 28, 1842, in Montgomery County, 
Ind., and is the son of Henry and Martha (Sherwood) Haywood, the father a native 
of Ohio, the mother of North Carolina. The father lives in La Fayette, aged sev- 
enty. The mother died January, 1878, aged fifty-six— a member of the United 
Brethren Church. Thomas was reared in Tippecanoe County, on Shawnee Prairie. 
He enlisted July 35, 1862, in Company E, Seventy-second Regiment Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry; discharged July 6, 1865. He was in the battles of Hoover's Gap, 
Chickamauga,and, besides, many skirmishes. He never received a disabling wound, 
although once a minie ball struck and went through the stock of his gun, and scat- 
tering pieces of wood, one of which struck him in the side with such force as to 
knrc-k him down. He patched up that same Spencer rifle, carried it until the close 



TOWN OF KENTLANU ANU.IEFFEllSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 7-7 

of the war, bought it from United States for $10, and it may be seen at his liome. 
He had one severe attack of sickness, which kept him from the regiment ten days, 
— tlie only time he lost from disability during the tiiree years. He never received a 
furlough, but took a " French leave " a time or two. lie issomewlial deaf, caused by 
being too near a discharged cannon while supporting a battery. While sick, he was 
at the home of an old woman who had two sons in the rebel array. Her treatment 
was kind, but rebel bushwhackers made it a dangerous rendezvous. Soon as he 
could travel, he and a Lieutenant, also there sick, paid her .^K) — all the money they 
had. He, with 19y others, belonged to Wilder's brigade — "Wilder's hell-hounds." 
On the Okaloma raid, none of the brigade was out of the saddle for six days and 
nights (except three hours), only while they were fighting. They slept on their 
horses while riding. At the close of the six days, only ten out of the 200 had hats. 
The rest of the hats were lost while passing through the woods after night ; many 
of them were " nodded off.' Mr. Haywood made one good record as a soldier. He 
does not care to make another. He was married, March 16, 18(50, to Miss Louisa 
Smith, of Indiana. They had four children — Carrie, Phebe A. (an infant which 
died in 1871, and Johnnie, who died in July, 1874, aged nine months. Mrs. Haywood 
died April 27, 1874, at the age of thirtj'-two, a member of the United IJrethren 
Church. Mr. Haywood was next married to ^Irs. Elizabeth R. Montgomery, relict 
of William P.Montgomery. The latter died April 2'), 1871. They were married June 
9, 1882. They had four children— Ella J.. John W., Alva O. and Thomas J. Ella 
J. died February 6, 1875, at the age of twelve j-ears. Thomas J. died March .">, 1871, 
aged seven months. Mr. and Mrs. Haywood have three children — Thomas L., Mag- 
gie F. and Luella M. Mrs. (3Iontgomery)Haj'wood, came to this county from Tip- 
pecanoe, Februar}', 1864, with her husband. They settled where they now reside, 
three miles northwest of Kentland. It was then prairie .sea, now an improved farm. 
Mr. Haywood has resided here .since 1876, bought loO acres (in addition to 200 owned 
before) since he came. He still owns 100 acres in Tippecanoe Count}'. He is classed 
among the thrifty farmers of the county. Mrs. Haj'wood holds to the .Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Haywood is a member of McHolland Post, G. A. R. He 
is a Republican. 

WILLIAM II. HERSHMAX, Superintendent of the county schools, was born 
in White Countj', Ind., Jul}' 20, 18.51, and is the third of seven children born to Ja- 
cob 11. and Mary (Edmondson) Ilershman. Jacob II. Ilershman was married in 
1844, in Hamilton County, Ind. He removed to Benton County, and in lf^4y to 
White County. He is a farmer, and is now living in this count}'. He and wife 
have been members of the Methodist Epi.seopal Church since their childhood. Will- 
iam H. Ilershman received a common school education, and since his eighteenth 
year has been most of the time engaged in teaching. His second re-election as .Su- 
perintendent of County Schools, occurred in June, 18H3. As proof of the esteem in 
which he is held, at his first election he had only a majority of one ; but at the two 
subsequent elections, he received a unanimous vote. Mr. Ilershman was marri<'(l in 
1H73, to Miss Jennie Lyons, of Brook, Ind. They have had one child — AraElliel. 
Both parents are members of the .Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hershman is a 
Steward in that church. He is N. G. of Lodge 396, I. (). O. F.. at Kentland. He is 
a Republican, and a progressive citizen. His .schools rank among the best in the 
State. 

JOHN H. IIOOBER was born in Pike County, Ohio. October 27, 1829. He is 
the son of Ellrey and .Mary A. HooI)er, both natives of Virginia; the former died in 
183.J, aged forty-five, the latter in 187.'>, aged eighty. Mr. H. was by trade a cooper, 
in politics a Whig, l)Ut voted for Gen. Jackson; and had been a soldier in the war 
of 1812. Joiin H. Hoober had little schooling. He came with his parents from 
Pike County to Crawford County, Ind., in 1835, where his father died six weeks 



728 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

afterward, and his mother returned to Ross County, Ohio. From 1842 to 1847, 
John H. traveled with a blind man, and received a boy's wages. He began to learn 
his trade in 1847,from which time until the present, excepting that in the United States 
service, he has followed manufacturing farm implements and general blacksmithing. 
He enlisted in 1861 in Company C, Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 
Col. Don Piatt, as musician (solo alto) in the regimental band. He was in the 
"Morgan raid" in Ohio in 1863, and had a personal encounter with one of his men, 
in which the latter received a dangerous wound, and had his horse captured by Mr. 
H., who escaped death by the mis-discharge of the rebel's gun. In 1864, he went 
from Circleville, Ohio, in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Ohio National 
Guards, with the hundred-day men, Col. Sage. On his return, he was mustered 
out, returned to Circleville, and resumed business. From Pickaway County, Ohio, 
he moved to White County, Ind., in 1865, where he was burnt out, saving only his 
clothing and a team of horses. He then came to Kentland in 1871, and is located 
where the first building was erected. December 31, 1851, he married Miss Catherine 
Kemp, of Madison County, Ohio. They have four living children — Laura, Letitia, 
Elizabeth and Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Christian Church. 
Mr. H. is a Republican, and a member of Lodge 361, F. & A. M. Mr. Hoober is 
patentee of the " Hoosier Gopher," a cultivator made by the firm Hoober & Fletcher, 
at present in good demand, and was patented March 6, 1883. 

WORTHINGTON HUMES, farmer, was born February 6, 1844, in Hamilton 
County, Ohio,and is a son of Thomas and Eliza Humes.the latter a daughter of Israel 
and Eliza Brown. Mr. Brown was for many years District Judge, living in Hamilton 
County, Ohio. In 1844, Mr. Humes moved to Rush County, Ind., and settled 
on a farm near New Salem, where he lived thirty five years. He and wife 
were early pioneers of that county. He died December, 1879, aged sixty- 
nine; she, September, 1877, also aged sixty-nine, both members of the 
M. E. Church, their house being the preaching place and preachers' home for 
many years. Mr. Humes was a Republican of the abolition type. They had nine 
children, eight of whom are living. Worthington Humes attended school and 
worked on the farm until his eighteenth year, when he enlisted in Company I, 
Sixty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and went to Greensburg, thence 
to Indianapolis, Louisville, Bardstown and Bowling Green, where they were capt- 
ured by Bragg's forces, paroled, returned to camp at Indianapolis, and remained 
until 1863, when they were exchanged. They then went to Nashville, Murfrees- 
boro and Chattanooga, taking part in that campaign. At Chickamauga, he was 
wounded, captured and taken to Castle Thunder, and kept four months. " Tongue 
cannot express," says he, "what I suffered. I saw eighteen carried to the dead 
house at one time, the average l)eing seven a day, all from hunger. Then we were 
exchanged, and sent to hospital at Annapolis. This was heaven on earth compared 
with what we had experienced." He was furloughed. came home, and returned to 
the army in 1864. The regiment was stationed at Murfreesboro, and he did such 
duty as he was able to perform until the war was closed, and he was discharged. 
He afterward farmed in Rush County five years, and then came to Newton County, 
where lie has since followed farming successfully. He married, February 6, 1868, 
Miss Sarah E. Jones, of Rush County, Ind. They had three children— Flora, 
Charles M. and Samuel. Mrs. Humes died June 24, 1881, aged thirty-five, a member 
of the M. E. Church. Mr. Humes is a member of Newton Lodge, No. 144, F. & 
A. M., and a Republican. 

GEORGE G. JENKINS, Treasurer of Newton County, was born August 10, 
1843, in Cass County, Mich. He is the second in a family of ten, seven living. His 
education was obtained in the public schools of Michigan. On the anniversary of 
his twenty-first birthday, he enlisted in the Twelfth Regiment Michigan Volunteer 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 729 

Infantry, Company A; he went immediately to the front, where he was captured, 
taken back into the country a hundred miles and his clothes exchanged for those of 
the rebels. He was then paroled with the injunction that he was not to return to 
his regiment. He took a course due north, reaching Pilot Knob, Mo., about 
200 miles from place of starting. On reaching that place, he was destitute, being 
robbed of everything by the rebels. He had traveled on foot, subsisting on what 
could be begged from a very destitute people, even a raw turnip answering for din 
ner and supper. Before enlisting, he had invested in a pair of boots costing $9; on 
the sole of either could be found in tacks an initial of his own name. Before start- 
ing on his journey, the rebels had taken his boots for their own u.se and left him a 
pair of lady's shoes in exchange. They were so small his feet could not get into 
them. The first move was to cut them open on the top, to admit his feet; this was 
suggested by the little rebel who claimed the boots, and who, after putting them on, 
amused the bystanders by standing on one foot and with the other kicking the boot 
on that foot to a distance of about three rods. He said, " They are a little large, but 
they'll do better'n shoes." The road being rough, the shoes soon gave waj', and the 
only material accessible for repairs was his shirt, which was taken, by pieces, to tie 
around his feet to prevent the shoes from dropping at every step. Mr. J. declares 
he never went into that exchange of his own free will. From Pilot Knob, he went 
to parole camp, at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio. Here he remained until he 
was exchanged, when he returned to his regiment and continued with it until the 
war closed, since which he has been a resident of Newton County. His busniess was 
farming until October, 18H0, when he was elected Treasurer of Newton County; was 
re-elected in 1882; his present term will expire in 1884. He was married, February, 
1872, to Miss Mary J. Chrisler, of Pilot Grove, Newton County. Their children were 
named Alfred M., John, "William F. and Elbert J. Alfred M., the oldest, died in 
his fourth year. Both parents are active workers in the M. E. Church. The former 
is at present Steward and Sunday School Superintendent at Kentland. Mr. J. is"a 
comrade of the G. A. R., McHolland Post, No. 102. His re-election by a majority of 
the voters of the county is a compliment more forcible, perhaps, than anything else 
we can add. 

JOHN Z. JOHNSTON, Auditor of Newton County, was born in Mahoning 
County, Ohio, April 13, 1836. He attended the public schools and the Mahoning 
Academy, after which he taught in winter, farmed in summer and attended school 
in fall. He enlisted in Company E, Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, August, 1861. 
The regiment went to Camp Dennison, then to Western Missouri, thence to Fort Scott, 
Kan., Indian Territory and Arkansas under Gen. Blunt, in December, 1862, was re- 
turned to Ohio and remounted; subsequently into Kentucky, under Burnside, and 
was among the first to enter East Tennessee, in the summer of 1863. In January, 1864, 
Mr. J. re-enlisted; was sent to Army of the Potomac; was under Gen. Grant through 
the Wilderness; at Petersburg, in August; the Shenandoah Valley, under Sheridan, 
in Custer's division of cavalry, and all the battles of the Shenandoah campaign. 
He saw Sheridan arrive at the battle of Cedar Creek " with Sheridan twenty miles 
away," in 1865; then went across the mountains and was in the battles before the 
fall of Richmond and Petersburg. He passed througii Richmond the second day af- 
ter its fall, then started for Johnston's army, and when near the North Carolina line, 
learned that Johnston had surrendered, and then was mustered out in 186"), at St. 
Louis, having served more than four years. After returning, he graduated at East- 
man's National Business College, and was nuirried, October 24, 1S()7, to Miss Wealthy 
Kirkpalrick, of Iroquois County, III. They have liad three children, two of whom, 
Frank and Mary, are living. Both parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and Mr. J. of the Masonic fraternity, K. of L. and G. A. R., Post No. 102. He was 
a partner in the firm of Walton &, Johnston, grocers, Kentland. for two years. He 



730 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

held the office of Auditor from 1876 to 1880, and yet holds the same, having been 
elected in 1882. He is a pronounced Republican. At the last election, he had a 
majority in every township. As an earnest of the estimation in virhich Mr. J. was 
held by his predecessor, Mr. Alexander Sharp, he said, "I have never found any 
errors, his books are all right in every respect; I regard him as an honest and effi- 
cient officer, and as good an Auditor as the county ever had," and this from Mr. 
Johnston's political antagonist is all that need be added. 

EZRA B. JONES was born March 14, 1833, in Ross County, Ohio, and is the 
eldest son of Cornelius and Matilda (Minshall) Jones, natives of Ohio. The former 
died in 1858; the latter is still living near Brook, Newton County, Ind., at the age 
of seventy years. Both were members of the United Brethren Church, but she is 
now of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They came from Ross County, Ohio, in 
1856. Ezra B. had fair educational advantages in Ohio. He came to Newton 
County, Ind., in the fall of 1855, after which he taught school in winter and worked 
in summer for three years. In September, 1858, he married Miss Prudence J., 
a native of Montgomery County, daughter of Philip and Mary Earl, who came to 
this county in 1837. Mrs. Jones has lived here for forty-six years, and is one of 
the oldest inhabitants of Newton ; Count3^ Mr. Jones followed farming until the 
spring of 1872. He had been elected, in 1870, Recorder of Newton County, and in 
1872 took that office, retaining the same until April, 1880, having been re-elected in 
1874. In the fall of 1881, he engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, 
and is doing a good business. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had three children — Laura, 
Ida and Mary. Laura was a graduate of Kentland High School, class of '81 ; she 
also attended the Normal School at Valparaiso, and taught school one term. Her 
sickness dates from November, 1881, and her death occurred September 4, 1882, aged 
twenty-two years. "She was a willing worker in every good cause where the Mas- 
ter seemed to direct. We have seen her in the school room, in the temperance work, 
in the place of public worship, in the prayer circle, at the social gathering and at 
her home, and under all of these circumstances she exhibited Christian virtiK-s 
rarely possessed by one of her age." The other sisters live with their parents. Mr. 
J. is a member of Kentland Lodge, No. 396, I. O. O. F.. also with his wife is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church, and is a Republican. 

PATRICK KEEFE, groceries and hardware, Kentland, was born March 23, 
1845, in County Tipperary, Ireland. At the age of twenty, he emigrated to this 
country, and after twelve days arrived at Castle Garden, N. Y. ; then went to Black- 
ston, Mass., where he stayed a year on a farm. Pie then moved to Benton County, 
Ind., on a farm, and remained one year ; then to Kentland in 1866, where he has 
since been in business. He is senior partner in the firm of Keefe Bros., established 
in 1880, and they drive a thriving business. The great fire of 1870 swept almost 
everything, without insurance. As an example of his energy, he moved his few 
remaining goods, the same night, into another building (the one which burned first 
in the last fire) and began selling immediately. In the fire of April, 1883, he lost 
all except |200 worth, with some insurance, and in the last fire he moved his slock 
the same night into his present store, and was .selling again as soon as he could set- 
tle with the insurance adjusters. He now carries a heavy stock, and is well insured. 
In 1873, he married Miss Caroline, daughter of Anthony Dehner, one of the oldest 
settlers and a County Commissioner. Mrs. Keefe died June 26, 1878. Mr. Keefe 
was Town Treasurer three consecutive terms, and gave general satisfaction, and was 
the Democratic candidate for Sheriff in 1872; he was defeated, but ran ahead of his 
ticket. Mr. Keefe is and Mrs. Keefe was a member of the Catholic Church. 

ALLEN W. KENOYER, carpenter, was born April 29, 1850, in Newton (then 
Jasper) County, Ind., and is a son of Rev. Jacob and Jane T. (Frame) Kenoyer, 
the former a native of Indiana, the latter of Ohio. The father was a minister in the 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 731 

United Brethren Church for thirty years, and labored in Indiana and Illinois. He 
died July 2'S, IHTO, aged forty-nine years, a pioneer of the county. Mrs. K. is still 
living, aged sixty-two. Her father, Col. James Frame, was a pioneer and favorably 
known in Eastern Illinois. She is a sister of Thomas Frame, whose death by freez- 
ing. December 31, 1830, is referred to in the history of Iroquois County, 111. Allen 
W. Kenoyer was reared on the farm until he was seventeen years of age. when he 
went to college at Westtield. 111., two terms, and after taught one term, with good 
satisfaction. November. 1871. he married Millie J. Littlejohn, of this county. 
They have three children— Edith A., Centennial May and Effle E. The father is a 
member of the United Brethren, the mother of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mr. K. has worked at carpentering the past two years, and is classed among the 
finished workmen. He is a Republican of the abolition .school. 

ALEXANDER J. KENT, deceased, founder of the town which bears his name, 
was born August HO, 1815, in Oneida County. N. Y. His parents were Carrol C 
and Pheba (Dymock) Kent, both natives of Connecticut, the latter a daughter of 
Col. Dymock, who served in the English Army. Mr. and Mrs. Carrol Kent were 
born the same year, same month and same day, October 17, 1777. Carrol C Kent 
owned the land at Oriskany, N. Y.. on which was fought the battle of Oriskany, 
under Gen. Herkimer, during the Revolutionary war, said land being afterward 
owned by his son, A. J. Kent. Carrol C. Kent died in Whitesboro, N. Y., at the 
age of eighty-three, and his wife August 31, 18-37. at the age of fifty years. Alex- 
ander J. Kent had such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, 
and was. in theltrue sense of the word, a self-made man. At the time of the gold 
fever in C"alifornia, in 1849, Mr. K. equipped five men. viz., John Allison. W. R. 
Fowler. Daniel Shaw. James Izzard and J. B. Chesebrough, and furnished them with 
transportation to Sacramento City. Cal. About the year 18r,l, Mr. K. joined the 
firm, W. R. Fowler & Co., in Sacramento City, and the firm name changed to Kent, 
Fowler & Co. They did a splendid wholesale grocery business for many months, 
but were interrupted by a destructive fire; they arose again and did a larger business 
than before. After continuing some two years, they sold, bought a vessel and en- 
gaged in the trade between San Francisco and China, and were very successful, 
financially, as importers. That vessel. "Anna Welsh," on her first trip brought the 
first Chinese that ever came to America as a colony. After making three trips, 
they sold the vessel to a Chinese mandarin and returned to New York. Soon after, 
Mr. Kent was visited by his brother, Hon. P. M. Kent, of Indiana, and by him in- 
duced to invest in wild lands in Northwestern Indiana. He accordingly made visits 
in 1808 and 18.54 to what became his possessions, and invested largely. He moved 
to New xVlbany, Ind., in 185,5, engaged in the wholesale grocery trade, and kept one 
of the most extensive establi.shments of the kind in the State. He made several 
visits to Northwestern Indiana, each time investing, till he had more than 25.000 
acres. In 1859, he moved his family from New Albany to what is now Newton 
County. About this time, many bought farms in this township, with little pro.spect 
of paying for them, and, had he pressed them for payment, many now prosperous 
farmers would have given up their farms and perhaps have been poor men. Mr. 
Kent encouraged his debtors, and was patient in waiting for payment. He could 
seldom refuse help to a deserving person or to a worthy enterprise. It is said that 
he had from $50 to Jf^Ol) invested in every church in Washington Township. New- 
ton County. To the suffering in Kansas from the drought in 18(J1. his donations were 
immense. On one occasion to the .solicitors for corn he replied. 'Go to my crib and 
take out what you think I ought to contribute; I dont know exactly how to deal 
out to the worthy, unfortunate sufferers." Five hundred bu.shels, after takuig a 
survey of the crib, gave evidence that the keen edge of the hard times was to be 
turned, and $4(M) worth of clothing at a later date went to Nebraska for the grass- 



732 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

hopper sufferers from Mr. Kent's store, with the same free good-will, a generous 
offering of a kind heart. In 1861 came the war, and with it untold distress to al- 
most every household. Money was close, and, as was characteristic of Mr. Kent, 
he proved himself a man for the times — the right person in the right place — doing 
much to alleviate the wants of the soldier on the field of battle, and going to his 
grave followed by the blessings of the soldiers and their families, widows and help- 
less children, and by the orphan, who looks longingly for charity from those who 
have little sympathy. Now that his lips, which spoke words of cheer and kindness, 
are forever closed, and the hands that were ever ready to do acts of kindness are 
silently folded in their last resting place, it is refreshing to know that all unite in 
kindly expressions of gratitude for his timely aid in the hour of pressing want and 
dire distress. On one occasion as a company, composed of his neighbors and his 
neighbors' boyi, were about to leave for the South, and were marching to the depot, 
Mr. Kent came on the scene at this time and directed the Captain, Daniel Ash, to 
" order open ranks." When the order was obeyed, Mr. Kent passed through from 
one end of the company to the other, and gave to each man a $5 bill. "That came 
in good time," said a faithful soldier, "for some of us were leaving home and fam- 
ily without knowing when the next dollar would come, or where it would come 
from." Mr. Kent was a remarkable man, with a busy life. He was seldom seen 
talking on the streets except on urgent business. We deem the above details of a 
successful life due to one of Newton County's most worthy and enterprising men, 
as showing what well-directed effort, coupled with untiring industry and prompted 
by unflinching integrity, can accomplish toward building up a county composed 
mainly of appreciative, deserving citizens. Mr. Kent was twice married, the last 
time in 1857, at Whitesboro, N. Y., to Miss Rosamond C. Chesebrough, daughter of 
Noyers P. and Clara (Moore) Chesebrough, the latter a niece of the poet, Tom Moore. 
Mr. K. was not a member of any church, but a liberal giver to all churches. He 
died May 7, 1882. His family, wife and five children, reside at the family residence 
in the suburbs of Kentland. His extensive business is being carried on under the 
direction of his eldest sou, John A. Kent, who is developing business qualifications 
and sterling qualities such as characterized his lamented father. In politics, Mr. 
Kent was a Democrat. 

HORACE D. KENT was born August 21, 1817, in Oneida County, N. Y., and 
is a son of Carrol and Plieba(Dymock) Kent, both natives of Connecticut. Horace 
D. worked on the farm until his thirteenth year, from which time until he was 
twenty-five he engaged in clerking, steamboating on the lakes, and afterward on the 
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and in mercantile business at New Albany, Ind. In 
April, 1849, he started from Independence, Mo., in a crowd called "the Louisville 
Legion Company" (twenty-seven wagons and sixty persons), over the plains to Sac- 
ramento, Cal., where they safely arrived in one hundred and twenty days. There 
he spent the first winter in mining, merely making a living. In April, 1850, he 
joined his brother, A. J. Kent, John B. Chesebrough and W. R. Fowler in the grocery 
business in Sacramento. Their success was good, but the firm was broken up on 
account of cholera. Mr. Kent then took a large stock of goods to Rough and Ready 
(near Marysville) and opened a store. Here he lost on account of no rain " dry dig- 
gins." In February, 1851, he went to Sacramento, bought fifty pack mules, and 
packed his goods to Onion Valley, South Feather River, where he again met with 
loss. In June, he closed his store, sold his mules, and in August left for home by 
Nicaragua, arriving in New Albany October 1, where, in November, in company 
with his brothers, A. J. and Bela C, he went into the grocery trade until 1859, when 
he sold to his brothers, and opened a commission house in New Orleans with good 
success, until 1861, when he closed and removed to New Albany. In 1863, he went 
to Tennessee, employed by the Government until the close of the war, when he 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JKFFKRSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 733 

erected a manufacturing establishment, door, sash and blinds, in Nashville, Tenn., 
and continued there until 1S70, when he came to Kentland. Formerly, he was en- 
gaged buying grain for A. J. Kent, but latterly in the wood and coal trade, and do- 
ing well. March 24, 1841, Mr. Kent married Miss Martha Lindley, of Vevay, Ind. 
These parents have had five cluldren,t\vo of whom are living, viz., Angle Dymock and 
Bela C. ; Angie married, in 1865, A. M. Van Dyke, of Cincinnati; Bela C. married, 
in 1876, Miss Jennie, daugliterof E. L. and Mary Urmston, of Kentland. Mr. Kent 
is a member of Jefferson Lodge, F. »&. A. M., No. 104, New Albany. In politics, he 
is independent. 

JOHN KNOUFF, farmer, was born 'December 24, 1831,' in Bedford County, 
Penn., and is a son of Anthony and Sarah (Croft) Knouff, the former a native of 
Maryland, the latter of Pennsylvania. They moved to Stark County, Ohio, in 
1857. and settled on a farm. The father died August 8, 1874, aged seventy-four; the 
motlier in December, 1882, aged seventy, both in Stark County. The father was a 
member of the Dimkard, and the mother of the Lutheran Church. They had twelve 
children, seven now living. John made his father's house his home, and came to 
Ohio with that parent in 1857. He was married in June, 1861, to Miss Julia A. 
Sell, of Stark Count}', Ohio. They came to Newton County in April, 1864, stopped 
in Kentland the first six months, and then moved to his present farm two and three- 
quarter miles north of Kentland, where he owns 171 acres of well-improved land. 
He lias been here since 1864; has his farm well stocked, and is classed among the 
progressive farmers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have had nine children — Ida J., 
Minnie E., John E.. Albert, Willie, Charles A., Warren B., Bessie M. and Sherman. 
Albert died in infancy; Willie in 1872, in his third year; Minnie E. was married, 
April 30, 1883, to Charles Ulrey, of this count)*; the other children are living with 
their parents. Mrs. Kent is a member of the M. E. Church. In politics, Mr. Kent 
is a Democrat. 

ELMER McCRAY (deceased) was born October 13, 1834, in Fayette County, 
Ind., and was the .son of William and Lucinda McCray. In 1849, Elmer moved with 
his parents to Crawfordsville, and had good school advantages. He graduated in 
Bacon's Commercial College. Cincinnati, in 1856, and was a practical book-keeper. 
October 8, 1867, he married Miss Eliza Kern, of Huntington, Ind. After marriage, 
he spent one year on a farm north of Kentland, and afterward moved to town. He 
built ihe only livery stable in the town, and continued in that business for a time, 
handled agricultural implements several years, and was thus engaged at his death, 
April II, 1874. To Elmer and Eliza McCray were born three children — William K.. 
John Ade, and Lillie (deceased). Mrs. McCray is a native of Pennsylvania, and 
daughter of John S. and Catherine (Tittle) Kern, also natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. 
McCray was a good and successful man, and left 300 acres to his family, besides a 
valuable property in Kentland. 

GREENBURY W. McCRAY, farmer, stock-rai.ser and banker, Kentland, was 
born July 13, 1839, in Fayette County, Ind., and is the son of William and Lucinda 
(Edwards) McCray, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Pennsylvania. They 
had eight children. The father died in. 1864, aged fifty-three; the mother is living 
at the age of seventy. William McCray was a pioneer Abolutionist of the State. 
On his tombstone wa.s inscribed at his rec^uest. " Freedom to all men;" he is buried 
in Crawfordsville. Greenl)ury W. McCray moved with his ])arents in 1849 to Craw- 
for.lsville, where he had good school advantages, and the help of the Normal De- 
partment of Wabash College. In Octolter, 1H(51. he came to Newton County, Ind., 
prospecting, and in November purchased a farm in Irocjuois Township, near Brook. 
Until til'" following spring he was engaged trading. lie remained on that farm un- 
til Nov.^'mber, 1870. when he moved to Kentland. From 1870 to 1875, he was engaged 
in the livery, the farm implement, and in the fuel trade, at the same time overseeing 



734 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

his farm. Since December, 1875, he has been a partner with Messrs. Ade & Urm 
ston in the "Discount and Deposit Bank of Kentland," which, with farming and 
stock-raising, engages his attention. Mr. McCray has been very successful. He 
owns 350 acres of land in his name, and with Messrs. Ade & Urmston, bankers, 
2,000 acres, located in Washington, Jefferson, Grant, Iroquois and Beaver Town" 
ships, in Newton County, and in Beavev Township, Iroquois Co., 111.; has been for 
years a member of the School Board, and is the^busiestman in the town. March 6, 

1863, he married Miss Martha J. Galey, of Montgomery County, Ind. They have 
three children— Fanny F., Warren T. and Anna E. Mrs. McCray is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church; Mr. McCray is a Republican. Mr. McCray is forty-four 
yeai's old, and has never smoked or chewed tobacco, or drunk a dram of any iutoxi- 
cant. He signed the lirst temperance pledge ever presented, and has signed all since. 

JOHN MoDERMOTT, farmer, was born in County Kildare, Ireland, and is a son 
of John and Margaret (O'Hara) McDermott, natives of Irleand, who died about 
1856. In 1853, John came to America, landing at Castle Garden after a voyage of 
fifty- two days; went to Warren County, Ohio, and began farm work. He contin- 
ued in this county thirteen years, during which he farmed, and worked on the rail- 
road, and at repairing the canal. In 1857, he returned to Ireland, remained three 
weeks, became disgusted, again came to Warren County, Ohio, and in August, 1805, 
to Newton County, Ind., and bought the eighty acres on which he lives. He has 
been eminently successful, and now owns 160 acres of well-improved land, with good 
prospects for an abundant crop this j^ear. He is respected by all as a worthy pio- 
neer of Newton County. In January, 1860, he married Miss Ellen Donahue, of 
Butler County, Ohio, formerly of Ireland, which union gave issue to Thomas A., 
James P., Margaret E., Mary M., Ellen C, Katie (deceased), and Sarah E. Both are 
members of the Catholic Church. 

OLIVER G. McILWAIN, farmer, was born May 10, 1822, in Payette County, 
Ind., and is a son of John and Sarah (Logan) Mcllwam, natives of Scotland. On 
coming to this country they .settled in South Carolina, and in 1808 moved to Brook- 
ville, Ind. ; thence they removed to Faj^ette County in 1813. The father died in 1869, 
aged sixty-three ; the mother in 1874, aged seventy-nine — a member of the Presby- 
terian Church, Mr. Mcllwaiu was a Republican. They had nine children, six liv- 
ing. Oliver G. Mcllwain attended school and worked on the farm until nineteen 
years of age, and in 1843 settled on the Indian reservation in Cass County. He 
taught school six years successfully, at $1 per day, and had eighty pupils. The 
schoolhouse was a very primitive one. He moved to Fayette County in 1847; took 
an interest in a dry goods store with his brother-in-law, Solomon Brown; he re- 
mained a year, and sold to his partner. He then took a partnership in a mill with 
one Hattield ; then bought out Mr. Brown, and ran the store in connection with the 
mill until 1854. Soon after he traded his part of the store for Hatfield's part of the 
mill, and continued the same with success. In 1857, he sold the mill, moved to Wi- 
ami County, Ind., and bought a farm; thence came to Newton County, Ind., in 

1864, and settled in Washington Township. He served five years as Trustee, and 
three years as County Commissioner. He now owns a quarter-section of land two 
miles northeast of Kenthxnd. Mr. Mcllwain is a successful farmer. In 1843, he 
married Miss Lucinda Worster, of Fayette County. They have had eight children — 
James P., John R., Anna (deceased), Elizabeth, Burwell, Rose, Minnie and Emma. 
James F. was in the war, and has not been heard of since the battle of Perryville. 
Mrs. Mcllwaiu is a member of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. Mcllwain of 
the Masonic fraternity. He is also a Republican. 

JAMES MARTIN, farmer, was born April 14, 1821, in Darke County, Ohio. He 
is the son of Thomas and Leah (Smith) Martin, the father from Pennsylvania, the 
mother from Ohio. The father was a farmer, and had nine children, eight of whom 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 735 

lived to be of age, and he never had a doctor in his house for professional service. 
James Martin has living one brother in Wells County, Ind., and one sister, Mrs. 
Leah Swanson, of this eountj'. The father died October 1. 1870, a^ed seventy-four; 
the mother died December 8, 1872, at the age of sixty-nine; both were members of 
the Christian Church. In the fall of 1828. James came with his parents and settled 
near Newton, in Fountain County. Ind. They stayed there three years, then came 
to Benton County, settling on Mud Pine, three miles southeast of Bcswell. Here 
they remained until 1842, when they came to Newton (then Jasper) County, and James 
bought of Jack Torbit 140 acres. Since that Mr. Martin has added 360 acres. It 
was then timber, brush and open prairie; it is all improved now, fenced, and he 
farms 400 acres; the rest is in pasture. When he came, lie had $1,000 and a two-horse 
team; he gave it all for the 140 acres. His other land has cost him from $5 to $20 
per acre. He is among the oldest residents of this count}'. He was married, No- 
vember 20, 1842, to Miss Eli/a Jane Harris, of Ohio; she died March 4, 1847, aged 
twenty-three. Mr. Martin was next married, September 28, 1848, to Miss Nancy 
Smith, of Darke Count}', Ohio; she died January 17, 1867, at the age of thirty-nine 
and a half. Mr. Martin was then married, March 10, 1867, to Miss Caroline Foy, of 
Blackford County, Ind. His children were born as follows: Perry, Charles T., 
Thomiis, Eliza J., Joseph, David, infant, Leah E., Harvey, William L.. Rhoda, 
Franklin, Nancy, Christopher, Philip, Katie, Jasper, Esther, Newton, Harry, Gil- 
bert. They died as follows : Perry, October 7, 1848, aged two months; David, Feb- 
ruary 28, 1881, aged twenty-seven years; infant, January, 1856; Harvey, November 
16, 1861, aged one year and eight months; William L., February 25, 1864, aged one 
year and eight months; Rhoda, July 8, 1868, aged one year and three months; 
Nancy, February 10, 1875, aged nine years; Christopher, September 29, 1870, aged 
one year and four months; Philip, February 7, 1875, aged five years. Mr. Martin 
had three children by his first wife, and nine by each of the other two. In 1831, 
when Mr. Martin's father moved to Benton County, he had six horses, three cows, 
five steers, thirty sheep and thirty hogs. When the winter of 1831-32 was over, 
there were left of the above, one yearling colt, one cow and four steers. Starvation 
was the cause. For two months, three of the four steers had to be helped up when 
they lay down. He had but one neighbor within seven miles; he was there five 
years before he saw a rabbit or a quail, but there were many prairie wolves; prairie 
fires were destructive to fowls and rabbits. Another hard scene was in the Black 
Hawk war. i\Ir. Martin has seen the road crowded for miles, almost day and night, 
mostly with ox-teams filled with men, women and children, many with only night 
clothes on, not having taken time to dress — women and men carrying children, all 
fleeing for their lives from the Indians. Had it not been for some wheat which he 
had left in Fountain County, the family would most likely have starved; they suf- 
fered very much as it was. Mr. Martin and wife are both members of the Christian 
Church. In politics, he is a Democrat. Mr. Martin never danced, never chewed 
tobacco, never was drunk, but says, " I might have been a drunkard had I not seen 
my father drunk twice; that settled the question forever with me." Mr. Martin 
smoked for forty years, then quit, and has not touched the weed in three years. In 
1839 Mr. Martin traded a heifer for five ewes; he still has the offspring of that 
flock; he has never changed the flock except by adding twenty to it at one time by 
purchase. He has sold two car-loads at one time, has ])ut(hered a great many, and 
the dogs killed sixty at one time, and a less number at many other times; occasion- 
ally one has died a natural death. The; wolves have at times been terribly destruct- 
ive, and his flock now numbers 1.50; they have never been off the farm, and Mr. 
Martiu thinks there is hardly a parallel case in the county. 

CHARLES T. MARTIN, farmer, was born January 3, 1845, in Benton County, 
Ind., and is a son of James and Eliza Martin. Charles received his early education 



730 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

in a crude building, and later in one which was some improvenieut over the former. 
In 1852, he came with his parents to this county, and located four miles northwest 
of Kentland, near the Iroquois River. His father lives on the same farm now. 
Charles lives two miles east, and has made farming his business; he owns 220 acres 
of improved land, secured by industry and economy. He makes stock-raising a 
specialty; the farm is well stocked with sheep, hogs, cattle and horses. Mr. Martin 
was married, September 14, 1871, to Miss Sarah M. Herriman, of this county. They 
have had six children, five of whom are now living. Both are members of the Chris- 
tian Church. Mr. Martin deserves mention among the good citizens of the county. 

WILLIAM C. MILLER, pastor of the Catholic Church, Kentland, was born 
July 11, 1857, in County Ahrwiler, Germany. He is the son of Frank Stephen and 
Anna Catharine Miller, also of Germany; the former died in 1836, aged sixty-si.x:, 
having been an invalid eighteen years; he is buried in Heimersheim, Germany, and 
was a member of the Catholic Church. The mother is still livinsr in Germany, aged 
seventy-two, also a member of the Catholic Church. They had six children, five of 
whom are living. William C. had good educational advantages, both in this coun- 
try and in Germany. He attended the St. Meinrad Seminary in Spencer County, 
Ind., where he completed his course in 1881, and was ordained priest September 24, 
1881. His first station was Roanoke, which position he held one and one-half years; 
his second was Kentland, where he began his labors April 2, 1883. He arrived in 
this country January 30, 1879, after a voyage of twenty-two days, with the experi- 
ence of a storm, and an intense sea sickness for three days. He landed at New Jer- 
sey on the Notre Dame Line, and proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he entered 
at once on the work of his studies. At the Roanoke Station, he had a congregation 
of about fifty families, and in Kentland he has about one hundred and twenty fam- 
ilies, including those from Goodland, Ind. His present woTk is in a thriving condi- 
tion; the location is good, but the house is not in keeping with the progressive spirit 
of the congregation, and the members talk of building a new house at an early day. 
The station has no school at present, but will open one, according to present expecta- 
tion, in September, 1884. 

WILLIAM W. MILLER, teacher, Kentland, was born February 9, 1856, in 
Fulton County, Ind. He is the second in a family of eleven children of William 
and Anna (Kibbler) Miller, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania. William Miller settled in La Porte County, but moved to Fulton, thence to 
Jasper, and subsequently to Newton County, where he has lived twenty years. He 
held the office of Justice about twelve years in Jackson Township, and is well 
known and respected; he is a Republican. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Dunkard 
Church. William W. Miller had the advantages of the Normal School at Valpa- 
raiso, and was reared on the farm. He has taught school five successive years, 
three in his home district, where his services are engaged at increased salary the 
coming year. All his teaching has been in Jackson Township, save two terms; 
he stands "No. 1 " in that calling, but few having a better record. He served as 
Deputy in the (Uerk's office for some months last spring, under Mr. Davis. He has 
handled books somewhat, has acted as agent for difiEerent periodicals during his va- 
cation, and is at present writing in the Auditor's office. 

ALBERT B. MOORE, farmer, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., December 
24, 1840, and is a son of John B. and Sophia (Todd) Moore, both of New York; the 
former still lives on the farm in Kane County, 111., aged sixty-four, and is a Demo- 
crat. The mother died in 1852, aged thirty-one. She was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Albert B. Moore came with his parents to Grundy County, 111., 
in 1844, his minority being spent on the farm. At the age of twenty-two, he enlist- 
ed, July, 1862, in Company E, Ninety-first Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry (Col. 
Day). The regiment's first move was building stockades and guarding the railroad 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 737 

in Kentucky, until December, when they were taken prisoners by John Morgiin, and 
sent to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, there cxchanp^ed and sent to Vicksburg, where 
they remained until the surrender; thence went to Port Hudson and C'arrollton, and 
took part in a review of 60.000 troops before Gens. Grant and Banks. Thence they 
went to Brazos, Te.xas; on the gulf, they encountered a stoiin of eleven days, in 
which two vessels were lost, the one with cannon, the otlier with Negro troops. 
They helped to take the Spanish fort at Mobile, which took thirteen days; 
thence went to Mobile City, where the Mayor and officers surrendered the 
city, and were mustered out at Mobile, lie remained on the farm until 187.J, 
when he moved to his farm in Newton County, and improved KJO acres. In 1866, 
he married Miss Mattic E. Ilanna, formerly of Pennsylvania; they have had seven 
children — Lillie S., Luella S.. Cjtus H., Burton S., Adda, Johnnie (deceased) and 
George E. Mr. M. is a member of .McHolland Post, No. 102, G. A. R. ; is an inde- 
pendent Democrat. 

STILLMAN M. NOBLE, jeweler, was l)orn December 21, 1842, in Lewis Coun- 
ty, N. Y., and is the son of Stillman D. and Martha (Ausborn) Noble, both natives of 
New York. The former is still livingin New York at the advanced age of seventy-two; 
the mother died in 1848, aged twenty-seven. Their children were Stillman M., John 
G. and David. The latter died at the age of eight years. The father was married 
in 1849 to Maria Ausborn (a sister of the former wife), by whom he had three chil- 
dren—Ely, Elliott and Eddie. Elliott is still living in New York, Eddie died in 1873, 
Ely in 1876. Stillman. M. remained on he farm until about si.xteeu, when he went 
to learn his trade, at which he continued two and one half j^ears. He worked next 
in the llemington gun armory until January, 1864, when he enlisted in Company A, 
Second New York Heavy Artillery, and continued in the service until the clo.se of 
the war. He was captured at Cold Harbor, June 6, 1864, and taken to Libby, thence 
to the tobacco house, thence to Andersonville, where he stayed four mouths. There 
were about 33,000 prisoners there at that time. From Andersonville, he vas taken with 
five car loads of prisoners to Savannah, where he remained forty days, when he was 
paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md. After the expiration of the parole, he returned 
to the regiment at Petersburg. Pie was with those who followed Lee from that 
time until he surrendered. Mr. N. returned to New York in 1861, honorably dis- 
charged. He was married to Mrs Marian M. Mather, of New York. She was the 
widow of a soldier, Russell Mather, Jr., by whom she had two children, Isabel M. 
and Estella E. She has two children by her present husband, viz., Edith and Willie 
S. Mr. Noble is a member of McHolland Post, No. 102, G. A. R. He has been in 
the jewelry business in Kentland since 1868. By the great fire of 1870, he lost every- 
thing, with no insurance. AVas also in reach of the fire of April 5, 1883. Loss. 
$3,000, insurance, $400. He is now located on the east side of Main street on the 
same ground, with the largest stock of jewelry, perhaps, there is in the county, and 
is driving a good, well-paying business. 

FRANK M. OSWALT was born October 22, 1838. in Montgomery County. 
Ohio, and is a son of Michael and P^lizabeth (Lambert) Oswalt, both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church; mother died in 1878, father is living, at the age 
of seventy-one. Francis moved West with ids parents in 1846. He attended school 
and farmed until his twentieth year, at wliich tim« lie learned the carpenter 
trade, and continued thereat four years. He enlisted in Noveniber, 1863, in Com- 
pany L, Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, Col. Bob Stewart. They went to 
Nashville, Tenn., thence to Stevenson. Ala., and thence to Larkinsville, where they 
remained on guard duty until fall, when they were mounted, ecjuipped and returned 
to Nashville, and took part in tiie Tenne.s.see campaign of 1864-6.'). January, 1865, 
they landed at Gravelly Springs and marched to Eastport Lamling, Miss., where they 
stayed until May, were remounted, went to Fort Riley and thence to Walnut River, 



738 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Kan. In 1865, they guarded the United States mail from Council Grove to Walnut 
Creek; returned to Fort Leavenworth in September, 1865, and were mustered out. 
From November, 1865, to January, 1868, he worked at his trade; then was in the 
furniture business until May, 1871, since which he has clerked. He passed through 
the service without serious injury, but was dangerously sick for two months in 
1864. March 17, 1864, Mr. O. married Miss Margaret J., daughter of Edward Car- 
nsy, of Wabash, Ind. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
O. is a member of Lodge 361, F. & A. M., also of Kentland Chapter, No. 89, K. of 
P., and of McHoUand Post, G. A. R. In politics, he is Republican. Mr. Oswalt 
has had control of the store of Mr. Walton, the latter living in another town. He 
is doing a first-class business, and is worthy of the confidence of all. 

JOHN PEACOCK, real estate, loan and insurance agent, was born August 29, 
1817, in North AUerton, Yorkshire, England. He is the third in a famih'^ of fifteen. 
He is the son of Thomas and Ann (Stokell) Peacock; the former died about 1865, in 
his seventy-fourth year; the latter is still living in Sheffield, England, in her nineti- 
eth year. John was educated in the grammar school at his native town. He served 
an apprenticeship in a woolen manufacturing firm in Leeds, in which his father 
was a partner. On becoming of age, he continued in the firm with his father for a 
time, and then began manufacturing merino goods at Bradford for himself. 
He was married, in 1841, to Miss Selina Lee, of Halifax, England. In 1842, they 
came to America and settled in Oriskany, N. Y. Here he engaged in the woolen 
factory of "Dexter in the valley," remaining fifteen years; thence he went to Kane 
County, 111., where he remained three years in the mercantile business. After sell- 
ing out, he and Mr. Ross came and erected the first building in Kentland. This 
firm had the depot, post office and express office all in the same store. An employe 
who "bached" with the firm, Peacock & Ross, would often in early morning stand 
in the door and shoot prairie chickens when they came to a corn crib for food. 
This firm handled all kinds of goods, not excepting "good old rye." In 1864, Mr. 
Peacock took the office of Recorder, being elected successor to John Ade. This 
office he held eight 5^ears, being re-elected in 1868. In 1872, he went into his pres- 
ent vocation, in which he has continued, doing an increasing business. Four chil- 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Peacock— Harriet O. (deceased), Anna, Selina C. 
and John L. Both parents are members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. P. is a 
member of Newton Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M., and of Chapter 89; also of Kent- 
land Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; he is also a Republican. 

GEORGE PEIRCE was born May 4, 1885, in Camden County, N. J., and is a 
son of James and Ann (Walker) Peirce, both natives of New Jersey. The father 
died in 1873, at the age of eighty-seven, a farmer and a Republican; the mother in 
1871, at the age of seventy-seven. These parents had twelve children, eleven of 
whom are living, the youngest thirty-eight years of age. Their names are William, 
Sarah (deceased), John, Richard, James, Margaret, Levi, Josiah, George, Samuel, 
Martha Ann and Alexander. George Peirce had poor educational advantages, there 
being no free schools in New Jersey at that day. He spent his boyhood working on 
his father's farm, and he began working for himself when twenty years of age. He 
left New Jersey, in 1855, with his father and family, who settled on Pine Creek, 
and ran the saw mill one year; then came to Newton (then Jasper) County, and 
settled four miles northwest of Kentland, where the family lived until the death of 
their father, after which he moved to his present home, containing 126 acres in 
Section 1, four and a half miles northeast of Kentland. This farm he has put in as 
good a state of cultivation as is accessible. He is a good farmer, a worthy citizen, 
and a Democrat. 

WILLIAM PERRY, manufacturer of saddles, harness, and dealer in agricult- 
ural implements, Kentland, was born April 13, 1837, in Hamilton County, Ind., and 



TOWN OF KENTLANI) AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHH'— NKWTON COUNTY. 739 

is a son of Dr. Freeman and Phoibc (Mills) Perry, the former a native of Massa- 
chusetts, the latter of Pennsylvania. They moved from Hamilton to Tippecanoe 
County, in 1847, and scttUd in Ilarrisonville. now Battle Ground. Dr. Perry was a 
regular practitioner, and continued in his profession about four years, when, owing 
to an accident, he was rendered unable to practice. Having moved into White 
County, he began teaching. This he followed ten or twelve years, Ids health 
gradually growing worse, and died in September, 1875. His wife is still living with 
her son William in Kentland, at the age of sixty-seven. Both parents were lifetime 
Methodists. He was a Republican, and parent of five children, three of whom are 
living. William Perry was engaged working on the farm most of the time of his 
boyhood. When he was twenty-one, he began learning carpentering, and after 
■working thereat three years, learned harness-making. After working ten months, 
he removed to Kentland, February, 1862. and commenced business for himself as a 
harness-maker. Judging from his stock and customers, we would say he does a 
successful business. Mr. Perry has served as Township Trustee, member of Town 
Council, and is now President of the Kentland School Board. Mr. Perry was mar- 
ried. November 21, 1861, to Miss Fanny Shields, of White County, Ind. They have 
had three children — Harry O., Fanny N. (deceased), and Mary A. Mrs. Perry is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Perry is a member of the Masonic order, 
Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and Consistoiy. In politics, he is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM W. PFRIMMEH, insurance and real estate agent, was born January 
27. 1856, in Massac County. 111., and is the son of Daniel A. and Melinda (Conrad) 
Pfrimmer, both of Indiana. The former is still living in Cowley County. Kan., 
aged fifty-seven. Daniel A. Pfrimmer enlisted, in 1861, Company E, Thirty-eighth 
Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until July, 1864. He received a 
sliot at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, which was the cause of his discharge. He 
was Lieutenant, and promoted to be Captain, and was in every battle in which his 
regiment took part from 1H61 to June, 1864. In whatever position he had, ho was 
never known to shrink from duty, whether in field, in camp, or on scout. He 
was married, January 27, 1846. to ^liss Conrad, who died March, 1860, a member of 
the United Brethren Chur(!h. They had eight children, three yet living. Ilis second 
marriage was to Miss Harriet Jemmison, of Illinois, in 1S62. She al.>^o died. His 
third marriage was to Miss Elizabeth Crawm, with whom he is now living in Kansas. 
William W. Pfrimmer lived with his grandfather until his thirteenth year, when he 
returned home and remained four years, when he began teaching in Newton County, 
which he followed eight years, teaching in winter and farming in summer for him- 
self. He was compelled to leave the farm on account of an injury while working 
in the saw-mill with his father, by the bursting of an emory wheel. He studied 
law at Indianapolis, under Hon. S. A. Huff, near one year, and has been pursuing 
that study ever since. He was elected Trustee of Jefferson Township in 1882. He 
is the youngest Trustee the township ever had. By attention to duty he has made 
a well-paying business in insurance and real estate. Mr. P. was married. May, 1878, 
to Miss Mary E. Webster, a late successful teacher in this county for five years. 
They have three children — Mabel. Conrad W., and one unnamed. Mrs. Pfrimmer 
is a member of the M. E. Church, and Mr. Pfrimmer is a Republican. 

EDGAR L. FRESHER, farmer, was born September 7. 1844. in Newark. Ken- 
dall Co., 111., and is a son of Lot and Eliza (Gridley) Fresher, both natives of New 
York. The father was a farmer and mechanic; he died in February, 1874, at the 
age of sixty-one. These parents came from New York to Kendall County, 111., in 
1843; they had three; children— William II., Sarah E. and Edgar L. They were 
members of the Baptist Church; in politics, he was a Republican. The mother 
makes her home with Edgar's family, is in good health, and will in a few months 
reach the allotted time— threeserire years and ten. Edward L. had for employment 



740 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

in his early days working on the farm and in the machine shop. He is a natural 
mechanic, and runs and owns a steam thresher and sheller. He was married, De- 
cember 20, 1865, to Miss Melissa S. Watson, late of La Salle County, 111., but for- 
merly of Connecticut. Her parents are Joseph L. and Elsie A. (Phillips) Watson. 
To Edgar L. and Melissa S. Fresher is born one child — Josie Lot. lu politics, he is 
a Republican. He lived one year in Kentland, after coming to this county in Sep- 
tember, 1867. He has been very successful in business, having had a small start, 
and was unfortunate in the beginning; he is classed among the thrifty, progressive 
farmers of the county. He has a beautiful home, handsome residence, good barns, 
and finely laid out yard, dotted with beautiful evergreens. His farm is well im- 
proved, reflecting much credit upon its proprietor, and is the result of his own hard 
labor. 

GEORGE D. RIDER, luml)er dealer and farmer, Kentland, was born March 7, 
1851, in Jasper (now Newton) County, Ind., and is the eldest son of Henry and Mary 
J. (Enslen) Rider, the former of Stark County, Ohio, the latter of Iroquois County, 
111. Henry Rider was three times married; first, December 15, 1842, to Miss Mary 
Thomas, of Iroquois County, 111. They had two children — Joseph H. (deceased) and 
Sarah A. (married to Simon Hornet). Mrs. Rider died December 18, 1845, a member 
of the United Brethren Church. His second marriage, December 18, 1849, was to 
Miss Enslen, who bore six children— George D., Maria, William A., John P. (de- 
ceased), Elenora and Flora Z. She died, October 28, 1864, a member of the 
United Brethren Church. His third marriage, December 20, 1866, was to Mrs. Eliza 
E. McCollough, who died August 18, 1877. It will be observed that his mar- 
riages occurred in December, and that his wives were from Iroquois County, 111. 
Mr. Rider is one of the oldest citizens of this county, having come hither with an 
uncle in 1836. He is now living with his son in Kentland, aged sixtj^-eight. George 
D. Rider attended school three months, and later, about six months in the year, and 
finally the high school at Watseka, 111., where he graduated in 1870, and subse- 
quently taught ten terms in the counties of Iroquois, 111., and New^ ton, Ind. He had 
the best success, and taught nearly all that time in one school in his home district. 
Mr. Rider left the farm in 1875, engaged in the lumber business at Kentland, and 
continued in this two years, when he sold and returned to the farm he had bought 
for four years, after which he leased the farm, returned to Kentland, and is again 
in the lumber business, having the only yard in the town, and has a well-paying 
trade. April 2, 1872, Mr. Rider married Miss Lizzie Pfrimmer, of this county. They 
had five children, four living— Cleremout, Lulu, Ethel and Merle ; Homer died in 
infancy. Mr. Rider is Independent in politics, and is a member of Kentland Lodge. 
No. 396, I. O. O. F. 

EDWARD ROOT, farmer and Justice of the Peace, was born February 7, 
1818, in Bristol, Conn., and is a son of David and Electa (Roberts) Root, both na- 
tives of Connecticut. These parents had three children— Charlotte, Maria and 
Edward. The father died in 1862, aged eighty -four; the mother in 1835, aged fifty- 
one; they were married December 21, 1803. Edward Root had a common school 
education, and worked with his father during boyhood. He came West in 1856, 
with his wife and two children, and settled in Oxford, Benton County, for two 
years, and moved thence to Iroquois County, 111., where they remained ten years. 
During this time he served as Postmaster five years, kept hotel, and was Constable 
a portion of the time. He then came to Kentland, and has been a resident of the 
town since. He is well located in Kentland, at the corner of Third and Seymour 
streets, and the surroundings indicate a nice and comfortable home. October 17, 
1838, he married Miss Lydia Yale, a descendant of Gov. Yale, of Bristol, Conn. 
Two children bind this union— Jane Elizabeth and Mary Eliza (now Mrs. Isaac 
Hardesty). 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 741 

SYLVESTER ROOT was born March 9, 1820, in Litchfield County. Conn., and 
is a son of Abel and Poll}- (Roberts) Root, both natives of Connecticut. The former 
died in 18")2, a^ed tifty-eij;lit; the latter in 1878, a^ed eighty-five j'ears, both mem- 
bers of the Pre.sbjterian Church. They had five children, three of whom are living. 
Sylvester Root attended th* high school of J. C. Covell, in Bristol, for two years, 
and afterward taught school for several years. At the age of fifteen, he began 
learning clock-making, in which he continued until twenty-one, and afterward man- 
ufactured clocks, and sold Yankee Notions in New York. In 1856, he came to New- 
ton (then Jasper) Count}'. Ind., and settled one and one-lialf miles southwest, on the 
Van Natta farm, until 18()(i, since which time he has been a resident of Kentland. On 
the organization of the county, he was appointed Deputy Clerk, and served under 
Zechariah Spitler four years, Mr. Spitler leaving the office to him. lie was then for 
five years in the grocery business, and afterward engaged in the lumljcr trade ex- 
clusively for ten years; for three years past, he has been selling school su[)plies and 
stationery. In January, 1883, he went to Long Wood, Orange Co., Fla., and is now 
engaged in making up orange groves. Mr. Root married, in 1847, Miss Mary Ann 
Hurlburt, of Union ville, Hartford Co., Conn. These parents have four living chil- 
dren—Franklin S., Mary E., Charles A. and Lieut. Edwin A. (United States Army, 
Class of 1883). 3lrs. Root died in 1874, aged forty-seven, a member of the Episcopal 
Church; Mr. Root is a member of the same church, and also of Lodge No. 396, I. 
(>. O. F.. Kentland. . lie is a Democrat, with strong leaning toward tiie Independ- 
ents. 

JOHN SCHMITT, tailor, was born in Reinprovince Preussen Bezirk Trier 
Kreisse Sarburg Courgernieistrei Nittel June 2s, 1837. He has a good education. At 
the age of fourteen, he began learning bis trade, and has followed it ever since, ex- 
cept the time he was in the army of the United States. In 1851, he left Prussia, 
traveled through France, Belgium, to England, then back to Holland, thence to 
France, where he worked two j'ears. All this time, nine years, he was working at his 
trade in different cities to perfect himself in his business. From France he came 
to the United States in 1860, and was fifty-six days on the passage. He went to 
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and to Chicago; in the last city he stayed five 
years. While there he enlisted, did general guard duty for five months, when he 
was discharged. In January, 1865, he left New York for Germany. After thirteen 
days, he arrived at Liverpool, thence to Hull, thence across the Nortli Sea to Ant- 
werp, thence to Bristol, thence to city of Luxemburg, thence to Trier Citv, wliere 
he remained four months. There he was married, March 28, 1865, to Miss Ellen 
Yager, of Gravenmacher, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. He inunediately returned 
to Chicago with his bride, and stayed there until 1868; then went to Logansport, re- 
maining until 1870, when he came to Kentland, where he has been ever since, fol- 
lowing his business. He is a No. 1 tailor, as well as citizen. He has had ten children, 
eight of whom are now living — Lizzie, Charlie, Lawrence, Anna, Ellen, Mattie, 
John and Josephine. Both parents are members of the Catholic Chinch. He is a 
member of Mcllolland Post, G. A. R. ; in politics, a Democrat. 

EPIIRAIM SELL, hardware, stove and tinware merchant, was born February 
2. 1852. in Adams County, Penn. His parents are Jacob and Harriet (Willet) Sell, 
both natives of Pennsylvania. The father died in 1S82. at the age of sixty-eight 
He was a member of the Reform Church, and in iwliticsa Republican. The mothe' 
is still living in Pennsylvania, at the age of sixty nine, and is a member of the Lu- 
theran Church. Ephraim had such .school advantages as could be gained by attend- 
ing school three montiis during the year for six or eight years. He worked on the 
farm until he was fifteen, when, in the spring of 1867, he went to Columbia City, 
Whitley Co., Ind. He stayed there only six months, when he took the ague and re- 
turned home. There he stayed one and one-half years; then, with restored health. 



742 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

he came to Newton County in 1869. Mr. Sell, on lii.s first visit to Newton County, 
did not have an ac(iuaintance here from Pennsylvania. He has passed over the 
road from Indiana to Pennsylvania nineteen times, and now about thirty families 
from his neighborhood in Pennsylvania are livintr in Benton and Newton Counties. 
The past fourteen years, he has been in Kentland. The first three of the fourteen 
he worked on the farm for A. J. Kent. In August, 1871, he began learning the tin- 
ner trade with J. W. Williams, now of Rensselaer. He worked for Mr. W. eleven 
years, three as an apprentice, and eight as journeyman. He bought out Mr. W. in 
November, 1883, and now he carries the heaviest stock of hardware, stoves and tin- 
ware of any firm of the kind in the county. Mr. Sell was married to Miss Sarah J. 
Baughman, of York County, Penn., August, 1878. One child, Jay Cameron, has 
blest this union, and both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
In politics, he is a Republican. 

ALEXANDER SHARP (deceased) was born in Indiana County, Penn., May 
87,1810; was a son of Thomas and Isabella (McCullough) Sharp, both natives of Penn- 
sylvania, members of the Presbyterian Church, lived to old age, and are buried in 
Armstrong County, Penn. Alexander, the subject of this sketch, had poor school 
advantages. At the age of sixteen, he carried the mail, which he continued three 
years, and subsequently, in 1837, moved to Marion County, Ohio, located on a farm 
and remained until 1852, when he was elected Treasurer of Marion County, and 
served the full term, four years. In 1857, he came to Jasper (ripw Newton) County, 
Ind., settling near Pilot Grove. He farmed until 1860, when Newton Count}' was 
formed, and he had the honor of being elected Auditor of the new county, which 
office he held four years, from which time until 1880 he was engaged with the late 
A. J. Kent as chief advisor and book-keeper. In 1878, he was re-elected Auditor, 
and held offices until his death, April 9, 1883. In 1837, Mr. Sharp married Miss Mer- 
cy, daughter of John and Ann Dunbar, of Ashtabula County, Ohio. The former was 
under Gen. Harrison in the battle of Tippecanoe. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Sharp had 
five children, viz., Thomas, Joseph, Mary L., Andrew and Alexander. The mother 
died March 9, 1879. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and from his youth, he was an officer or teacher in the Sunday school. In pol- 
itics, he was a Democrat. Thomas, the eldest, is a farmer in Dakota; Joseph mar- 
ried Miss Rettie Stively, of Hardin County, Ohio; Mary L. married in 1873 Levi C- 
Devlin. Andrew married in 1881 Miss Annette E. Ward, of Ashtabula County, Ohio; 
Alexander, Jr. married Laura Hoober, of Kentland, Ind., in 1871. In this connec- 
tion, it may be said in all truth that the official services of Alexander Sharp were 
efficient and in accordance with his well-known principles of fidelity to public trust. 

WILLIAM S INCLAIR, Superintendent of Schools, Kentland, was born 

January 13, 1854, in Sullivan County, Ind., and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Wil- 
lis) Sinclair, the former a native of Kentucky. He was a farmer, a pioneer, of Sul- 
livan County, Ind., and the father of nine children, eight of whom7are living. He 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years, and a Democrat. 
Mrs. Sinclair is living in Sullivan County, at the age of fift5'-five; she is a native of 
Delaware, and has been a member of the Methodist Church nearly forty years. 
William M. Sinclair had such education as was afforded by country schools, attend- 
ing ab®ut three months in winter and working the remaining portion of the time. 
At the age of seventeen, he taught his first school, and for five years he taught in win- 
ter, attended school in spring and worked in summer and fall. He attended the As- 
cension Normal and Commercial Institute at Sullivan, Ind., and graduated therefrom 
in May, 1875, with the honors of his class. He then entered the Evansville Business 
College, from which he also graduated, his diploma indicating a standing of 99.41. 
He then engaged as Principal of the Bridgeton Graded Schools one year. In 1876, 
he was elected Principal of Annapolis Graded School in Parke County, which he 



TOWN OF KENTLANI) AND JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NKU TON (OUNTV. 743 

held five successive years, and was then elected Superintendent and Principal of 
Kentland Public Schools for three years, when he was elected Superinlendcnt of the 
Monticcllo Pul)iic Schools. Mr. Sinclair has a i^ood record as a teacher, and bids 
fair to become a leader in his profession. In 1S74, Mr. S. married Miss Caliiui M. 
Haddon, of Sullivan County, lud. They have two children — Hope and Carlelon B. 
In politics, he is a Republican. 

JIRA SKINNER was born May '.2!), 18:38, in Chenango County, N. Y., and is a 
son of Sidney M. and Naomi (Peck) Skinner, both natives of New York, who are 
living?, at the advanced ages respectively of seventy-nine and seventy- five. Mr. Sid- 
nc}' Skinner is a farmer, a Republican, and has taken the New York Tribune since 
its first issue, then called The Ltxj Cabin. Jira Skinner had such educational ad- 
vantages as the schools afforded. lie taught one term during his minority, and the 
remaining time worked on tlic farm. A' came to Newton County, Ind., in April, 
1860. He was engaged in farming until his enlistment in October, 1861, in Company 
B, Fifty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Col. A. D. Streigiit. The regi- 
ment camped at Indianapolis until December, wdien they started South and took 
part in the battle of Stone River — the only hard battle in which he took part — and 
was discharged the following April for disubilit}\ Mr. S. returned to Newton 
County, and, after regaining health sufliciently, engaged in farming and stock-rais- 
ing in McClellan Township. December 12, 1867, he married Miss Lizzie A. Tim- 
raons. of McClellan Township. Subsequently, he moved to Morocco and engaged 
in selling goods and carpentering, and was working at the bench when he received 
his appointment, March, 1873, as Sheriff of the county. He then moved to Kent- 
land, where he has since resided. Since that time, he has been twice re-elected, 
making a successive term of nearl}'^ six years — perhaps tlie longest on record. Mr. 
S. is a Royal Arch Mason of Kentland Chapter, No 89; a member of Kentland 
Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; also of K. of P., Damon Lodge, No. 72, and he was the first 
Past Chancellor of that lodge; in all of these he has had office, and has represinted 
the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. in the Grand Lodge. His wife died in April, 1877, 
leaving three small children— Sidney G., Frank E. and Olivia J. In politics, he is 
Republican. 

ELAM G. SMITH, druggist, Kentland, was born September 14, 1838, in Portage 
County, Ohio, and is the eldest in a family of five, two of whom are living. David 
and Catharine (Richards) Smith, his parents, are natives of Stark County, Ohio, the 
former still living at the age of seventy-one, in Cleveland, Ohio; the latter died in 
1860. both active members of the M. E. Church. Mr. S. was steward and leader in 
his church for many years. Elam G. had a common school education, attendetl a 
seminary at Franklin Mills two terms, and Oberlin College three terms. He taught 
in winter, and worked and handled stock in summer. In 18!'»0, Mr. S. married Miss 
Sarah A. Neisz, of Stark Counly, Ohio, and in November, 1861, Mr. S., with his 
brother-in-law, started for Newton County, Ind., in a two-liorse covered wagon, 
through swamps, over corduroy bridges and througli dense forests of Western Ohio and 
Eastern Indiana, taking a hard <lay's drive to go through the twelve-mile woods in 
Van Wert County, Ohio. After twenty-three days, he landed at the farm given to 
him and wife by his father-in-law, John W. Nei.sz, known as the " George Spitler " 
farm, the house or cabin being in the timber. His wife and babe came by railroad 
a month later, arriving at Trivolia. where Mr. S. met them. The house, a log cabin, 
was the first court liouse in Jasper and Newton Counties. It had one room, one 
window, one door. The furniture consisted of a bed. tal)le, three stools and a cup- 
board, all manufactured l)y Mr. S., there being no furniture for sale in Kentland. 
In case of company, th<' trunks were pulled out. Mr. S. taught that winter in the 
Marsh or Treadway Schoolhousi;. After two unsuccessful attempts to raise a crop, 
he abandoned farming, built a dwelling in Kentland, chopping and liauling timber 



744 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

to the mill for lumber, riving the lath, quarrying stone and burning lime. The fifth 
and last term of school he taught was in the IJ. B. Church of Kentland, now the 
Christian Church, there being no schoolhouse in Kentland; enrollment 120; in the 
fall and winter of 1863 or 1864. He taught his first term in Crawford County, 
Ohio, when a boy of eighteen years. He had been studying medicine for three or 
four years, had procured a subject from Chicago, and a room in the court house 
was improvised for dissecting. Hs read during the day, dissected at night, and in 
this way made himself acquainted witli the sciences of anatomy and physiology. 
In 1834, he opened a drug store with his father-in-law, John Niesz, a regular prac- 
titioner, styling the same "Niesz & Smith." Subsequently, Dr. N. sold out to 
George A. Robinson, the firm then becoming "Smith & Robinson." Soon after, 
they bought out Oscar Phelps' drug store, and thus the firm remained several years. 
After the death of Mr. R., Mr. Smith bought the other share. The firm was known 
as Smith's drug store. He had a partner, H. K. Warren, for several months, but 
most of the time Mr. S. has managed the store and also attended to a lucrative 
practice. In the fire of 1870, he lost nearly all his stock, without insurance. In less 
than twenty-four hours, he had a building 16x33, and sold from what had been saved. 
He made immediate arrangements for building a two-story brick on Third and 
Graham streets, which was completed and stocked in 1871, since which time he has 
done a successful drug and fancy goods business. June, 1883, the Doctor sold his 
stock of drugs, etc., to Dr. R. C. McCain, Dr. S. reserving his proprietory medi- 
cines— "Smith's Cough Syrup," "Smith's Asthma Cure," and "Smith's Little 
Cathartic Pellets." These medicines were copyrighted in 1879 and 1880. They have 
an extensive sale, and are the Doctor's own prescriptions. Three children have been 
born to Mr. S.— Elmer W., Lindley A. and Emma D. The youngest died in her 
third year. The Doctor is a member of Newton Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M. Both 
parents are members of the M. E. Church. 

WILLIAM L. SPALDING, agricultural implements salesman, Kentland, 
Ind., was born December 11, 1843, in Crawford County, Penn., and is a son of Russell 
and Lucina (Thompson) Spalding, the former a native of New York, the latter of 
Vermont. The latter died in Pennsylvania in 1856. The father is now living in 
Kentland at the advanced age of eighty years. His second marriage, in 1858, was 
to Lavinia Baker, of Pennsylvania. By his first marriage he had six children, 
two of whom are now living — William and Frances. The mother, an infant and 
Oscar all died the same day, the latter dying of whooping cough, and were buried 
in the same grave in Pennsylvania. John S. came here from Ohio, on a visit with his 
wife, for a recreation from business, in 1877, and died before he had been here one 
month. He was an active worker and Sunday school superintendent in the M. E. 
Church of his town. Jasper died November 15, 1882, presumably being the cause 
of his own death, and that of his wife and child, all of whom were found dead on 
the floor in their house. They lived two miles southeast of Raub, had a pleasant, 
happy home, and it is thought that emotional insanity was the cause of this shock- 
ing deed. They are buried in the cemetery at Kentland, Ind. William L., the 
subject of this sketch, w^as reared on the farm, and with his parents came to 
Newton County, Ind., in 1868, and settled on his farm three miles from Kentland. 
which he improved, and at the present time has rented to another person. He was 
married, April, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth J. Harwood, of Ohio. They have had three 
children — Bertlia A., Maggie M. and Grace M. Bertha died in March, 1873, aged 
about one year. In politics, Mr. S. is a Republican. 

JOHN B. SPOTSWOOD, editor, Kentland, is a native of Richmond, Va., 
born September 18, 1835, and is a son of R. G. W. and Eliza Spotswood, a daughter 
of William Walling Henning, autlior of "Henning's Justice " — a work for Justices 
of the Peace; he also compiled the statutes at large of Ihe United States. Mr. and 



TOWN OF KENTLAND AND JEFFERSON TOWNSEIIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 745 

Mrs. Spotswood were natives of Virginia, where the former, who was a planter and 
a Mason, lie.s buried. Tlie tjrandfather of our subject iissistod in the trial of Aaron 
Burr, and died in 183(5. Mrs. Spotswood was afterward married, in 1837, at Cul- 
peper Court House, to Rev. John F. Schermerhorn, of the Dutch Reform CMiurch, 
who was Indian Commissioner one term, and a personal friend of Gen. Jackson. 
She died in Perryville. Ind. ; was a poetess, and published the second article ever sent 
on the telci^raph from Washin^^ton to Baltimore. That same production, with other 
of her poems are published in " Saunder's Rhetorical Reader." She was the 
mother of six children, three by each husband, all of whom, save one, are living. 
He (Richard E.), died in the United States service at Memphis, Tenn., July, 
1863. John B. received his edncation from his mother, who was highly educated, 
with whom he came to Carroll County, Ind., settled on a farm, and worked at farm- 
ing until 1861, when he came to Newton County, Ind. He farmed one year, read 
law three years, practiced some, and in 1867 became editor and publisher of tiie 
Newton County Democrat. He continued this five years, then practiced law two 
years, when he started the People's Press, a Greenback paper, in which business he 
continued, publishing his last paper March 30, 1883. The great Kentland fire of 
April 5, 1883, burnt building, press, paper and all. Mr. Spotswood is a member of 
the Episcopal Church, and in politics a Greenbacker. 

JOSEPH STATON, farmer, was born March 1, 1839, in Boone County, Ind.. 
and is a son of Joseph and Caroline Staton. the former a native of Virginia, the 
latter of Kentucky. The father died in 1881, aged seventy-nine. He was one of 
the pioneers of Boone County ; came through Newton County at an early day, 
riding seventy-five miles from one house to another. He hunted in this part of the 
country when the Indians had possession. He was a fine marksman, and could take 
in a deer on the run almost every time. Mrs. Staton is living in Wilson County, 
Kan., and about seventy-six years old. Our subject came to this county with his 
father in 1851, and remained about three years; thence to State Line, where he 
enlisted August, 1862, in Company E, Seventy-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry. Col. A. W. Mack. This regiment went to camp at Kankakee; thence to* 
Columbus, Ky.; thence to Bolivar, Tenn., and thence to La Grange, where he took 
the measels, and afterward took cold, from which he has never recovered. He was 
discharged March 27, 1863. He settled on the farm where he now resides, in 1864, 
and owns 160 acres of well-improved and located land in Section 3, four miles north- 
cast of Kentland. He has as good a home as this part of the county offers, and is 
classed among the well-to-do of the neighborhood. February 10, 1860, he married 
Miss Sarah J., daughter of Amo.« and Mary Wiiite, pioneer residents, late of this 
county. The union has produced eight children— Ella. Richard (deceased), John, Car 
rie, Mary (deceased), Jephtha. Lafayette and Myrtle R. Ella was married, September. 
1881, to Millard Barnes, of Iro(|Uois County, 111. They have two children— William 
M. and John S. Air. and Mrs. Staton arc members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and Mr. Staton is a member of Newton Lodge, No. 361, F. & A. M., and a Repub- 
lican. 

JOHN W. S. ULREY, Sherill of Newton County, was born October 24. 1846. 
in Clermont County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Mary (Turner) Ulrey, natives of 
Ohio, who were married in 1832. • The mother has been a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church since her seventeenth year. The father has been a skilled work 
man at the carpenter business. Both are now living on a farm in this county. Mr. 
Ulrey cast his first vote for Henry Clay in 1832. and lias voted for every President 
since. He is a Republican. They came to Jennings County, Ind., in 1847, and to 
Newton County in lH(i6. John W. S. received a common .school education, besides 
attending an academy one year. During the war. he came to North Vernon on his 
way to Indianapolis to enlist. He had but If 1 in his possession. The conductor 



746 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : 

could not take him to Indianapolis for that amount. "All right," said Ulrey, 
" take me just as far as you can for the dollar, and I will walk the rest of the way." 
When a "dollar's worth of ride " had been taken, the conductor came around, and 
Ulrey explained by telling him that was all the money he had; that he was going to 
Indianapolis to enlist; that the cause was a good one, etc. To this argument the 
ticket-puncher-man "tumbled," and took him all the way. He then went to Camp 
Carrington, where he enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment. His 
father had him mustered out because of his extreme youth. A few days later, Au- 
gust, 1863, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, and remained in the army until the war closed. On leaving for the 
South, his father met him at the depot, gave him some good advice, the engine whis- 
tled, John started on his way a happy boj'. He was married in 1869, to Miss Nancy 
E. Smoot, of Julian, Ind. They have two children — Clyde and Morton. Mrs. Ulrey 
is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Ulrey is a member of the K. of P. 
and McHolland Post of G. A. R. He engaged in farming after the war; was elected 
on the Republican ticket in 1880, and re-elected in 1882, to his present office, his term 
expiring November, 1884. He is living in Keutland, owning and overseeing a farm in 
Iroquois Township. He attended public school two years after leaving the armj-, 
being allowed that time because of .services rendered to the Government while un- 
der age. Mr. Ulrey has also held township offices. His opponent in 1880, had held 
the office one term, and proved himself efficient. Mr. Ulrey says, " He gave me an 
awful close chase, having been a popular candidate both of the Democrat and 
Greenback party." In 1882, his party again nominated him against Mr. Ulrey. Both 
ran well, and ahead of their tickets, but Mr. Ulrey received a majority of 344. In' 
five townships he had more votes than any Republican on the ticket. In his own 
township, he received two-thirds of the votes cast for both candidates. 

PETER H. WARD, Circuit Judge, Kentland, was born October 20, 1835, in 
Columbiana County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Eliza N. (Morgan) Ward, the 
former a native of South Carolina, the latter of Ohio. They had seven children, 
four of whom are living. They died at advanced ages, both members of the society 
of Friends; universally beloved. The Judge was reared on a farm. In addition to 
public schools, he attended at Marlboro, Ohio, taughtby A.Holbrook, one of Ohio's 
most distinguished educators; also attended at Salem, Ohio, and is a graduate of 
the law school at Indianapolis, class of 1868; was admitted to the bar the same year; 
came to Kentland in 1870 and has practiced in and around Newton County, and in 
the Supreme Court. In 1883, he was appointed Circuit Judge by Gov. A. G. Porter, 
to succeed Hon. E. P. Hammond, who had been appointed Supreme Judge of the 
Thirtieth Judicial Circuit. December 25, 1859, Judge Ward married Miss Mary D. 
Windle, of Columbiana County, Ohio, who died October 29, 1866, leaving two chil- 
dren — Carrie M. (deceased) and Theona M. Mrs. W. was a member of the society 
of Friends. After his marriage, our subject engaged in farming in Ohio, and was 
also interested in the oil trade in Pennsylvania. He next married, September 2, 1873, 
Miss Mary S. Shaeffer, of Lancaster, Ohio. They had two children, one, Herbert S., 
still living. Mrs. W. is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Judge W. is a Re- 
piiblican; also a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 396, and of Kentland Chapter, 
No. 89, R. A. M. The Judge's position is an illusfration of what may be attained by 
application and integritj'. 

CAPT. HORACE K. WARREN was born in Oneida County, N. Y., November 
3, 1833. In 1836, he moved with his parents to Lenawee County, Mich., locating 
near Adrian, then a wilderness, now a thriving city. At an early age, he became a 
clerk in the post office of Adrian, and remained for several years when he took a po- 
sition on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad for three j'^ears, and in No- 
vember, 1857, came with his parents to Brook, Newton Co., Ind. When the war toe- 



TOWN OF KKNTLAND AND JKFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 747 

sin souuded in IHOl, he enlisted under Gen. Milroy, and was commisaioned by Gov. 
O. P. Morton First Lieutenant of tlie Iroquois Rangers, and assigned to Company H, 
Fifteentli Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. On the following June, he was 
mustered into the three years' service, went to the front and participated in the bat- 
tle of Rich Mountain, driving the enemy to Carrick's Ford, Philippi, Beverly, Hut 
tonville and Cheat Mountain; was in the engagement in Tigart's Valley that disput- 
ed (yen. Lee's grand army a pass to the Ohio River, and had the honor of receiving 
Gen. Lee under a flag of truce. In December, lH(il, he came with the command 
down the Ohio to Louisville, K3'., was l)rigaded under Gen. Nelson, and participated 
in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Perryvilie and all that memorable campaign. 
In March, 1S(5'3, he was commissiom-d Captain, and assigned to G. D. Wagner's 
staff, as Provost Marshal. At the battle of Stone River, he was woiinded by an ex- 
ploding shell, which killed his horse under him; his wounds unfitting him for active 
service, he resigned his commission in Februarj', 1863, and in that fall was elected 
Sheiiff of Newton County until 1866. He was re-elected in 1868 to same office, and 
again in 1870. In June, 187!), he was commissioned by Gov. Williams Coroner of 
Newton County. In the fall of 188'2, he assisted in organizing a post of G. A. R., 
and was elected its first Commander, which he still holds. In September, 1867, he 
married Miss Sallie McLain, of Iroquois County, 111. Two children were born to^ 
them— Willie H. (born July !), 18fis, died April >27. 1869) and Clara Mary. Mr. War-* 
ren resides at Cherry Grove, near Kontland. 

JOHN WELDON. farmer, was born June V2, 1809, in .Meath County, Ireland. 
In Januarv. 1832, he married Bridget Mead, of the same county, and emigrated the 
same year, landing at Quebec after a fortj'-two days' voyage. Thence went to 
Plattsburg, N. Y., and worked one j'ear for the father of Gen. Halleck; for this 
service they together received $16 per month. They moved from New York in 
1838, and since he has worked on the farm. In 1849, he bought land in Grundy 
County, 111., where he remained until 1877, when he came to Benton County, Ind.; 
he has since bought in Newton County. He now owns 160 acres of good land one 
and one-half miles east of Kentland. and is classed among the best farmers of the 
county. He is the father of seven children — James (killed at the battle of Shiloh), 
John, Margaret, Thomas, David, Kate and Nancy. Mrs. Weldon died April 21, 
1872, aged si.xty-two. a member of the Catholic Church. Kate Weldon married, 
in 1868, Charles McNoun, a native of Canada; they have si.\ children. Miss Nanc}- 
Weldon married, in 1879, Fred Simons, of Utica, N. Y. ; they have three children, 
viz., Willie, Johnnie and Mary. Messrs. Simons and McNoun each own one-quarter 
section of land two miles east of Kentland. Their land is well improved, and joins 
that of Mr. Weldon. They are good farmers, and all are Greenbackers. 

NATHANIEL WEST, farmer, was born in Salem, Mass., October 15, 1815, and 
is a son of Nathaniel and Mary B. (White) West, both natives of Mas.sachusetts, 
wlio had eight children, three of whom are living. They moved West in 1836, and 
settled in Indianapolis. The father died in 1842, aged fifty-seven; the mother in 
18")9, aged fifty-eight. Botii were members of the Unitarian Church. Nallianiel 
West had good educational adv.mtages, being able to enter the freshman da.ss at 
Harvard College at the age of fifteen, and from which he graduated with eighty-two 
others in the Class of 1H34, there bi-ing but one younger than Mr. West. For al)out 
ten years he was manager in the farming :ind milling business in Indianapolis, and 
subsecjuently engaged in real estate, in wliich lie continued in that city until 1860, 
when he came to Newton Count}-, .settling in Kentland, and still continuing the 
real estate imtil 1868; when he was elected Clerk of the Court of Newton County, 
on the Independent ticket. He held this office near three years, when he resigned 
in favor of Andrew Hall, the newly elected Clerk. Mr. West owned a farm of 240 
acres southwest of Kentland, and, desiring to improve it, he moved from Kentland 
about that time, and has continued there. He is well located, with evidence of a 



748 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

retired, happy home. He was first married, in 1843, to Miss Esther J. Harvey, of 
Wayne County. They had one child, Francis, who died in 1878. The mother died 
in 1845, aged twenty-two, a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. West was next 
married, in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth A. Cook, of Indianapolis, to which union have 
been born eight children, all living — Lillie, Charles H., William, Alexander L., Ada, 
Clara, Mary and Howard, the first being the first child born in Keutland. Mrs. 
West is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. West is a Democrat. 

JULIEN N. WHITE, farmer, was born February 16, 1861, in Will County, 
111. He is the son of Timothy and Joan (Witherell) White, natives of Massachu- 
setts. The father died in January, 1881, aged fifty-eight; the mother in 1863. Three 
children were born to these parents — Edwin, Arthur and Julien. Mr. White was 
married twice, the second time to Isabel Anderson, of New York, by whom he had 
five children, three of whom are now living — Ella,Nettie and Alfred; the deceased are 
Almira, in January, 1882, aged seventeen years; and Rosa Bell, in 1875, aged one 
year. Mrs. White died in 1877, aged about thirty-four. Julien N. had a fair edu- 
cation, and worked on his father's farm during most of his boyhood days. At the 
age of eighteen, he went to Kansas with two horses and a wagon, and spent one 
year, besides considerable money. He then settled to business on the farm. Sep- 
tember 11, 1883, he married Miss Ella Littlejohn, daughter of William Littlejohn, 
late of Newton County. They have one child — Willie. Mr. White owns a small 
farm, and has a bright prospect for his years. In politics, he is a Republican. 

GEORGE W. WHITE, farmer and stock-dealer, deserves notice in the history 
of the county. He was born July 1, 1827, in Hamilton County, Ohio, a son of Reu- 
ben and Cornelia (Brocaw) White, natives of Ohio. The father died March 3, 1875, 
aged seventy-five; he was a farmer, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and a Republican. The mother died March 30, 1870, in her sixty-seventh year, also 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had six children, three of 
whom, Joseph, George and Richard, are living. Joseph lives in Franklin County, 
Ark., and Richard in San Diego County, Cal. George W. White attended school 
and worked on the farm during his bojiiood, and began for himself when twenty- 
one- He rented while in Ohio, but bought in this county in 1847, moved hither in 
1856, and settled on the Iroquois River for twenty-six yeai's, after which he removed 
to where he now lives, three miles northeast of Kentland.in 1882. He owns 600 acres of 
improved land, showing that he has been successful; he is now nicely located. Jul'. 
4, 1855, he married Miss Jane Myers, of Newton County. Her step-father is Col. 
John Myers, a soldier of the war of 1813. These parents have had eight children — 
Charlie, William H. (deceased), Sherman, Effie Priscilla, Jacob A., Ida G., Nora. 
and James (deceased). Mr. White is a Republican. 

JOHN WHITEAKKER, farmer, was born February 8, 1833, in Fayette County, 
Ind. His parents are Thomas and Elizabeth (Seward) Whiteakker, the former a 
native of Kentucky, the latter born at North Bend, Ohio, in a block fort, while the 
Indians without were doing their murderous work. The father was farmer and 
hunter, a private in the war of 1812, and one of the early pioneers of Indiana. 
About the year 1833, he made a trip from Fayette County to the Wabash. It re- 
quired .seventeen days to go and return on foot. In making this trip, he did not see 
a white man, nor did he sleep in house or tent. The first human being he saw was 
an Indian chief, whom he shot and killed instanter. Soon after, he met two Indi- 
ans who asked him for slugs (bullets) ; he took from his pouch a handful of bullets, 
dropping them into their hands in such a way that they fell through their fingers 
into the leaves. They stooped to pick them up, and while in that stooping position 
he drew from his breast inside pocket a tomahawk, and killed them both before 
they arose. He died near Indianapolis that same year, at the age of about forty. 
He was twice married. The second marriage was about the year 1818, to Miss Sew- 
ard. By her he had three children— Ruth, John and Sarah A. The mother died 



TOWN OF KENTLAND ANU JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTV. 749 

April 28, 1873, aged eighty-one; she had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church forty years. John went to school about seven months in his life; he was 
reared on the farm of his grandfather, Samuel Seward, near Connersville, Ind. Mr. 
Seward was farmer, tanner and shoe-maker. Mr. Whiteakkcr, on his eighteenth 
birthday, started for Benton County, with his cousin Jo.seph Ward. They came to 
the grove on Mud Pine, near where Oxford now stands; he had 35 cents on arriving. 
He hired to Mr. Ward for three years, receiving one horse, saddle and bridle, f50 in 
money, and three suits (two everyday and one "freedom suit"). He invested his 
earnings in Xewton (then Jasper) County, where lie now lives, four and one half 
miles northwest of Kentlaiul; this was in 1847. He paid -fO per acre for thirty acres 
of timber and forty of prairie. He now owns 227 acres in Xewton Count}', eighty 
in Knox County, and eighty acres in Osborn Count}-. Kan. He has been very suc- 
cessful in business, and is classed among the responsible, well-to-do farmers of the 
count}'; he sold about the first lot of corn that Mr. A. J. Kent ever bought in this 
county. He was married in September, 1844, to Miss Sarali Smith, of Benton Coun- 
ty. They had three children — Elizabeth, Hannah and Thomas. Hannah died 
September 22, 1851, aged two years; Thomas died September 17, 1852, aged one 
year. Mrs. Sarah Williams died August 27, 1852, aged thirty-one; was a member 
of the M. E. Church almost all her life. Mr. Williams was next married, in 1856, 
to Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, a cousin of the former Mrs. Whiteakker. Their children 
by this marriage were William and James; William died August 15, 18.55, aged eight 
n:onths. The mother died December 21, 1857, aged twenty-seven; she was a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. Mr. Whiteakker had the misfortune to lose his house 
by fire January 9, 1883. The family record and the principal part of his household 
goods were destroyed. In politics, he is Republican; formerly was a Whig. 

ADDISON WILLIAMS, farmer, was born November 5, 1827, in Fayette 
County, Ind., and i>< a son of Samuel and Susan (Hacklemau) Williams. The father 
died about 1841 ; the mother in 18G8, aged eighty-eight years. The}"^ had six children. 
Addison had poor school advantages, and worked for his father, and later by the 
month a few years; earned a team, and subsequently bought forty, then eighty, then 
320, then 200, acres, since which he "has backed his neighbors off a little," until 
now he owns more than 1.200 acres, having been remarkably successful, adding 
farm to farm, and is among the wealthy and re.'^pected farmers of the county. In 
1847. he married Miss Catherine Martin, of Darke County, Ohio, which alliance 
produced eight children — Leah, Carpenter. Susan, Margaret (deceased). Esther. 
Thomas. Martha, and Cornelia (deceased). ICsther married William Staton Decem- 
ber 25. 1871. and died February 15. 1873, aged seventeen and one-half years; Leah 
married Charles Cleaner, of Illinois; Carpenter married Mary Murray, of New York; 
Su-isan married (ieorge D. Major, of Ohio; Thomas married Vina Wilson, of Illi- 
nois; Martha married George Schyver. of Ohio. Mrs. Williams died suddenly, July 
30, 1882, aged fifty-five, of heart disease, a member of the Christian Church, and 
well beloved by all. Mr. Williams is a Democrat. 

JOSEPH J. WILT, engineer, Kentland. was born Octoi)er 11, 1848. in Lehigh 
County, Penn. His parents were Aaron and Mary (Moyer) Wilt, both natives of 
Pennsylvania, where llie former is still living, a farmer, member of the Lutheran 
Church, and a Democrat; he is seventy-two, and in good health. The latter died in 
1857. a member of the Heformi'd (Miurch. They had eight children, five of 
whom are living. Joseph J. Wilt in youth attended school and worked on the farm; 
at eighteen began work in the mill: he served one year, and as .^^econd miller for 
five years; then went to eiigineeiiiig. in which he has been engaged eleven years, 
and in tlie Kentland Mill as engineer eight years, which is proof of his elliciency, 
especi.illy as he has never been the cause of an accident, having few equals and no 
superiors in his vocation. In 18(59, he married Miss Louisa Stowe, of Wliite Coun- 
ty, Ind. Theirehildren were MoUie E., Almira E. and Lulu May; Mollie E. died in 



750 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

July, 1873, aged nine months. Mrs. Wilt is a member of the M. E. Church, and 
Mr. Wilt is a Democrat. 

ABRAJVI G. WITHROW, farmer, was born August 7, 1833, in Butler County, 
Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Grafft) Withrow, natives of Ohio. The 
father was a farmer, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Democrat. 
The mother died in 1835, aged thirty-seven years, also a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Tiiey had six children — Eliza (deceased), Granderson (deceased), 
Julia A., Eunice E., Jane and Abram. Samuel Withrow afterward married Ann 
Moorehead, of Ohio. They had two children— Matthew T. and James D., both de- 
ceased. The latter enlisted from;the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, in 
the 75,000 call; re-enlisted, and died at Jefferson Barracks, February, 1863, aged 
twenty-seven. Mrs. Withrow died in 1854— a member of the Metliodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Withrow next married Mrs. Ellen Lloyd, of Ohio, who bore him no 
children. Mrs. (Lloyd) Withrow is still living, and had one child — Robert. Sam- 
uel Withrow died December 3, 1871, aged eighty years. Abram G. Withrow worked 
on the farm and attended school until he was twenty-three, and later farmed near 
Dayton, Ind. January 1, 1869, he married Theressa Williams, of Will County, 111. 
After marriage he settled near Dayton and i-emained until the following October, 
then went to Illinois, remaining until the next March, then moved to Butler County, 
Ohio, where he remained twelve years, and moved to Newton County, Ind., August, 
1873, to the farm he now owns. He is a respected, progressive farmer, and the 
father of seven children— Samuel J., James L., Leroy C, Robert C. L. (deceased), 
Anna E., Joseph C. (deceased), and Walter A. Both parents are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Withrow is a Republican. 

CLARK A. WOOD, wagon and carriage maker, was born January 13, 1833, in 
Rensselaer County, N. Y,, and is a son of Jerrod L. and Elizabeth (Fuller) Wood, 
natives of New York, the former born 1800, died 1879. The latter died in 1833. 
They had four children, and were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
was a Democrat until 1860, and afterward a Republican. Clark A. Wood worked at his 
trade during the day; attended a school at night for three years. He worked at his 
trade three years, and then moved to Bureau County, 111., where he continued four 
years, and accumulated $1,500, which he lost in wild cat money. He came to 
Newton County in 1857; and engaged in building the lirst sulkj^ corn-plows in this 
county, made for Amos White. In 1858, he built the stock barns of A. J. Kent, and 
later moved to Momence; thence to La Fayette in 1859, where he remained until 
1861, then returned to Newton Countj% built a house, arranged for his family, and 
enlisted in Company E, Ninety-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Au- 
gust 11, 1863. The regiment did guard duty on the Memphis & Charleston Rail- 
road, and in 1863 went to Vicksburg under Sherman, and thence to Jackson. They 
were also in the battle of Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign of 104 days; thence 
" from Atlanta to the sea ;" thence to Washington, and took part in the grand re- 
view, and thence to Indianapolis, where they were mustered out. Mr. Wood opened 
a wagon shop with Mr. Leaming in Kentland, and continued two years, when, his 
health failing, he went into business with William Ross, and continued two years, 
and then into Kent's store. In 1879, he opened his carriage and wagon shop, and 
has continued since, doing good work and a good business. April 29, 1858, Mr. 
Wood married Miss Elizabeth Moore, of Newton County. They had two children 
— Hubert J. and Clark A. Mrs. Wood died November 30, 1865, a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, though raised in the Quaker faith. Mr. Wood next 
married Mrs. Sarah J. Test, daughter of G. B. Myers, of White County, Ind. She 
had one daughter — Lizzie Gertrude Test. The children of the second marriage are 
Matta M., Lillie B. and Mezzie C. The parents are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. Mr. Wood is a member of the Masonic fraternity, McHoUand Post, 
G. A. R. He is also a Republican. 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND GRANT TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 751 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND GRANT TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM BANES, gentTal iiRTchiint, was born in the Dominion of Canada 
on June 29, IKW, and is the third of tlie ten cliildien of William and Betsy Ana 
(Mills) Banes, and is of English de.seent. His parents were born in England — his 
father in Yorkshire, his mother in Devonshire. They still reside in Canada. Our 
subject came to the States when he was sixteen j'ears old, and began life on his own 
responsibility. He came to Benton County, and worked on a farm bj' the month 
for William Mills, an uncle. In 1871, he began clerking in a store at Remington, 
Ind.. being engaged in that duty for nine years, the most of the time at Goodland. 
His education was confined to the common schools of Canada, the district schools 
of Benton County, Ind., the public schools Remington, Ind., and the Northern 
Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind. In April, 1881, he formed a partnership 
in general merchandise with William Mills, at Goodland, this connection existing 
until April, 1882, when Mr. Banes began the business alone. In this he still con- 
tinues, and he has f(5,000 invested. The sales receipts last year were $25,000. Mr. 
Banes was married on November 13, 1879, to Aurelia I. Spinney, daughter of Arthur 
J. and Susanna Spinney. To this union was born one child. Myrtle B. Mr. B. is 
a Republican in politics. His first Presidential vote was cast for Hayes. He and 
his wife are both members of the Christian Church. He is one of the prominent 
young business men of the county. 

J. W. BEAR is a native of Carroll County, Ind., born July 16, 1847, and is the 
tenth of thirteen children of George and Maria (De Walt) Bear, and of German 
ancestry. His parents were born in Pennsylvania,removing when quite young to Car- 
roll County, Ind., where they settled eight miles northeast of Delphi, and remained 
until the death of his father, which occurred in 1860. His mother, after a time, 
married again, and, in 1865, came to Newton County, where she still resides. Mr. 
Bear's early education was confined to the common schools of Carroll Count)^ but 
through his own efforts he has acquired a thorough business education. When but 
fourteen years of age, he commenced life for him.self. working on a farm for $7 a 
month. In 1867, he came to Goodland, and began clerking in the general store of 
Church & Hartley. In 1880, he opened a grocery, in which business he continued 
a short time, then went to farming. Besides superintending his farm, he directed, 
for two years, the construction of the C. & G. S. Railway. He now has 160 acres 
of well-improved land, four miles north of Goodland, besides a pleasant home in 
Goodland. Mr. B. commenced life with $37.50, given him bj' his fatlier, and is now 
worth $8,000, all made by his own exertion. His marriage took place centennial 
year. May 17, to Emily M. McCurry, a native of Jefferson County, Ind., and 
<laughter of John and Elizabeth McC'urry. Mr. and Mrs. Bear are members of the 
M. E. Church. In politics, Mr. B. is a stanch Republican, and one of the sound 
and practical business men of Goodland, and a most pleasant and reliable gentleman. 

HIRAM BURGESS, druggist, a native of Washington County, N. Y., born 
Jidy 9, 1832, is the son of John C. and Acsah (Christe) Burgess, and is of Scotch- 
German descent. His parents were also i)orn in New York, and were among the 
pioneers of Washington County. There the mother died in March, 1M60, and his 
father in July, 1865. His early education was obtained in the common schools of 
his native State. In addition, he has gained a thorough business education. At the 
death of his father, he came into possession of the old Burge.ss homestead on the 
shore of Lake George. In 1867, he came to Will County. 111., remaining three 



Ib'l BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

years, going from there to Grant Township, Newton Co., Ind., where he purchased 
120 acres of wild prairie, two miles from Goodland. This farm he cultivated and 
lived upon until 1873, when he came to Goodland and engaged in the drug business, 
which he still continues. In 1872, he built the Burgess Block, a most substantial 
building, with a frontage of sixty-two feet on Newton street, by eighty-six feet 
deep on Union street. It cost $6,600, and is an honor to the town and a credit to 
the enterprising spirit of Mr. Burgess. In this building is his store, in which he 
has a stock of drugs unexcelled in the county. Mr. Burgess was married, January 
14, 1855, to Miss Tirza Warren, a daughter of N. A. Warren, of Essex County, 
N. Y. Three children have been born to them — Eliza G., Elmer and Edward A. 
The last died in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Burgess are members of the M. E. Church, and 
for ten successive years he has been Superintendent of the Sabbath school. He is a 
thorough Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote for John C. 
Fremont. He is one of Newton County's most prominent citizens, is greatly 
respected, and is a most earnest Christian gentleman. 

C. E. BURGESS was born in Washington County, N. Y., March 17, 1854, and is 
second in a family of six children of Charles and Jane (Barrett) Burgess, and of 
German extraction. His parents, also natives of New York, removed, when he was 
three j^ears old, to Will County, 111., and from there, in 1872, to Grant Township, 
Newton Co., Ind., where his father died in March, 1880. His mother still lives in 
Goodland. On account of the poor health of his father, Mr. Burgess took control 
of the farm, which he still manages. In politics, he is a Republican; cast his first 
Presidential vote for Hayes. He is a member of the M. E. Church since 1880. His 
early education was confined to the common schools of Will County, 111., and 
Newton County, Ind.; but he has acquired more than an ordinary business educa- 
tion, and is one of the most prominent young farmers in the coimty, and an honor- 
able citizen. 

HENRY SUTLER is a native of England, born December 28, 1832, and the 
younger of two children of Henry and Fanny F. (Parker) Butler. His parents were 
born in England, where his father died in 1868, and his mother still lives, at the age 
of seventy-two years. His marriage occurred September 29, 1857, to Sarah A. Roul- 
ston, daughter of John and Elizabeth Roulston, of Leicestershire, England. To 
them have been born five children — Harry, West, Alfred, Fanny and Thomas, two 
of whom are deceased. After his marriage, he commenced business as a butcher in 
Birmingham, which maybe called the "Pittsburgh of England." In 1865, he left 
Birmingham and came to America, landing at New York City November 4 of that 
year. He spent two years in Chicago, and one and a half years in Belvidere, 111., 
after which he came to Grant Township, Newton County, and broke prairie two 
years, also keeping a meat market as soon as the town would support it. From 1871 
to 1878, he kept a market in Goodland; then farmed two j'ears, again returning to 
the market business. He is in politics a Republican, a successful business man, and 
one of the substantial citizens of Goodland. • 

W. B. CANINE, Postmaster, was born June 19, 1832, in Shelby County, Ky., 
and is the oldest of seven children of Abraham and Sarah (Leffler) Canine, and is of 
German lineage. His parents were born in Kentucky, and came in 1832 to Mont- 
gomery County, Ind. ; in 1850, they moved to Jasper County, where the mother died 
in 1861. The father now resides in Marion County, Ind. The son w^orked at home 
on his father's farm until he was twenty-three years of age. In January, 1856, Mr. 
Canine married Martha E. Galey. Three cHildren were born to them — Ed gar L., 
Arthur E. and Minnie May. Two of these are dead, the mother also dying, Novem- 
ber 15, 1870. Mr. Canine again married in November, 1871. Miss C. L. Fountain 
became his wife, she having been born in Troy, N. Y. Two children have been 
horn to this union — Emma M. and William R. (deceased).. In 1875, Mr. C. came to 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND GRANT TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 753 

Goodland, and in 1878 lie was appointed Postmaster of this village, which position 
he still holds. In politics, he is a Republican. He is a member of Goodland Lodj;e, 
No. 346, I. O. O. F., being one of its charter members. 

RICHARD CONSTABLE, farmer, a native of Kent County, Eng., born July 1, 
1819, and is the second of nine children of Henrj' and Ann (Austen) Constable; 
both were English, and died in Kent County, England, the father in 1874, the 
mother two years previous. At the age of fourteen years, Richard was apprenticed 
as a clerk in a drj' goods store for seven years; then clerked live years for wages, and 
in 1843 he began business for himself in Battle, county of Sussex, Eng., where he con- 
tinued until 1849, when he came to America, landing at Chicago July 20. He was 
married, in Battle, Eng., April 4, 1843, to Mary Ann Knight, daughter of Jesse and 
Maria Knight, of Sussex County, Eng. To them have been born eight children — Clem- 
ent L., Emily, William, Richard, Benjamin A., Elizabeths., Edwin C. and Herl)crt. 
Four are dead. In the fall of 1849, he bought a farm near P]lgin, 111., and there lived 
four years; then moved to Will County, where he lived until 1869, when he came to 
Newton County, Ind., and settled in Grant Township, two and one-half miles from 
Goodland. He now owns 400 acres of well-improved land, with a fine residence. 
When he came to America, he had only $400; he is now worth $25,000. In politics, 
he is a Republican; cast his first Rresidenlial vote for John C. Fremont. Mr. and 
Mrs. Constable are members of the Baptist Church. He is a prominent man, and 
one of the most successful farmers in AVestern Indiana. 

JOHN L. COOKE, druggist, is a native of L.iwrence County, Ind., burn Octo- 
ber 14, 1857, and second of four children of Jacob and Martha (Potter) Cooke, and 
is of German-English descent. The parents were also born in Lawrence Count3% 
but in 1868 came to Goodland, where they remained a short time, moving upon a 
farm, and, after several changes, going to Cass County, Mo., where they now reside. 
His early education was obtained in the common schools of Lawrence Coun- 
ty and the graded school of Goodland. He has a thorough l)usiness ed- 
ucation, and is a member of the Indiana Pharmaceutical Association. In 1875, 
he began clerking in a drug store at Fowler, where he remained two years, 
and then came to (jroodland, where he is now one of the principal druggists 
of the town. Mr. Cooke was married, April 20, 1879, to Miss Flora L. Hopkins, 
daughter of W. A. andF. E. Hopkins, and a native of Ohio. He is a stanch Repub- 
lican; cast his first Presidential vote for James A. Garfield. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity since February, 1883. Goodland Lodge, No. 445. Mrs. Cooke is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cooke is one of the most prom- 
inent young men of Newton County, and has brilliant prospects in the science of 
medicine. 

WARREN V. COOLEY is a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., born August 
27, 1833, the second of six children of Jonathan and Amelia (Risley) Cooler, and 
of English extraction. His parents were born in Connecticut, and lived there until 
1854, when they came West and settled in La Salle County, 111., where they still re 
side, each having seen nearly three-fourths of a century. Mr. Cooley's earl)' edu 
cation was obtained in the common district .schools of New York, and the high 
school at Adams Center, in Jefferson County, N. Y. In 1858, he entered the Fow- 
ler's State and National Law School, at Powghkeepsie, N. Y., and having graduated 
from that school was admitted to the bar at Ottawa, 111., in 1866. Previous to en- 
tering the law school, he taught school three winters, and after his graduation taught 
four years, being the Principal of the Seventh Ward School in Ottawa, 111. His 
marriage took place June 12, 1862, to Emma (t. Strawn, daughter of Isaiah and Jane 
Strawn, of La Salle County, 111. In 1871, Mr. C'ooley came to Grant Township, 
Newton ('ounty, Ind., and settled about three miles southwest of Goodland, where 
he still resides. He has 120 acres of well-improved land. Politically, he is a Re- 



754 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

publican, and cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont. Centennial 
year, he was elected Trustee of Grant Township, but, owing to the change in the 
law he served but one and a half years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
since 1865, and was Master of the Goodland Lodge, N'o. 445 for three years. He is 
well informed on the topics of the day, and is one of tlie most prominent citizens 
of Newton County. 

DAVID CREEK, an old pioneer, is a native of Union County, Ind., son of 
John and Catharine (Cart) Creek, born April 2, 1809, and the eighth in a family of 
twenty-three children. His parents were born in Virginia in 1808, came to the ter- 
ritory now known as Union County, Ind. David was the second child born in the 
territory, his mother dying in 1811. His father was afterward twice married, and 
died in 1851. In 1830, David Creek came to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and remained 
until 1852, when he came to Newton County, and settled half a mile from the pres- 
ent site of Goodland. There were only two houses in Grant Township, and he 
bought both these claims. February 5, 1829, Mr. Creek was married to Miss Mar. 
garet Meek, daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Meek. Two children were born to 
them— Elizabeth and John. Mrs. Creek died October 10, 1835. July 30, 1836, Mr. 
Creek married Mary Meek, a sister of the first wife. Six children were born to this 
marriage — Moses, Thomas, Albert, Calvin, William and David; of these, four are 
deceased. Mrs. Creek died in October, 1848. Mr. Creek was next married, Febru- 
ary 24, 1850, to Mrs. Emily Wilson, who died November 24, 1881. In 1879, he moved 
to Goodland ; he is one of the most enterprising men in the county, and is known 
as " Father Creek." He was one of the Commissioners that divided the county from 
J asper. He has always taken a special interest in the public schools. He has been 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1852. He is a Republican. He 
had three sons in the late war. Albert was killed at the battle before Richmond. 

PHILIP EARL, an old pioneer of Newton County, was born in Bergen County, 
N. J., July 24, 1805, and is a son of Enoch and Phebe (Smith) Earl, and the seventh 
of eleven children, and of English-Irish descent. His parents were also natives of 
New Jersey, and died there at an advanced age. Mr. Earl began life for himself at 
the age of twenty years, and in 1828 came to Montgomery County, Ind., and engaged 
in farming. Here his marriage occurred July 29, 1829, to Mary Hawkins, daughter 
of Amos and Rachel Hawkins. To them were born seven children — Rachel, Phebe 
A., Prudence J., Mary E., Martha R., William H. and Sarah E. Of these, four are 
deceased. Mrs. Earl died April, 1866. Mr. Earl was married again, February, 1868, 
to Mrs. Lydia M. Hawkins, daughter of Ruben and Phebe Ward, and born in Dutch- 
ess County, N. Y. Mr. Earl came to Newton County in 1837, and settled on the 
Iroquois River, pre-empting a claim. It was in the daj^s of Indians, deer, and all 
manner of wildness. In 1875, he came to Goodland, where he still lives. He has 
been a life-long Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay. He 
is a member of the Christian Church, and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal. 
Mr. Earl is one of the oldest settlers in the county, and a prominent and well-known 
old gentleman. 

J. J. ECKMAN, Principal of the Goodland Schools, is a native of Greene County, 
Ohio, born August 30, 1855, the youngest of eight children of Henry and Mary 
(Bates) Eckm an, and is of German descent. When six months old, his parents re- 
moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., settling in Fairfield Township, where they 
died, the father in 1858, the mother in 1866. After his mother's death, he lived 
with an older sister four years, attending district school in the winter, and working 
by the month on a farm in summer. In the fall of 1871, he entered Roanoke Semi- 
nary, at Roanoke, Ind., where he remained two years. Since that time he hasbeen 
teaching. In 1878, he was elected Principal of the Goodland Schools, of which he 
still has charge. The schools have been very successful under his supervision, and 



TOWN OF OOODLAND AND CHANT TOWNSniT— NEWTON COUNTY. 755 

are fimong the best in the county. Mr. Eckman was married. June 29, 1880, to Miss 
Mary S. Petit, daui^hter of Antoine and Felicie Petit, a native of Watseka, 111. 
They have one child — Claud Antoine. In politic.-;, Mr. Eckman is a Republican, and 
<;ast his first Presidential vote for Horace Greeley. He has been a member of the 
I. O. O. F., since 1879. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Eckman is a .self-made man, much respected, and an influential citi- 
zen. The people of Goodland are to be congratulated on liaving such a man in 
charge of their schools. 

GEORGE gJ^jBRAITH was born in Scotland March 26, 1828, and is the sec- 
ond of four children of William and Ann (Wallace) Galbraith. His parents were 
natives of Scotland. In that country his father died when our subject was fourteen 
years of age; in the same country his mother died in 1881. In 1849. he came to 
America, and .settled in Ontario County, N. Y., where he was married, on Novem- 
ber 18, ISoO, to Diana Burdus, daughter of Thomas and Diana Burdus. His wife 
■was also born in Scotland. To tliem were born nine children — Anna L , Jes.sie D., 
William W., Thomas J., Sarah I., George B. M., Robert J., Forbes and Burdus, of 
-wiiom two are dead. In 18').'), Mr. Galbraith went to Will County, 111., and there re- 
mained until 1874, when he came to Grant Township. Newton County, and settled 
four and a half miles northwest of Goodland. He now owns 320 acres of well-im- 
proved land, and has been quite successful as a farmer. In politics, he is a Demo- 
crat. For President, Buchanan received his first vote. Since 1874, he has been a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. He and wife are both members of the Presby- 
terian Church. He has made his own waj' in life, his parents being poor, and is 
now in good circumstances, and one of the most prominent farmers and citizens in 
his township. 

HON. WILLIAM W. GILMAN, farmer, is a native of Essex County, N. Y., bom 
Sepl;'mber 4, 1834, and is tlie second of five children of Hiram and Elizabeth 
(Palmer) Gilman, and of English descent. His father was a native of Vermont, his 
motlier of New York. In 1853, his father left the old Empire State and went to 
Illinois; remained there two years, then went to Minnesota, and died there in 1868. 
His mother now resides in Dakota. Mr. Gilman left New York when he was 
twenty-one years of age, and went to Minnesota, where he lived seven years; then 
removed to Kankakee County, 111., remaining in the State five years; then, in the 
autumn of 1868, came to Grant Township, Newton Co., Ind., and settled in Good- 
land, purchasing, in 1869, the farm on which he now lives. On March 12, 1864, he 
married Miss H. C. Morse, daughter of William and Mary Morse, of Essex County, 
N. Y. They have had nine children — Minnie E., Hiram F., Merritt C, William 
H., Frederick D., Jessie C, Nellie E., Jennie C. and George D., of whom two are 
deceased. He is a radical Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lin- 
coln. In 1870, he was elected Trustee of Grant Township, and re-elected in 1872, 
serving four years. In 1874, he was elected Clerk of the District Court of Newton 
County. In 1880, he was elected Joint Representative from Nrwton and Jasper 
Counties, and re-elected in 1882. In the Legislature of 1880, he introduced a num- 
ber of bills, and in 1882 he introduced bills Nos. 7,' 8, 9, 18, 19, 170, 271 and 382. Of 
these, No. 170 became a law. The most important bill introduced by him was 
Hou'^e Bill No. 7. He has occupied official positions in Newton County for twelve 
years. Mr. and Mrs. Gilman have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
sinca 1864. As a candidate of his party, he is unknown to defeat, and is one of the 
party's leading men in AVest Indiana. He is a prominent citizen, and a man of ster- 
ling worth. 

DANIEL GRAY, Justice of the Peace and ex-County Commissioner, is a native 
of Steuben County, N. Y., a son of Levi and Tryphena (Baker) Gray, born August 
7, 1813, the second of ten children, and of English descent. His father was one of 

48 



756 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

the pioneers of Steuben County, and died there November, 1863. His mother died at 
Tiffin, Ohio. August, 1882. The education of Daniel Gray was confined to the com- 
mon schools of New York and Franklin Academy at Plattsburg, N. Y. He was 
married, November 19, 1835, to Miss Lydia Myrtle, daughter of Philip and Margare, 
Myrtle, of Steuben County, N. Y. Ten children have been born to them— Carrie. 
Thomas J., Catharine, Clara, Aaron, Ellen, Henry, James, Francis and Williamt 
Of these, three are deceased. Mrs. Gray died April 26, 1882, aged sixty-nine years. 
In 1868, Mr. Gray came to Grant Township, Newton County, and settled on a farm 
one and a half miles from Goodland. In March, 1881, he moved to Goodland, 
where he now resides. He is a stanch Republican, and one of the party leaders in 
Newton County. He cast his first Presidential vote for Harrison in 1836. In 1859, 
he was elected a member of the General Assembly of the State of New York, from 
Steuben County. He also filled the unexpired term of Richard Curen as County 
Commissioner. As a citizen, he is much respected, and is one of the most enter- 
prising men of the county. 

T. J. GRAY, dealer in hardware, stoves and agricultural implements, is a 
native of Steuben County, N. Y., and is a son of Daniel and Lydia (Myrtle) Gray, 
the second in a family of ten children, and of English descent. The early educa- 
tion of Mr. Gray was confined to the common schools of his native State. He also 
i attended Franklin Academy, at Plattsburg, N. Y., and the Genesee Wesleyan Sem 
nary, at Lima, N. Y. He has acquired a thorougli business education. He followed 
the occupation of a farmer until he came to Indiana in 1868. His marriage occurred 
December 16, 1866, to Cornelia Bellis, daughter of Charles and Eliza Bellis, born at 
Jerusalem, Yates County, N. Y. To this marriage was born one child— Clara, who 
is deceased, died April, 1881. In 1870, Mr. Gray engaged in the hardware business 
in Goodland, in partnership with Ports Wilson. He has now been in this business 
alone seven years, has $10,000 invested, and is one of the successful merchants of 
Goodland. He has also a farm near town. He is a radical Republican, cast his first 
Presidential vote for Lincoln. In 1879, he was elected Treasurer of the town of 
Goodland, which office he now holds. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. Mr. Gray has always manifested an enterprising spirit, and is 
one of the leading business men and influential citizens of Goodland. 

HAMILTON H. GREEN, furniture dealer and insurance agent, was born in 
Cherry Valley, Otsego County, N. Y., December 29, 1842, and is the third in a family 
of seven children of Daniel M. and Maria (Aurelia) Green, and of German descent. 
His parents were natives of New York. His mother still resides in her native county ; 
his father died there in 1875. His education was confined to the common schools of 
New York, attending school in winter, and working in summer. When eighteen years 
of age, he began learning the carpenter's trade, under the instruction of his father. 
At the age of twenty years, he began life for himself, in 1866 coming to Goodland. 
where he worked at his trade until 1879, when he engaged in the furniture business 
with A. T. McCurry. Mr. Green is the senior member of the firm. These gentlemen 
have the only furniture store in Goodland, and have $25,000 invested in stock. The 
marriage of Mr. Green took place November 22, 1869, to Miss Mosey Wilsey, daughter 
of Joseph and Sophronia Wilsey. She was also a native of the Empire State. They 
have one child— Daisy M. Mr. Green is in politics a Democrat; cast his first Presi- 
dential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1879. 
Mrs. Green is a member of the Advent Church. Mr. Green is a strong advocate of alj 
public enterprises, and of a liberal spirit. He'^helped build the first store in Good- 
land; takes much interest in the public schools, and is a most courteous gentleman. 
He represents ten of the leading fire insurance companies of the United States. 

E. L. HALL was born in Holmes County.^Ohio, May 5, 1837, and is the son of 
Edward and Sarah (McClure) Hall, is the sixth]of eleven children, and is of English 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND GRANT TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 757 

Irish and Scotch extraction. The father was horn in Jefferson County, Ohio, and 
afterward lived in Ilohnes County; was Circuit Judire for six years, and one of the 
pioneers and representative men in the early history of Ohio; he died December 8, 
1881, in Holmes County. His mother was horn in Virginia, and died in Holmes 
County in 1872. Mr. Hall worked on his father's farm until his nineteenth year. 
August 13, 1857, he married Salina Teel, who was a native of Seneca County, Ohio. 
They have had seven children— John E., Henrietta J., Mary, Matilda Clara, Frank 
S., Harry S. and Andrew. In April. ISfil, he enlisted in Company G. Sixteenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry; re-enlisted in September, 1861. in Company F, Nineteenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry; again enlisted in May. 1864, in Company I. One Hundred 
and Sixty-sixlli Ohio Volunteer Infantry (or National Guards), and was honorably 
discharged at Washington, D. C. in September, 1864. After the war, he remained 
in Holmes County, Ohio, until 1869, when he came to Newton County, Ind., and 
settled in Grant Township, near Goodland, where he has 120 acres of good land. 
In politics, he is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln. He 
is a member of the G. A. R. In 1874, he was made As.sessor of Grant Town.ship, 
and has held the ofllce ever since. He was a good soldier, and is one of the leading 
farmers and politicians of the county. 

HENRY G. IIECOX. a native of Oneida County, N. Y., son of Solomon and 
Cynthia (Birdsall) Hecox, was born June 19, 1834, and is the fourth of a family of 
six children, and of English lineage. His father is a native of Oneida County, N. 
Y., his mother of Connecticut. In 1859, the parents left the old Empire State, and 
went to Grundy County, 111., and in 1869 came to Newton County, Ind., settling two 
miles west of Goodland. Here the mother died October 7, 1871, the father October 
23, 1873. The grandfather of tiie subject of this mention was a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary war. Mr. Hecox received his education at the district schools of New 
York. In 1855, he came West, and settled in Grundy County, 111., remained there 
fourteen years, and in 1869 came to Grant Township, Newton Co., Ind., where he 
still resides. In 1871, he came into pos.session of what was known as the " Hecox 
Homestead." and he now owns 320 acres of well-improved land, situated near Good- 
land. Politically, he is a Democrat, and cast his first Presidential vote for Buchan- 
an. In 1878, he was elected Trustee of Grant Township, Newton Countj', serving 
two years. ^Ir. Hecox is a thorough gentleman, and an influential citizen. 

EBENEZER HUNTER, farmer, is a native of Ireland, born August 22, 1840, 
is the .son of Robert and Ke/.iah (Simpson) Hunter, the seventh of eleven children, 
and is of Scotch-Irish descent. His parents were born in Ireland, but our subject 
came to America when twenty-three years of age, and settled in Will County, 111., 
where he remained until 1874, when he came to Grant Township, Newton Co., Ind., 
and here he still resides. On September 14, 1864, he was married to Elizaiielh 
Pincher; she was a native of England. Eight children have been horn to them — 
Robert, John, Harriet, Alice, Charles L., Jessie, Keziah and William C, one of 
whom is deceased. Mr. Hunter is a thorough Republican, and in 18H0 was elected 
Co\mty Commissioner of Newton County for three years. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, having be»'n made a Ma.son in IWH. He is in possession of an 
enterprising, liberal spirit, and advocates all measures which are conducive to the 
good of iiumanit}'. 

RUF JACOBS was born May 18. 1842, in Warren County, Ind., and is tlic old- 
est of three children of Ilenr}' and Racliel (Runyan) Jacobs, and is of Irish-CJerman 
lineaye; his parents are natives of Ohio. His education was confined to the com- 
mon schools of the Hoosier State, and the Stockwell Collegiate Institute, at Stock- 
well, Ind. He has a thoroughly practical business education. At the age of eigh- 
teen years, he conducted a general store at RainsviJIe, Ind.; remained there about 
twelve years, and then engaged in the same business at Fowler, Ind., remaining 



758 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

there eight years; he came to Goodland in 1881, and is here engaged in the same 
business, and has been one of the Successful men in the mercantile trade, he having 
$8,000 invested in it; the total sale receipts last year were $46,000. In politics, he 
is a stanch Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln. Since 1871, 
he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is considered one of the 
prominent business men of Newton County. 

A. G. JAKWAY is a native of Rutland County, Vt., born August 4, 1845, and 
is the eldest of six children of George A. and Julia (Cook) Jakway, and of English 
descent. His parents were born in Vermont, and his mother is still living there. 
His father died there in 1869. When nineteen years of age, he went to Buchanan 
County, Iowa, remaining but one year. He then returned to Vermont, and en- 
gaged in lumbering until 1875, when he came to Grant Township and settled on a 
farm two miles from Goodland. In 1881, he moved to Goodland and engaged in 
the lumber trade, in which business he continues. Mr. Jakway' s marriage took 
place June 3, 1874, to Mary E. Hulett. To this marriage were born two children — 
Lena E. and Bernice A.; the first is dead. Mrs. Jakway died November 19, 1880. 
Mr. Jakway was next married October 3, 1883, to Susan A. Hulett, a sister of his 
first wife. Mrs. Jakway is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. J. 
is politically a Greenbacker, and cast his first Presidential vote for Peter Cooper. 
He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1878. He has been successful 
in business, and is one of the prominent citizens of Goodland. 

GEORGE HARDY, banker, is a native of Addison County, Vt., son of Tru- 
man and Mary (Buckbee) Hardy, of Scotch-English lineage and pioneers of Ver- 
mont. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Platts- 
burg. His early education was obtained in the common schools of Vermont. In 
1844, he entered Knox College, at Galesburg, 111., attending three years, but was 
obliged to leave and abandon the idea of graduating, on account of ill health. 
When nineteen years of age, he entered a commission house as clerk, at La Salle, 
El., continuing there three years, then worked on a farm four years. He then for 
eleven years speculated in stock, real estate, etc. His marriage occurred Novem- 
ber 21, 1867, to Emma D. Armstrong, of Morris, 111. They have three children — 
Ethel M., Truman G. and William A. In 1868, Mr. Hardy came to Goodland, 
where he still resides. He dealt largely in real estate, buying and selling 17,000 
acres of land, inducing many people from Illinois to settle in Newton County. 
Abner Strawn was for a time his partner. In October, 1875, he established the 
People's Bank, and as a banker has been successful. Mr. Hardy raised fifty-one 
men for the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, but did not enter the service on account of 
physical disability. Mr. Hardj' is in politics a Democrat; is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity since 1854; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He 
is one of the most prominent men in his county, and has been mentioned, in his 
party, as a candidate for Congress. 

C. W. HARTLEY, grain dealer, is a native of Bucks County, Penn., son of 
Charles and Sarah A. (Clark) Hartley, and was born November 28. 1836. He is of 
English descent, and one of eight children. His parents, also natives of Bucks 
County, Penn., removed, in 1840, to Wayne County, Ind., remaining there but one 
year, then moving to Calhovm County, Mich., where, in 1854, June 6, the father 
died. His mother still lives there, and is seventy-six years of age. C. W. Hartley 
obtained his early education in the common schools of Michigan, afterward attended 
the Delphi Academy, in Iowa, and a school in West Bedford, Ohio. In 1859, he and 
three comrades crossed the great plains and went to Colorado. After seven years of 
mining and wandering through the far West, he returned and settled at Goodland, 
where he still resides. He was married, December 17, 1865, to Miss Mattie E. Lane, 
daughter of William and Mary Lane. Mrs. Hartley died October 7, 1875, at Rem- 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND GRANT TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 759 

ington, Ind. Mr. Hartlei' is a Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential 
vote for Lincoln. He is a member of ("liicago Board of Trade, and one of the 
greatest business men in Indiana- lie handled, last year, at Goodland, T.K'.OOO 
bushels of grain, his business running from !?20,000 to $90,000 a year. He is also 
well informed upon all the topics of the day, is genial and social, and is greatly 
respected and honored, as a man of sterling worth. 

MILTOX L. IIUMSTON, M. D., is a native of Henry County, Ky., son of 
Charles Morehead llumston and Susan Morehead (Triplett) Humston, born Novem- 
ber 3, 1838, the second in a family of twelve children, and is of English extraction. 
The great-great-grandfather of Dr. Humston came to America in 1776 and located 
in Virginia ;• his great-grandfather was Edward, and his grandfather, Thomas 
Hiunston. Thomas had three brothers, Edward, John and Nathaniel Q. Edward 
died near Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind., John in Oiiit), and Nathaniel in Vir- 
ginia. The grandfather of Dr. Humston died in Henry County, Ky., March 1, 1857, 
in his eighty-seventh year. The father of Dr. Humston was born September 27, 
1815. in Virginia, and in 1835 emigrated to Fleming ('ounty, Ky., was married there 
in 1836, and began the practice of dentistry; in 1837. removed to Henry County, 
where he now resides. He served as Sheriff of Henry Count}"^ four years, from 1856 
to 1860 inclusive. He lost $15,000 in the laie Avar. The grandmothers of Dr. 
Humston were both Moreheads, cousins of James F. and Charles Morehead, both 
ex-Governors of Kentucky. The mother of Dr. Humston was born in Virginia in 
1811, on Christmas daj-, and died in Henry County, Ky., May 15, 1871. Dr. II. 's 
early education was limited to the common schools of Kentucky. After acting as 
Deputy .*^herifF under his father four jears. he began the study of medicine with his 
uncle. Dr. J. A. Humston, near Port Royal, Ky. After attending lectures at the 
Medical University at Loui-sville, Ky., he came to ^lorocco, Newton County, Ind., 
and practiced medicine three years; he then returned to Louisville and attended 
lectures at the Kentucky School of Medicine, and graduated from that institution 
in March, 1866. He then returned to Morocco and continued the practice of his pro- 
fession until January 2, 1883; then he removed to Goodland, where he now resides, 
still practicing medicine. Dr. Humston was married, May 18, 1863, to Miss L. Amanda 
Nichols, of La Grange, Ky. They had five children — Charles Nichols, George (iold- 
smith, Llewellyn Claud, Ada Burnace and Benzoni. ^Irs. Humston died July 3, 
1878. Dr. II. was next married August 26, 1879, to :\Iiss Rhoda E. McCurry, of (Jood- 
land. Politically, Dr. II. is a National. During his residence in the South, he was 
loyal to the North. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1H66; has jield 
the offl(;es of J. G. I)., 1878, S. G. D., 1879. and G. M., 1881 and 1882, of the Grand 
Lodge of the State of Indiana; is a member of the I. O. (). F., Beaver Lodge. No. 
378. He and wife are both members of the Methodist Epi.scopal Church. lb- is a 
good physician, an influential citizen and an honorable man. 

V. B. JENKS, coal and wood dealer, was born in Orange County, N. Y.. March 
9, 1816, and was a son of Dr. John S. and Penelope (Webb) Jenks, and the ninth in 
a familj' of ten children. He is of Iri.sh- Yankee descent, his father havijig Ix'cn 
born in Connecticut, his mother in Orange County, N. Y. His parents both died in 
Pennsylvania, his father in 1H42, his mother two years before. They had m.ved to 
Pennsylvania wher\ he was about eight years of age, and when he was sixteen he 
was apprenticed to a carpenter and joiner for four and a half years, at which trade 
he worked for forty-five years. His marriage occurred April 1, 1838, to Martha Cal- 
kins, daughter of Lemuel and Lois Ciilkins, and ;i n;itive of New York. To litis 
union have been born ten cliildren— .Vdaliiie, Horace, Penelope, Allen P., Almira, 
Arabella, Helen, Almon P., Virgil E. and Morey J, Of these children, five are de- 
ceased. In 1874, Mr. Jenks came to Stark County, Ind., and remained one and a 
half years. In 1882, became to Goodland, and still resides here. At his coming. 



760 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

he engaged in the coal and wood business, and still continues in it. Politically, he 
is a Greenbacker; cast his first Presidential vote for Van Buren. He has been suc- 
cessful in business, and is one of the prominent citizens of Goodland; is greatly re- 
spected, and a most pleasant gentleman. 

A. J. KITT, editor and proprietor of the Goodland Herald, was born in Ful- 
ton County, Ind., July 13 1853, the youngest of five children of Jacob and Anna 
(Bozarth) Kitt, and is of German extraction. He finished his apprenticeship to the 
printer's trade in 1867, then worked on the Peru Republican for some time. In 
1874 he established the Record, at Remington, Ind., conducted the paper two and a 
half years, and then sold it to James McEwen, of Rensselaer, and purchased the 
Monticello Democrat. In 1878 lie sold the Democrat, and with W. H. Mattingly es- 
tablished the Rochester Independent, at Rochester, Ind. In 1879. he sold the Inde- 
pendent, and assumed control of the Goodland Register. That office was destroyed 
by fire, September 10, 1879, and re-established in October of the same year, after- 
ward purchased by C. W. Hartley, Mr. Kitt continuing as editor and publisher. 
January 1, 1881, Mr. Kitt purchased the oflace, and changed the name to the Good- 
land Saturday Herald. The paper is a six-column quarto, and under the supervi- 
sion of Mr. Kitt, has increased from a circulation of eighty to 600, and is now on a 
firm foundation. The office was a second time destroyed by fire December 8, 1883; 
no insurance. The citizens of Goodland, and farmers of the vicinity came immedi- 
ately to the rescue, and subscribed money for a new outfit. The Herald has a lib- 
eral advertising patronage, and is on a paying basis. Mr. Kitt is a prominent news- 
paper man; is a member of the Knights of Pythias, I. O. O. F., and of the Masonic 
fraternity. In politics, he is a Democrat, and in 1883 was Democratic candidate for 
County Recorder, and defeated by only eighty votes. Mr. Kitt's father died in 
Oclober, 1853. His mother, still a widow, resides in Goodland. The history of 
Newton County would be incomplete without a mention of the Herald and its editor. 

J. W. KISHLOR, is a native of Monroe County, N. Y., born January 37, 1837, 
and is the youngest of eight children of John and Nancy (Lowden) Kishlor, and of 
German-Irish extraction. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in 
New York, on the shores of Seneca Lake. His father was one of the pioneers of 
Monroe County, there being, when he moved there, but four houses where the citj' 
of Rocliester now stands. His parents both died in Monroe County, the father 
September 1, 1855, and the mother February 1, 1817. When Mr. Kishlor left his native 
State he came to Marshall, Mich,, remaining there four years; thence to Brookston, 
White County, Ind., where he remained until 1875, moving then to Warren, Trum- 
bull County, Ohio, remaining there until 1878, when he' came to Goodland, Newton 
Co., Ind., where he still resides. In 1877, he purchased the New York store, and in 
1879 took Z. F. Little into partnership, the firm being known as J. W. Kishlor & 
Co. Mr. Kishlor was married, November 6, 1863, to Fannj^ G. Cook, of Marshall, 
Midi. Three children have been born to them — Clair C, Lynn C. and Hope. The 
first two are dead. Nineteen years of Mr. Kishlor's life have been devoted to rail- 
roading. Mr. Kishlor is in politics u Republican. Kishlor & Co. carry the largest 
stock of goods in Newton County, having $18,000 invested in the business, which is 
thriving. Mr. Kishlor is one of the substantial business men of the county, and one 
of its prominent citizens. 

Z. F. LITTLE is a native of White County, Ind., born August 18. 1850, and is 
the eldest of four children of C. S. and Sarah A, (Vauscoy) Little, and of English 
lineage. His father was born in Ohio, and his mother in Virginia, but came to 
White County, Ind., previous to their marriage, and are still living at Brookston, in 
that county. When Mr. Little was eighteen j'ears of age, he began life for himself. 
In 1804, he commenced learning telegraphy under the instruction of J. W. Kishlor, 
who was the as-eut for the L., N. A. & C Railroad at Brookston. In 1868, Mr. Lit- 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND GRANT TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 761 

tlo was Hppointed agent of the L.. N. A. & C, and P. ,C. & St. L. Railroad, at Rey- 
nolds, Ind. Here he remained until 1872, when he was appointed Railway Agent at 
Goodland. In 1879, he became a partner of J. W. Kishlor, dealer in general mer- 
chandise at Goodland, where he still continues, having resigned his railway agency 
^n 1881. His marriage occurred November 25, 1875, to Anna E., daughter of Rev. 
Harley and Ann B. Miner, and a native of Connecticut. They have two children — 
Harry F. and Ruby M. Politically, Mr. Little is a Republican; cast his first Presi- 
dential vote for Grant. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1871- 
Mrs. Little is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Little is an enterprising younS 
business man, an honorable citizen, and a gentlenuin. 

A. T. McCURRY, furniture dealer and Township Trustee, is a native of Jeff er- 
Bon County, Ind., and son of John and Elizabeth (Stites) McCurry, and was born 
December 24, 1844, being the second of five children, and of Scotch-German descent. 
In 1867, Mr. McCurry's parents settled in Beaver Township, Newton County. His 
marriage occurred September 9, 1867, to Miss Susan E. Gasawaj', daughter of Na- 
than and Amanda Gasawa)% and also a native of Jefferson County. Two children 
have been born to them — John S. and William N. After his marriage, he engaged 
in stock-raising two years, when he was elected Principal of the Goodland schools. 
Mr. and Mrs. McCurry taught the first graded school in Goodland. After teaching 
two years, he engaged in dry goods business, but lost everything in the panic of 
1873. In 1879, he engaged in tiie furniture business in Goodland, II. H. Green being 
his partner. This business he still continues, and has been successful. In politics, 
he is a Republican. He was elected Trustee of Grant Township in 1880, re-elected, 
there being no opposition, in 1882. He retained the same length of terms in 
school, but rai-sed the wages of the teachers. The township, in this respect, is the 
best in Newton County. Mr. and Mrs. McCurry are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He is prominent in musical circles, is an influential citizen, and 
a man without an enemy. . 

JOHN McCURRY is a native of Jefferson County, Ind., born October 9, 
181H. third in a family of eight, and is of German descent. His parents were born 
in North Carolina, but emigrated to Indiana in 1812, and settled in Jefferson County, 
where they died, the father in 18");i and the mother in 1865. In those early days, 
the education of Mr. McCurry wa.s limited to the one-windowed log schoolhouse 
with its fire-place. The article presented to the parents agreeing that the teacher 
"would teach the pupils reading, writing, .spelling and arithmetic, as far as the 
single rule of three," is still remembered by him. At twenty-one years of age, he 
began life for him.self. His marriage took pla^e Octolx-r 26. 1841, to Mrs. Elizabeth 
Carson. To them were born si.\ children — William A.. Abraham T., Rhoda E., 
Mary A., Martha E., and Jane, who died in infancy. The life of Mr. McCurry 
while in Jefferson County, was that of a farmer. In 1869, he settled in Beaver 
Township, Newton County, remaining one year, then moved to Kentland. where he 
remained but a short time, and then came to Goodland, where he has since resided, 
living a retired life, greatly respected by all. He is a Republican, and he and 
wife are both members of the .Methodist Episcopal Church. 

GEORGE B. MAXWELL is a native of Delaware County, N. Y., born March 
29, 1HH0, and is fourth in a family of seven children of Alexander and Emma (Wiard) 
Maxwell, and of Scotcli descent. His father was a native of New York, where he 
spciil his whole life, dying in 1879. His mother, a native of Connecticut, also died 
in New York in 1874. His marriage took place July 4, 1H5:3, to Delia May, daugh- 
ter of Kingsbur}' and Isiibell .May, and alst) a native of New York. To this union were 
born seven children — Albert L., Eva B.. Edwin, Orville, Mark. Guy and George, 
who died April 2, 1866. After his marriage, he farmed in his native State, until 
1867, when he came West and settled in McHenry County, 111., and there lived four 
years; then came to Grant Township, Newton Co., Ind., where he still lives and now 



762 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

owns 120 acres of well-improved land. His residence, which is one of the best in the 
township, cost $1,600. In politics, Mr. Maxwell is a Republican. He is a prominent 
citizen, and one of the best farmers in the county. 

HOWL AND MEEKER, known as Capt. Meeker, was born in Schoharie 
County, N. Y., March 27, 1839, son of Aaron and Cena Meeker, is the fifth of seven 
children, and is of German descent. His parents were born in New York. He 
was married, February 28, 1857, to Martha Kellogg. Mrs. Meeker is a native of the 
Empire State. Six children have been born to them — Edgar, Jennie, Delos, George* 
Walter and Maud; the last is deceased. In 1857, Mr. Meeker went to La Salle 
County, 111., remaining there until 1880, when he came to Grant Township, Newton 
Co., Ind., and settled one and a half miles northeast of Goodland, buying 120 acres. 
His farm is well improved. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixty- 
fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In March, 1864, he was commissioned Second 
Lieutenant, and in July following was promoted to First Lieutenant. He was in 
the battles of Island No. 10, Corinth, and in twenty-seven different engagements, 
having been wounded at Dallas, Ga., May 30, 1864. He was discharged at Chicago, 
111., in July, 1865. He is a Republican politically, and a member of the G. A. I{. 
He has been successful as a farmer, was a good soldier, and is a prominent citizen. 

J. W. OSWALD, attorney at law, is a native of Wabash County, Ind., born 
May 11, 1853. and is the eighth of nine children of Michael and Elizabeth (Lambert) 
Oswald, and of English descent. His grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
His parents are of Buckeye nativity, but left their native State in 1840, and came tO' 
Wabash County, Ind., where his father still resides; his mother died in 1877. Mr. 
Oswald obtained his education in the district school of Wabash Count}', afterward 
attending the Northern Indiana State Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., during 
two years. He then taught school in Wabash County six years. February 15, 
1881, he was admitted to the bar in Wabash County, and October 4, 1882, in the 
Circuit Court of Newton County. He came to Goodland in May, 1882. His mar- 
riage occurred centennial year, February 24, to Maggie Keeghler, a native of Buflf.ilo, 
N. Y. Two children were born to this union — Mabel C. and Loran W., both. 
deceased. He is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Hayes. He is 
a member of the Masonic fraternity, Hannah Lodge, No. 61, Wabash, Ind., since 
1874. Mrs. Oswald is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Oswald is enterprising, 
and one of the most prominent and successful lawyers in Newton County, and a 
most social and genial gentleman. 

JOHN POULSON, blacksmith, was born in Denmark May 29, 1849, and is the 
third of five children of Robert and Mary Poulson. His parents were also born in 
Denmark. At fourteen years of age, he began learning the trade of blacksmith, in 
Waila, Denmark, under the instruction of Peter Nelson, and to whom he was 
apprenticed for five years. After serving his time, he worked at boiler-making for 
one and one-half years. In 1869, he came to America, and during the five succeed- 
ing years worked at his trade in various parts of the United States, coming, in 
1874, to Goodland, and opening a blacksmith shop. Here he still resides, prosecut- 
ing the business with signal success. On March 20, 1875, he married Minnie Weid- 
anbacker, her birthplace being Mansfield, Ohio. They have had three children — 
Edward, Frederick and William. In politics, he is a Democrat, having cast his first 
Presidential vote for Tilden. Since 1873, he has been a member of the I. O. O. F. 
His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. He has a good, comfortable home ia 
Goodland, besides some other property, and is one of the enterprising citizens of 
Goodland. 

E. A. PECK, farmer, was born in Addison County, Vt., December 19, 1843, is 
the eldest of five children, and is of English descent. In 1869, he came to Good- 
land. February 21, 1867, he married Gertrude Morgan, daughter of George and 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND GRANT TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTV. 763 

Evaliiu' Morj^an. Thoy have one child. Diimoiit M. Mr. Peck's education was 
acquired in the common schools and Fort Edward Institute, at Fort Edward, N. Y. 
He is a stanch Republican in politics, and cast hist vote for Lincoln. lie and his 
wife are both members of the M. E. Church. He is worth about 1 15,000, and is 
also one of the leading farmers and citizens of Newton County. His wife is one of 
the first ladies of Goodland. 

ELIIIU P. PECK, deceased, was born in Addison County, Vt., Novemlier 20, 
1809, and wjis the son of Abel and Diadamin (Phinney) Peck. He was of English 
origin, l)ut his parents were born in Connecticut, and were among the pioneers of 
that State. His father died at Xew Haven. Conn., in IH.ll, and his mother ten years 
later at Stockholm. X. Y. On February 2, 1834, Mr. Peck married Jane A. Scott, 
daughter of Hiram and Abigail Scolt. Mrs. I'eck was also born in Addison County, 
Vt. They had five children— Albert E., Harrison C. Egbert A., Spencer E. and 
Fordyce A., the latter of whom enlisted December 23, 1864, in Company C, Ninth 
Vermont Infantry, as drummer boj', and died, in 186H, of injuries received in the 
service. He was a brave and good soldier. Mr. Peck left Vermont in 1860, and 
moved to Iowa, remaining there three years, then came to Goodland, residing here 
until his death, which occurred January 6, 1874. In politics, he was a Republican. 
He was a member of the M. E. Church, a thorough temperance man, and a greatly 
respected citizen. Mrs. Peck resides in Goodland, and is an estimable lady. 

C. A. PERKINS was born in Coiioes, N. Y., December 20, 1802, and is the 
eldest of two children of P. J. and Elizabeth G. (SkilT) Perkins, and is of English 
extraction. His parents are natives of New York. When he was two years old, 
they moved to Kane County, 111., living there until he was sixteen; then moved to 
Mishawaka, Ind.. where his mother died in 1881, his father still living there. When 
he was twenty-one years of age, he began life for himself, and in 1877 came to 
Grant Town.ship, Newton County, Ind., settling four and a half miles southeast of 
Goodland. Now he has 155 acres of well-improved land. He was married, January 
20, 1877, to Nellie Hutchinson, daughter of John and Jane Hutchinson. Two chil- 
dren have been born to them — Inez M. and Ernest J. (deceased). Mr. Perkins is a 
Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote for Hayes; is also a strong 
temperance man. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. He has a 
common school education, is a good citizen, and a prominent j'oung farmer. 

ELAM C. SAWYER is a native of Connecticut, born January 29, 1808, son 
of Nathan and Sarah (Whitcomb) Sawyer, and the eldest of a familj' of seven chil- 
dren, and is of English descent. The parents were natives of Connecticut, they 
both dying in their native State — the father in 1851, the mother in 1837. When our 
subject was sixteen years of age, he began working at the shoe-maker's trade with 
his uncle. In 1837, he left Connecticut and went to New York, remained there 
nearly nine years, then removed to Illinois, where he remained until the centennial 
year, then came to Grant Township, Newton Co\inty, Ind., and purchased 160 
acres of land one and a fourth miles northeast of Goodland. This farm is now one 
of the best improved in the county. He was married on March 16, 1830. to Eliza- 
beth Hawley, who was also born in Connecticut. To the pair were born four chil- 
dren—Eliza C, Ralph N., Mary J. and Helen C. Mrs. Sawyer died March 16, 
1850. In May, 18.52, Mr. Saw3'er married, for his second wife, FA\za W. Cha|)in, 
who was born in the Empire State. Only one child has been born to them — Edwin 
N. He is a Republican in politics; she a member of the Baptist Church. He is a 
respected man in the townsliip, and a most honorable citizen. 

OTIS SHEPARl), farmer and ex-County Surveyor, is a native of Tompkins 
County, Ky., born October 7, 1819, a son of George and Mary (McQuigg) Shepard. 
1873, is the eldest of ten children, and of Irish-Scotch lineage. His fatlier was born in 
Massachusetts, his mother in New York; both died in Steuben County, N. Y. Otis' 



764 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

education was confined to the common scliooLs of tliat State, and acquired princi- 
pally through his own efforts. At the age of eighteen years, he began teaching 
schciol, and taught eight winters. On October 28, 1853, he married Lydia A. Aulls, 
wh(j is a native of Steuben County, N. Y. Eleven children have been born to them 
— Jennie L., Otis, Charles C, Kate A., Clara G., George E., John, Sarah, Albert. 
Fannie M. and Myrtle, of whom three are deceased. In 1868, Mr. Shepard came to 
Grant Township, Newton County, Ind., purchased 153 acres of land three and a half 
miles northwest of Goodland, where he still resides. He is a radical Republican in 
politics; was a Whig. In 1878, he was elected County Surveyor, re-elected in 1880, 
and again elected in 1883, but resigned the office at the March, 1883, term of the 
Commissioners' Court. He is one of the well-read men of the county; has a commis- 
sion that authorizes him to practice in any court in New York; has also a fine 
library; is one of Newton County's prominent citizens. 

ULERY SHIVELY, farmer, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Novem- 
ber 7, 1814, and is the youngest of thirteen children of Isaac and Catherine (Raysor) 
Shively, and is of German descent. When he was eleven years of age he began 
making his own way in the world, as his father died in Montgomery County, Ohio, 
in 1833. When our subject was fifteen, he went to Dayton, Ohio, and commenced 
serving time at the trade of cabinet-making. He came to Henry County, Ind., in 
1833, and settled there; came to Carroll County in 1886; to Newton County in 1865, 
and settled where he now resides, and is one of the pioneers of Grant Township. 
He was married, November 14, 1833, to Elizabeth Patton, who has borne him nine 
children — Thomas, Nancy, an infant (decea.sed), Louisa (deceased), Amanda, Mary 
J.. Ira, Albert and Uriah P. Mrs. Shively died in Iowa in 1861. He was next 
married, in 1862, to Mrs. Maria Bear, of Carroll County. She is a native of Penn- 
sylvania. He and his wife are members of the Church of God. Besides his farm 
near Goodland, he has one in Kansas. Mr. Shively, politically, is a Republican, 
and one of the pioneers of Indiana. 

E. H. STRUBBE, harness dealer, was born in Germany, April 36, 1837, and is 
the seventh of nine children of E. H. and Catharine (Wehmling) Strubbe. His par- 
ents were born in Germany His father was a soldier in the English Army at the 
battle of Waterloo, and for braver}^ at that memorable battle was awarded a medal. 
His mother died in Germany in 1838; his father in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1880. 
When he was seven years of age, he came to America with his father, and settled in 
Holmes County, Ohio, and began life for himself at the age of fourteen, farming 
principally until the autumn of 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, Nineteenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years. On the 33d of May, 1863, he was wounded 
at the siege of Corinth, losing a limb; -he was discharged March 18, 1863. His 
marriage took place October 8, 1863, to Margaret Hall, who is a native of Holmes 
County, Ohio. To this marriage have been born nine children — Sarah M., Mary E., 
Edward E., Harry L., George, Charles T., Franklin, Alvin and William, four of 
whom are deceased. In 1880, Mr. Strubbe came to Goodland, and engaged in the 
harness business, still continuing in it. In politics, he is a Republican. He and his 
wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church, he also being a member of the 
G- A. R. He has a profitable business, takes much interest in the education of his 
children, and is one of the leading business men in Goodland. 

. SAMUEL K. VERRILL is a native of Penobscot County, Me., born July 10, 
1837, and is the eldest of thirteen children of Charles and Martha (Lord) Verrill, 
and of Welsh descent. His parents were born in Maine, and still reside there. At 
the age of .sixteen years, Mr. Verrill commenced learning the shoe-maker's trade, at 
whicli occupation he worked in Maine until 1859, when he went to California. In 
1861, October 5, he enlisted in Company F, Second California Volunteer Infantry. 
At the end of three years, he returned to his native State. He re-enlisted March 



TOWN OF GOODLAND AND (iRANT TOWNSHIP— NKWTON COUNTY. 765 

15. 1805. in Company B, Eighth United States Veteran Volunteers, at Auburn, Me., 
and w;is disclmrged March 14, 186t>, at Washington. D. C. In 1867, he came to In- 
<liaiiap<)lis, Ind., and remained a short tune, returning to Maine, b>it again the fol- 
lowing year rame to Indianapolis, and after a few months to Goodland, where he 
still resides. He is one of the pioneers of the town. In 1869. he began to deal in 
coal and lime, in which business he has been successful. He was married in 1872, 
December 27, to Augu.sla M.. daughter of William and Minnie Geier. They have 
four children— Albert W.. Emily J., Arthur L. and Samuel L. In politics, Mr. 
Verrill is independent. His wife is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is a 
prominent business man and an iuHuential citizen. 

N. C. WICIvWISE, farmer, is a native of Connecticut, born August 20, 1818, 
son of Oliver and Mary (Gibbs) Wickwise, and of Irish descent. His parents were 
also born in Connecticut, and were among the pioneers; his father died there August 
18, 1829, his mother in 1865. Mr. Wickwise, at the age of twenty one years, left 
his native State, and went to Jefferson County, N. Y., where ho remained six 
years: he then went to Kendall County, 111., living there until 1873, when he came 
^o Grant Township, and bought 160 acres of land one mile from Goodland. There 
he lived until two years ago, when he moved to Goodland, where he still resides. 
He was married, October 2, 1840, to Hannah Dayton. They had four children- 
Clark O., Henry A., George II. and Marshall T., all of whom are dead; Clark O. 
died at Murfreesboro of wounds received in the battle of Stone River in 1862. Mrs. 
Wickwi.se died in March, 1850. Mr. Wickwise was next married the following 
August to Elizabeth Crandell. Five children were born to them— Francis, Elnora, 
Chestf-r W., Clara, and an infant that died unnamed. Mrs. Wickwise died in 1869. 
In 1870, Mr. Wickwise married Margaret Liscom, of New Hampshire. To this 
marriage were born three children — Nellie, Frederick and Dora, of whom but one 
is living. Mrs. Wickwise died in 1879. His last marriage took place November 30, 
1881, to Emily J. Reed, of Connecticut. He is a Republican, and cast his first 
Presidential vote for Harrison. He has one of the best residences in Goodland, and 
a well-improved farm of 960 acres; he is one of the most enterprising men in the 
county, and a man of sterling worth. 

CHESTER W. WICKWISE, farmer, is a native of La Salle County, 111., son 
of N. C. and Elizabeth (Crandell) Wickwise, born May 17, 1858, is the third of four 
children, and of Irish descent. When he was sixteen years of age, his father came 
to Newton County, Ind., and settled in Grant Township. Chester W. now lives on 
the Wickwise homestead, one mile east of Goodland. His marriage occurred Jan- 
uary 1, 1880, to Tillie Hayer. daughter of Oliver and Julia Hayer. One child is the 
fruit of this union — Newton O. Mr. Wickwise is a thorough Republican in poli- 
tics, casting his first Presidential vote for Garfield. He has a good common school 
education, is an honorable citizen, an<l a leading young farmer. The family are 
greatly respected. . 

JOHN T. WILSON, farmer, is a native of Tippecanoe County. Ind.. and born 
February 27, 1836, and is the fourth of eight children of John and Emily (Rice) Wil- 
son, and of Irish descent. The fatlier was born in Ohio, the mother in Kentucky. 
They came to Tippecanoe County about a half a centurj- ago, and settled in La Fay- 
ette, being among the first settlers of that city. His father died August 14. 1846, 
near La Fayette, and his mother in this county in 1881. He lived with his mother until 
he was sixteen, when he began his life struggles alone. In 1852, he came to Newton 
County, and in 1858, nnirried Charity Canine, daughter of Abraham and Sarah A. 
Canine. Mrs. Wilson was born in Montgomery County, Ind. They have had eight 
cliildren — Lawrence H., Charles L., Grace L., Claud. Lorena. Oscar. Raymond and 
Mabel. Of these Claud and Charles are decea.sed. In 1S69, Mr. Wil.son bought ids 
prenent farm and residence. He lias fifty acres in tin; c(>ri)oration of Goodland, and 



766 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

another 100 acres near the town. He has been successful as a farmer. He is a Re- 
publican in politics; cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln. Ilis wife is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the most prominent farmers 
and citizens of his county. 

A. H. WITMAN, jeweler and. silversmith, was born in Pennsylvania February 
15, 1858, and is the son of Dr. A. H. and H. C. (Eisenbice) Witman, is the eldest in 
a family of two children, and of German extraction, the father having been born 
in 1804 in Pennsylvania, and graduating in medicine in 1832, being the oldest physi- 
cian in Berks County, Penn., a Surgeon in the late war, serving the entire time; he 
died in his native county in 1868. The mother of the subject of our sketch is still 
living, and is now residing in Iroquois County, 111. In 1871, Mr. Witman came to 
White County, Ind., and settled in Burnettsville. In 1877, he commenced serving 
time at the trade of silversmith, at Remington, Ind.; remained there two years, 
then went to Brookston, White Co., Ind.. and engaged in the jewelry business, re- 
maining there two years. In 1880, he came to Goodland, engaging here also in the 
jewelry business, and remained eighteen months, then went to Deuel County, Dak., 
and engaged in same business, combining with it that of hardware. In July. 1883, 
he returned to Indiana, and on the 21st of that month he again established a jewelry 
store in Goodland, where he still resides. He was married July 24, 1879, to Lucy 
Reigle, daughter of Dr. and Anna Reigle, of Remington, Ind. To this union were 
born two children — A. H., and Lucy E. (deceased in August, 1881). He is a Repub- 
lican in politics, is well educated, has a spirit of enterprise, has been successful in 
his business, and is an honorable citizen; he is a member of the Chicago Jewelers' 
Association. His wife is a consistent member of the United Brethren Church. 

MARCELLUS WOLTZ, railway agent, was born in White County, Ind., Au- 
gust 22, 1855, and is the third of five children of G. B. and Elmyra (Glassford) 
Woltz, and is of Scotch-German extraction. The father was born in Pennsylvania, 
the mother in Indiana, the parents now residing in Monticello, Ind. Mr. Woltz has 
an education acquired through the medium of the common schools, and the public 
schools of Monticello. In March, 1875, he began learning telegraphy and railroad- 
ing, under the instruction of J. V. Vinson, at Monticello, Ind. In August, 1876, he 
entered the employ of the Pan Handle Railway Company, first at Kentland, then at 
Logansport, then at Chicago, until, in 1879, he gave his attention exclusively to 
telegraphy, and in May of that year he was appointed Railway Agent at Good- 
land, and has held the position ever since. He has been in the employ of the Pan 
Handle Company since 1876. He is a thorough Republican, and cast his first Presi- 
dential vote for Hayes. He is a practical business man, and a responsible gentle- 
man. 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 767 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

JAMES ARCHIBALD was born in Monti^omery County, Ohio, January 23, 
1819. He is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (McCormack) Archibald, who were 
born in Pennsylvania. His gnndfather on his father's side was a Revolutionary 
Boldier. In 1832. he came with his parents to Tippecanoe County, Ind,, where his 
father bought a farm, upon which James were employed part of the time, attend- 
ing school until about seventeen, when he worked steadily at farming until March 
21, 184r), when he married Sallie Johnson, a native of Clinton County, Ohio. Her 
parents were early settlers of Tippecanoe County, Ind. Ten children were born to 
them— Mary F. (deceased). Worth (deceased), Amanda, Zella, Pierce, Jasper, Flor- 
iene, Laura, Mira, and an infant girl, deceased. He had purchased several hun- 
dred acres of land from the Government in Section 6, Washington Township, and 
in 1854 took up his residence there, farming and raising stock. He has been Town- 
ship Trustee. At present he has about oOO acres under cultivation, and 600 mostly in 
pasture. He keeps about sixty head of cattle, some hogs, and is a general farmer 
and stock dealer. In politics, he is a Republican. He has been a member of the 
Christian Church since 1842. 

PIERCE AR(;HIBALI), son of James Archibald, and Sallie (Johnson) Archi- 
bald, was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., April 3, 1853. When a little child, he 
came with his parents to Washington Township, Newton County, where he at- 
tended school about three months in a year, and worked the rest of the time 
on the farm. He went to Battle Ground Collegiate Institute one term, after which 
he was granted a teachers certificate. He also attended Eureka College, 111., one 
year, after which he taught ten terms of school. On September 8, 1878, he was 
married to Hattie J. Graves, daughter of William and Harriet E. (Stretch) Graves. 
They have had three children— Lora J., James A. and William P. Mr. Archibald 
was elected County Superintendent in May, 1879; is active in politics, being a Re- 
publican, and is a member of the Christian Church, as also is his wife. 

WILLIAM BEST was born in Ohio, December 8, 1822. His parents were John 
and Elizabeth (Berry) Best, natives of Virginia. His father was a soldier in the 
war of 1812, and afterward settled in Ohio. When William was seven years old, 
his father moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where our subject was sent to a sub- 
scription .school, working some on farm until eighteen. He worked at farming un- 
til twenty-one, when he learned blacksmithing, working at that trade until recently. 
In 1849, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Prior and Anna (Hayes) Russell, of 
Wayne County, Ind. They had seven children — John P., James A., Luther H. 
(deceased), Laura J. (deceased), Anna M., William II. and Margaret. In 1853, Mr. 
Best moved to White County; farmed until 1857, then came to this township and 
bought 100 acres of land, which he has cultivated, and also worked at his trade. 
"He owns now 175 acres, well improved, and keeps some stock. When his father 
moved to Indiana in 1829, he built his house next to an Indian. His parents died 
on the'land they entered, his father in 18(59, his mother in 1870. Mr. Best lost his 
wife in 1881; she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a mem- 
ber of the same church, and a Democrat in politics. 

EPHRAIM BRIDGE.MAN. son of Michael and Mary Bridgeman, was born 
November 19, 1818, in Harrison County, Ind., where his parents were early settlers. 
When our subject was seven years of age, his father moved to Fountain County; 



768 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

lived there about four years, then went to Logansport, then to Ilot-hester, and then 
to Carroll County, where Ephraim cleared land by the acre. Here he saved some 
money, and when twenty-one years of age bought forty acres of land in Pulaski 
County, which he still owns. On June 21, 1840, he married Elizabeth Exly, of 
Butler County, Ohio, and two children were born to them — John (who was a soldier 
in Company B, Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry), and Mary A. (now the 
wife of Phillip Brown). Mr. Bridgeman's wife died August 13, 1844; she was a 
member of the United Brethren Church. On April 16,1846, he married Joanna Doty, 
of Warren County, Ind. They have had the following children : Joseph Otterbein 
(who was a soldier in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Indiana Infantry 
Volunteers), Ephraim, David W., Levi (decea.sed), Michael (decea.sed), Sarah C. 'de- 
ceased), Daniel Wainscot and George E. Soon after his first marriage, in 1840, he 
bought eighty acres in Section 1", Washington Township, Jasper (now Newton) 
County. He improved this land and now owns 280 acres, as fine a farm as there is in the 
township. In 1869, Mr. Bridgeman was elected Township Trustee. Politically, he is a 
Republican. Since 1843, he has been a member of the United Brethren Church, and 
is a member of the Annual Conference. Of this church he has been Steward, Trust- 
ee, Class Leader; of its Sabbath School, a teacher and Superintendent. 

JOHN BROWN was born in Marion County, Ohio, November 4, 1834, and is 
one of nine children (six now living) born to Valentine and Mariah (Shuman) Brown, 
natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. The father died in 1857, aged 
fifty-eight, the mother in 1859, aged forty-eight. John Brown came with his parents 
to Carroll County, Ind.; he helped open out a timbered farm, and began for himself 
at the age of nineteen years; he rented land of his father for two years; then went 
to Linn County, Iowa, bought a farm of 200 acres, and remained there six years; he 
then came to Newton County, Ind., and worked one year for Mr. Archibald. In 
September, 1862, he enlisted in C'ompany E, Ninetj^-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infan- 
try (Col. Fowler). He participated in the battles of Tullahoma, Vicksburg. Jack- 
son, Miss., Dalton, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Big Shanty, Little Kenesaw, 
Big Kenesaw, Marietta, Atlanta campaign and East Point, Ga. They then went 
into camp, and re-organized, preparatory to the march to the sea. He was in the 
grand review, and was mustered out at Indianapolis in June, 1865. Whilst in the 
service, Mr. Brown was wounded seriously, but not dangerously. He had measles in 
the fall of 1862, and subsequently typhoid fever. From the effects of the former 
he still suifers, and probably always will do so. He then came to where he now re- 
sides (Section 5), and opened out a farm; he owns 120 acres of land, 100 acres of 
which are improved. Mr. John Brown was married, October 19, 1867,to Miss Susan 
Johnston, of Greene County, Ohio. They have two children — Eva and Edwin; he 
and wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Brown is a Republican. 

THOMAS BUSWELL, an old Virginia gentleman, the son of George and Sarah 
(Whaley) Buswell, was born July 3, 1817; his father was born in Shenandoah 
County February 27, 1774, his mother in Westmoreland County January 15. 1775. 
The father was a farmer in Virginia, and was married September 29, 1796. Thomas 
Buswell attended a country school until he was twenty years of age; then entered 
an academy, and afterward worked on his father's farm. On December 22, 1840, 
he married Rebecca Spitler, daughter of Abraham Spitler, of Vii'ginia. To thiS 
union have been born eight children — Sarah E. (deceased), George D., Mary E. (de- 
ceased), Susan E. (deceased), Wesley T., Abraham W. (deceased), William M., and 
John Z. (deceased). He remained on the home farm until 1864, when he moved a 
short distance from the same. In 1868, he disposed of the old homestead in Vir- 
ginia, and came to this township, and settled on Section 30, where, in 1846, he had 
purchased several hundred acres of wild land. While in Virginia he was a member 
of the Legislature four years in the Upper and four years in the Lower House; 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 769 

was a member of the Virginia Militia before the war, and in tliat organization liild 
positions from Lieutenant up to Major General: he resi^^ned in 1^60, on the disband- 
ment of the militia. In 1861, he was elected Lieutenant Colonel of a regiment of 
Virginia troops, and served till they were disbanded; his wife is a member of the 
Baptist Church; he is a stanch Democrat, politically, lie is now living in his 
comfortable home, his three remaining children, happily married, residing near him. 

GEORGE D. BUSWELL, son of Thomas and Rebecca (Spitler) Buswell, was 
born in Page County, Va., November 27, 1843; he went to school in the pioneer log 
house, and worked on the farm till he was eighteen years of age, then entered the 
academy in Rockingham County, Va. At the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted 
as a Lieutenant in the Ninety-seventh Virginia (Confederate) Infantry, and later in 
the Second Virginia Troop. After a service of nine months he resigned, and in 1862 
he volunteered in the Thirty-third Virginia (Confederate) Infantry, as a private, and 
at the battle of Malvern Hill was severely wounded. lie was then promoted to 
Second Lieutenant, and was afterward wounded at the battle of Spott.sylvania 
Court House. After his recovery from the last wound, he remained at home on the 
farm. In 1868, he came with his father's family to their Indiana home. On Febru- 
ary 16, 1869, he married Florence A. Bell, daughter of Reuben P. Bell, of Virginia. 
Six children have been born to them — R. Lee. Annie R., Abraham T., Nannie Bell, 
Carrie E. and Mattie M. He is farming on 160 acres in Section 30, and has a fine 
house built on 40 acres purchased by his wife, and all is well improved. Adjoining 
his father's is the farm of his brother, Wesley T. Buswell, who, on February 28, 
1871, married Sallie V. Hattel, daughter of .Tared Hattel, of Virginia. They have 
four children— Thomas J., Charley W., Mary P. and Sarah M. He is living in a 
comfortable house, and is a good farmer; he raises some stock. 

REV. WILLIAM M. BUSWELL. son of Thomas and Rebecca (Spitler) Buswell, 
was born in Page County, Va., on February 26. IHol. In his youth he attended a 
country school, and at intervals labored on the farm; he then attended the Roanoke 
College at Salem, and for about three years was a student of the Luray County 
Academy. In 1868, he came with his father's familj^ to Washington Township. 
Newton County, Ind. In 1S69, he was granted a certificate, and taught school two 
terms in this township; he then entered Wabash College, remaining there one year, 
after which he again taught school. On August 13, 1872, he married Melissa M. 
Harritt, daughter of William and Catharine (Myers) Ilarritt, who came to Newton 
County in 1840, and were among the first .settlers of Washington Township. ISIr. 
Harritt died October 18, 1879. Our subject and his wife have had these children — 
Minnie Laura (deceased). John. William Ilamtt and Weaver. In 1874, he became a 
member of, and in 1878 he was licensed to preach in the United Brethren Church. 
In 1879. he was given charge of the Watseka (111.) Circuit, and in IHSO he took 
charge of the Sheldon United Brethren Church, and is located at the town of Shel- 
don, 111., where he is living in his comfortable home, purchased some time ago; his 
wife is a member of the church; her mother, Mrs. Harritt, is making her home 
with them. 

VALENTINE C. COX, son of William and Ann (Agherington) Cox. was 
born June 21, 1828, in Delaware County, Ohio. His father was born in England, 
his mother in Pennsylvania, and they were early settlers in Ohio. Our suVtject went 
to school and worked on a farm until he was about eighteen j'ears old. Then he 
employed himself at harne.'<s making, saved some money and dealt in horses. For 
about tliree years, he was in a stock firm at Cleveland, Oiiio, after which he com- 
menced buying and selling for himself. On January 13, 1S.")3, he was married to 
Martha C. Bishop. To them were lK)rn eight children — infant girl (deceased), Will- 
iam, Frank. Herbert, Eddie, Addie. Hattie and Emma. In Ohio, he accumulated 
about 4(K} acres of land, which he traded for 200 acres in Washington Township, 



770 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Newton County, Ind., and moved there in 1868. He now owns about 400 acres of 
land in this county, and, besides farming, he deals largely in stocli, shipping mostly 
to Chicago. In 1863, at the time of the Morgan raid in Ohio, he was appointed 
Captain of a company; had charge of freedmen at Helena, Arls., for about one 
year; was a Township Trustee in Ohio. He is a member of I. O. O. F., in Rainbow 
Lodge, No. 327, at Westcrville, and in politics he is a Republican. He was Presi- 
dent of the Franlilin & Hoclsing Valley Oil Company of Ohio, but, the venture not 
being a success, the machinery was taken to West Virginia, where the company 
sold out. Our subject has made many improvements on his farm, having a fine 
dwelling-house and outbuildings and one of the finest wells of water in the county. 
He is a much esteemed citizen. 

JOHN FRANKLIN is the son of John and Eleanor (Riggs) Franl<lin. His 
father was born in Virginia, his mother in Pennsylvania. The parents moved to 
Ross County, Ohio, in 1797. The father was a farmer. The subject of this sketch 
was born September 5, 1818, and attended school in the old pioneer schoolhouse. 
When he was twelve years of age, his father died, and liis mother removed to Ran- 
dolph County, Ind., where John worked on a farm until he was twenty-two years 
of age. He then went West, remaining away about six years; then came to Warren 
County, where he farmed. On December 4, 1852, he married Lucy A. Robbins, 
born March 8, 1835, and daughter of James H. and Sarah (Sage) Robbins, wlio were 
very early settlers of Indiana. After his marriage, Mr. Franklin located on eighty- 
fou' acres of land in Section 36, Washington Townsliip, Newton County. He 
broke the land, and in a wagon hauled the lumber from Chicago with which to 
build his house. His wife has borne him eight children — Jerome C, born December 
29, 1853; Sarah E., September 1, 1856; Joseph William and James H., twins, De- 
cember 21, 1858 (deceased); Alonzo N., October 8, 1860; Phebe O., October 17, 1862 
(deceased); Charles B., March 27, 1864, and Laura E., November 27, 1867. In 1853, 
our subject was elected Township Treasurer. In 1856, his dwelling-house was de- 
stroyed by fire, but was immediatel,y rebuilt. He now has a fine farm of 300 acres, 
and is a general farmer and stock-shipper. He is a Democrat, attends church and 
is highly esteemed by all who know him. 

THOMAS GRIFFITHS (deceased) was born in England August 12, 1809. He 
was but seven years old when his father died. He was apprenticed to a farmer, and 
attended school very little. He served on the farm until he was twenty one, then 
farmed on his own account. On January 1, 1843, he married Eliza Bartholomew, 
daughter of Lawrence and Priscilla (Short) Bartholomew. In England there were 
born to them seven children — William (deceased), infant (deceased), Eliza (de- 
ceased), Emily (deceased), Emma, James A. (a soldier in the Ninety-ninth Indiana 
Infantry, who died in the service) and Henrietta. In 1852, he came to America and 
located in Indiana, being employed on a farm. Here were born to them six chil- 
dren — Priscilla F. (deceased), Louisa (deceased), Thomas R. (deceased), Ellen (de- 
ceased), Harriet (deceased) and George W. (deceased). Thus, out of a family of 
thirteen children, but two are living. Henrietta was married, April 4, 1870, to John 
W. Puett, of Putnam County. Emma was married, September 12, 1872, to Richard 
Askew, of Illinois. In 1855, our subject came to Washington Township, Newton 
County, and bought 160 acres of wild land. He subsequently sold that land and 
purchased a farm farther north, in Section 12. He improved his farm, attended 
church and always voted the Democratic ticket. He died April 9, 1883; he left a 
fine farm of 200 acres, which is still the home of his widow. 

CHARLES B. HOLLEY, son of Stephen S. and Esther (Felt) Holley, was born 
January 5, 1847, in the State of New York. His father was born in Rhode Island, 
his mother in New York. Charles attended school until he was about eleven years 
of age, when his parents removed to Kankakee, 111., where he worked on a farm 



WASHINGTON TOWNSH 11'— NEWTON COUNTY. 771 

till he was twenty-one. September 22, 1869, he married Ala A. Smith, of the same 
place. Five children were born to them— Willie A.. George B., Charles L.. Clar- 
ence E. and Oscar W. He remained on the farm in Illinois until 1874, when he 
came to Washinf,'ton Township, Newton County, and purchased sixty acres of land 
in Section 1; now has 132 acres as good farm land as there is in the township. His 
mother died in 1856, hi.« father in 1882. Our subject is a general farmer, and raises 
some stock. He and wife attend church. In politics, he is a Republican. 

LIEUT. JAMES PI. JACKSON was born in Kentucky December 17, 1832. When 
a child, his parents, William and Martha (Clemens) Jackson, moved to Warren 
County, Ind., thence to Tippecanoe County, where he attended school until about 
fourteen, when he turned his attention to farming. After a time, he moved with his 
father to Greene County, Ohio, where, in 1855. March 1, he married Nancy Downey, 
of that county. One child, Charles E., was born to them. In 1859, he removed to 
Fountain County, Ind., where he farmed until the death of his wife, which took 
place in July, 1860. In August, 18(i2, he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-sixth Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry, was .soon promoted to First Sergeant. He participated in 
the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga. Missionary Ridge, Resaca and Kenesaw 
Mountain, where he received a slight wound in the left side of the head. After- 
ward, he was with Grant in Georgia. In 1865, he was honorably discharged, after 
being promoted to Second Lieutenant by Gov. Morton. After returning to Fount- 
ain County, he resumed work as a farmer, also attended school at Battle Ground 
two terms. In 1867, he came to Newton County, obtained a teacher's certificate, 
and taught school one year. July 27, 1868, he married Mary Town, born September 
8, 1828, and a daughter of Jacob and Electa (Ashlej) Town, early settlers of Huron 
County, Ohio. Lieut. Jackson settled on land purchased in 1865, in Newton 
County, where they still live with their two children, William E. and Louis A. 
Their farm is well cultivated, and well supplied with stock. Mr. Jackson and wife 
are members of tiie order of Patrons of Husbandry, known as Grangers. They are 
also members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Class Leader, 
Steward, Sunday School Superintendent and Trustee. In politics, he is a Repub- 
lican. His wife's father came to Fountain County in 1837. 

CHRISTIAN JESSEN, son of James Jessen, was born in Denmark July 31, 
1831. He attended school till he was about fifteen years old, then worked on a farm 
at f 6 per year and his board, for the first two years, then for $20 per year and 
board. At the age of twenty, he liad saved some money, and he came to America. 
His passage across the ocean was attended with a great deal of sufTering, his food 
being of the filthiest and most unwholesome kind, the effects of which he feels to 
this day. In 1851, he located in Tippecanoe Count}', Ind., worked on a farm till 
1854, then came to Washington Township, Newton Countj'. Here he herded cattle, 
saved some money and purcha-sed forty acres of land. At this writing, he is the 
owner of 160 acres, all under a high state of cultivation, and has as fine a farm- 
house as there is in the township. On December 2, 1858, he married Hannah Brewer, 
daughter of Asa Brewer, of Newton County, formerly of South Carolina. Seven 
children were born to them — Benjamin, Frederick Allen, Christian, Charlotte, 
Oliver, George and Maria A. Our subject lived in a log house till 1881, during 
which year he built a fine two-story frame house, a good barn and outbuildings. 
He is a good farmer, and raises some stock. He attends church, and in politics is a 
Democrat of liberal views. 

PETER KLINE was born in Germany February 28, 1831. lie is the .son of 
Peter and Anna Marie (Fries) Kline. His father was a farmer and a bl.icksmith. 
Our subject went to school tintil he was thirteen, worked on a farm till he was 
twenty-one years old, at which time he came to America and located at Madison, 
Ind., where he oi)lained work in a packing house; then at gardening as a laborer; at 

46 



772 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Indianapolis, on a dairy farm. From tliere, he went to Champaign County, 111., 
and engaged himself to attend cattle, and soon saved money enough to buy thirty 
head for himself, after the sale of which he purchased eighty acres of land in the 
above county. On September 30, 1862, he married Elizabetli Long, daughter of 
John and Jemima Long, formerly of Pennsylvania, but lately of Pickaway County, 
Ohio. Nine children were born to them — John William, Jacob E. (deceased), 
Peter A., Rosella (deceased), Anna Marie, Charles M., Thomas (deceased), Clarabell 
(deceased) and Clarriedell (twins.) He lived about one year on his farm, then sold out 
and came to Benton Count3% Ind. Here, for a time, he dealt in cattle, then went to 
Kentland, Newton Count5% where he bought and sold cattle, and purchased town 
property. In 1866, he purchased twenty acres of land, with some improvements, in 
Section 27, Washington Township, where he moved his family, and now owns 830 
acres, well cultivated, with eleven miles of fencing, twenty-five gates, good wells, 
ditches, etc., and it is well known that he has raised some of the finest and largest 
corn in Newton County. His farm is now mostly in grass. Annually, Mr. Kline 
ships to Chicago about twelve car-loads of the finest cattle in this county. He and 
his wife are both members of the church, and he is well known throughout North- 
ern Indiana. In politics, he is a Democrat. 

JOSEPH LAW was born in Butler County, Ohio, June 14, 1828. His parents, 
John Law and Hannah (Easley) Law were pioneers, having moved there from Vir- 
ginia. When Joseph was three years old, his parents moved to Carroll County. 
Ind., where he went to school in a log schoolhouse until thirteen, when his mother 
died and his father broke up housekeeping and went to Arkansas, where he died. 
Joseph was bound out, but. not being well treated, concluded to start for himself. 
He left Carroll County, going to Burlington, Iowa, thence to Illinois, Wisconsin 
and other points, working at anj'^thing a boy could do, returning after a while to 
Carroll County, wliere he worked at farming. Again he left, going to St. Louis, where 
his clothes were stolen. Without money or friends, he obtained work at chopping 
wood on the Mississippi River. When he had earned $15, he started for Indiana, 
walking part of the way, arriving with but 50 cents. He commenced farming at 
Battle Ground on shares, saved some money, and entered 160 acres of land in 
Washington Township, N6wton Co., Ind., where he commenced farming and rais- 
ing stock. He now owns 1,200 acres and as fine a house as there is in the county; 
deals largely in cattle. In politics, he is a Democrat; in religion, a Baptist. Five 
times he has been Township Trustee. He is an Odd Fellow of River Lodge, No. 
586. October 10, 1853, he married Elizabeth Kesslcr, daughter of David and Rachel 
(Fisher) Kessler, w^ho were early settlers of Indiana, by whom he had eight chil- 
dren—Rachel E. (deceased), Mary D., Sarah E., Ida C, Joseph D., Algie J., infant 
boy (deceased) and Blanche A. 

B. LIGHT was born in Owen County, Ind., May 12, 1832, his father, Hugh M. 
Light, having emigrated from North Carolina to Indiana when it was a Territory. 
His mother, Barbara (Harritt) Light, was born in Ohio. The little son attended 
school in a log schoolhouse, three miles from home, also assisted upon the farm. 
In 1853, he married Martha, daughter of Jesse Burton, of Owen County. They had 
two children— Mary J. and Hugh M., and in 1856, he moved his little family to 
Washington Township, Newton County, purchased 210 acres of land with money he 
had made by his own industry while in Owen County, and began farming and 
stock-raising. In 1861, he lost his wife, and in 1862, for his second wife, married 
Amanda, daughter of Thomas and Louisa Hosier. Eight children were the fruit of 
this union— Elmer, Albert, Clara E., Eflie M. (deceased), Delia B., Nona F., Dora 
and Grace. He now owns 700 acres, with a fine house and other buildings; deals 
largely in stock, shipping extensively to Chicago. He and his wife are members of 
the United Brethren Church, and much esteemed, he being Class Leader and Stew- 
ard; and politically, he is a stanch Republican. 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 773 

GEORGE L. LOWE, son of Enoch and Susan S. (Nash) Lowe, was born in the 
State of Maine on June 27, 1S26. Ilis father and mother were also natives of .^L1ine, 
tlie former born on June 26, 1786, the latter on July 10, 1788. The father was a 
farmer, and also enn;aged in the lumber trade. Our subject attended school until 
he was eighteen, then worked on the farm in the siunmer, and in the lumber busi- 
ness in the winter season, \intil he was twenty-one years of age. At this age, he 
embarked in the lumber trade for himself, and was engaged in it continuously for 
eighteen years. On August 15, IS47, he married Christina IngersoU, who was born 
in Maine, August 4, 18'27. Seven cliildren were born to this union— Susie (deceased. ) 
Agnes (deceased), George E., Charles (deceased), Emma B., Myrtie R. and Allie M. 
Mr. Lowe remained in his native State until the 3Tar 1870, when he sold out and 
came to Washington Township, Newton County, and purchased a farm in Section 
1, and commenced again the life of a farmer. His wife died October 7, 1877; she 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On October 7, 1879, he married 
Minerva A. Smithyman, the widow of Benjamin Roderick. She had two grown 
sons. His grandfather. John Lowe, was a .soldier of the Revolution, and fought at 
the battles of Bunker Hill and Princeton. Our subject is a general farmer, and 
raises some stock; he is also a brick-maker and stone mason, having .served his time 
at these trades in his native State. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church. Up 
to 1880. he was a Republican in politics, but since then a Greenbacker. 

JOHN McCarthy, son of Johnsey and Eleanor (Campbell) McCarthy, is of 
Scotch-Irish parentage, his parents having been born in Maryland, but earlj' settlers 
of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., January 
16, 1813. His father was an employe of the Commis.sariat Department of the Gov- 
ernment during the war of 1812, and was stationed at Detroit, Mich., where he lo- 
cated his family, and where, July 7, 1822, his wife died. Our subject went to school 
in an old pioneer log house, after which he entered a higher grade, then served his 
time at the printer's trade in the Detroit Courier office, after which he entered the 
Western Reserve College to study for the ministry, but was compelled to abandon 
that idea, for want of funds. He returned to Detroit, and was employed as a clerk 
in a commission house. In 1836, he joined a company of citizen soldiers known as 
the Brady Guards— named in honor of Gen. Brady— who were called into the 
United States .service to guard the Canadian border. For this service he received a 
land warrant, and located his land, where he now lives, in Section 2, Wa.shington 
Township, Newton County. On October 24, 1839, he married Harriet Davis, who 
bore him seven children— Louisa H. (deceased), Mary, John H., George D., Frank- 
lin P., Harriet E. and Eleanor R. (deceased). After his marriage, he embarked in 
the general mercantile business; in I844, he went to La Fayette, Ind., remaining 
there about five years. He then went to Delphi, Ind., and engaged in the drug busi- 
ness, becoming, also, manager of the Delphi Times. On December 22, 1853, he 
commenced the publication of the Jasiier Banner, the first newspaper ever started 
in Jasper County. In IH.V). he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Clerk of 
Jasper County, but was defeated by a small majority; in 1860, he came to Washing- 
ton Township, Newton County, built a log house and improved his land; in 1863- 
63, he published the Newton County Demor.rat; in 1H7."), was appointed Postmaster 
of Beaver City. He is a general farmer, and raises .some stock. He and his wife 
are members of the Reformed Church. His .son, Franklin P., manager of the farm, 
was married on February 3, 1883, to Sarah A. Bull, daughter of George and Sarah 
J. (Needham) Bull, of Newton County. 

JOSEPH C. MARTIN was born in Henry County. Ivy.. June 29, 1823, his 
father William C. being of .Scotch parentage, tliough born in Dublin. Ireland; his 
mother, Elizabeth (Randall) Martin, a native of Virginia. b)th pioneers of Henry 
County, Ky. Joseph attended school tintil about twelve, when his father moved to 



774 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Madison, Ind., whore his mother died of cholera. His father then returned with 
him to Henry County, Ky., where he was employed on the farm until 1843, when 
they removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., still farming and he saving some money. 
On September 29, 1849, he married Charlotta Camblin, daughter of David and Eliza- 
beth (McCain) Camblin. Six children have been born to them — Sarah E. (deceased), 
John C, William D., Mary E., Charles A. and Edgar L. In 1852, he removed to 
Washington Township, Newton County, purchasing eighty acres of wild land, which 
he improved, also raising stock; has now 140 acres, under a high state of cultivation. 
He and wife are both members and pioneers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
His son John is an ordained minister inM. E. Church, being self-educated. 

ORMANDO P. MERRIFIELD, son of Nathan and Abigail (Gushing) Merri- 
field, was born in Vermont, November 30, 1835. He attended school, and later the 
Academy, where he acquired a good education. When not at his studies, he as- 
sisted his father on the farm. At the age of eighteen, he went to learn the trade of 
cabinet-making. After serving his time, he went to Minnesota, where he employed 
himself at carpentering and farming. On February 16, 1860, he married Philena 
Stevens, who died in 1863. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighth 
Minnesota Infantry. After some hard service in Dakota Territory among the hos- 
tile red men, the regiment was ordered South, and he with his regiment participated 
in the struggle at Murfreesboro. There he received his discharge from the service, 
on May 23, 1865. After a visit to the home of his boyhood, he returned to his Min- 
nesota farm, at Roscoe, Goodhue County. On November 29, 1866, he married his 
second wife, Helen R. Dickson, daughter of Fergus S. and Harriet (Nash) Dickson. 
His wife was born in Cook County, 111., March 22, 1846. She was highly accom- 
plished and educated, having commenced to teach at the age of sixteen, and using 
the money she earned at the profession in acquiring a higher education. She was 
a student at the University, then located in Goodhue County, Minn., which she left, 
within one year of graduation, to resume the duties of a teacher. Her husband, 
the .subject of this sketch, purchased, in 1875, eighty acres of land in Section 1, 
Washington Township, Newton County, Ind., whither he removed with his family. 
It was then wild prairie land, with very little, if any improvements. He now has 
a good farm and a fine dwelling-house. He and his wife are both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Republican. While a resident of 
Minnesota he was elected a Justice of the Peace. His wife has borne him four chil- 
^jren — Maud A., Harry E., Hugh D. and Earl P. Mr. Merrifield and family are 
highly esteemed by all wlio know them. 

DANIEL MOCK was born January 14, 1824. He went to school and worked 
on the farm until, in 1852, he married Rachel Kenoyer, daughter of Jacob Kenoyer, 
who was one of the first settlers of Newton County. The children born to them 
were John H. (deceased), James H. and Rosella. He came to Washington Town- 
ship in 1839, purchased 280 acres of land, and became a general farmer, raising some 
stock. His stock he took to winter at Beaver Lake, where he contracted a severe 
cold, which caused his death. To his wife and children he left his farm, on which 
they still reside, the son managing it. Our subject was a Democrat in politics, at 
one time holding the oflfice of Justice of the Peace, at another that of Constable. 

JOHN MYERS, son of Abraham and Catherine (Conn) Mj'ers, was born in 
York County, Penn., March 20, 1803. When he was about fourteen years of age, 
his father moved to Preble County, Ohio, where he went to school and worked on a 
farm until he was twenty years old. He then went to learn the trade of a cabinet- 
maker. In November, 1829, he married Nancy Snodgrass, moved to Fountain County, 
Ind., and was employed at his trade in the town of Chambersburg. To their union 
have been born nine children — Benjamin H. (deceased), Alexander A., Salinda J., 
Nancy F., John F., Sarah A. (deceased), Bellzard (deceased) and twin girls (deceased). 



AVASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 776 

He lived in Fountain County till 1836, then sold out and canu- to Jasper (now Newton) 
County, and purchased eiglity acres of land in Section 'Si, built a house, and made 
improvements. His wife died here June 20, 1848. She was a member of the United 
Brethren Church On (October 26, 1854, he married Nancy Bonelirake, a widow 
with three children (one of whom — George W. — was killed at tlie Italtle of the Wil- 
derness). Ilis son, Benjamin H., died from a disease contracted in the army dur- 
ing the late rebellion; another .son, Alexander A., lost a leg in buttle. Our subject 
was a County Commissioner of Jasper County, and School Treasurer of his town- 
ship. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and, in politics, a Re- 
publican. 

JOHN F. MYERS, son of John and Nancy (Snodgrass) Myers, was born in 
Jasper County, Ind., in April, 1838. He attended school and worked on the farm 
until his marriage. September 30, 1860, to Barbara L. Bonebrake. To them were 
born eight children— Nancy E., George H., Rosalie, Lucy J. (deceased), Catherine 
L., Harvey L., Florence M. and John. Mr. Myers, during the war, enlisted in Com- 
pany H, One Hundred and Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, but after his discharge re- 
turned to his farm. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1882 was elected Town- 
ship Trii-itee. He is a Trustee, Steward, and an active member of the United 
Brethren Cluirch; also. Superintendent of the Sabbath School. 

JOHN PADGETT was born May 19, 1825, in Washington County, Ind., his 
father, Nathan Padgett, having moved there in 1817 from North Carolina. He 
attended school in a pioneer schoolhouse some of the time, also assisted on the 
farm and in his father's saw-mill until the war with Mexico, when he enlisted 
in Company H, First Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was discharged on account 
of sickness, and returned to his father's, where, September 9, 1849, he married Mary 
M. Bower. About two years after his father's death, which occurred in 1850. he 
came to Washington Township, purchased 160 acres of prairie, which he improved, 
making a comfortable home. They have had nine children— Sarah E. (deceased), 
John G., Elizabeth. Mary A., Michael J.. James A., Rachel C, Ida and Clara. He 
had also an adopted son, John C. Sarver, wbo served in an Indiana regiment (being 
twice wounded) in the late war. Our subject is independent in politics, in religion a 
Baptist, and is a ^Master Mason of Morocco Lodge, No. 372. 

MARK PETERSON was born in Denmark April 18, 1834. His father, John 
Peterson, died when Mark was five years old, when he was bound out to a citizen, 
who employed him about his farm part of the time, and sent him to school until he 
was sixteen. His mother died when he was twelve. He worked on a farm at $9 a 
year, but, receiving a severe injur}' in unloading grain, he was obliged to abandon 
farming. He then worked at a trade, working from 6 A. M. until 9 P. M. for ^22 a 
year, the first year; $24 and $26. the second and third years. If he wanted extra 
money, he would often work until midnight. In 1H55, he came to America, slop- 
ping at Reynolds, White Co., Ind., wiiere he worked at State ditching and farming. 
On February 28, 1861, he married .Matilda Sandell, l)orn in Sweden. Seven children 
have been born to them— infant boy (deceased), Ettie E., Flora J., John H., Frank 
W., Nellie M. and Laura E. In the winter of 1861. he moved to Washington 
Township, Newton County, purchased a small tract of land, and by hard labor and 
industry has accumulated a fine property of 700 acres, well improved, with good 
buildings. He also raises stock. In politics, he is a Democrat; in religion, 
Methodist Episcopal. 

RICHARD PIERCE was born in New Jersey January 11, 1823, his parents. 
James and Ann (Walker) Pierce, being residents of ihat State, his father being a 
farmer. He attended scliof)! until about fifteen, then worked on a farm until 1HG8, 
when he came to Newton County, Ind., and purchased a farm in Section 26 in 
Washington Township. May 1, 1870, he nuirried Nancy J., daughter of Francis 



776 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Worley, of Iowa. They have four children — Elizabeth A., Levi C, Lillie M. and 
Francis E. He is a hard-working and self-made man. He worked for one man 
twenty years, but is now independent, owning a fine farm and extensively raising 
swine. In politics, he is Independent. He and wife are members of the M. E. 
Church. 

JOHN S. ROBERTS, one of the wealthiest and oldest citizens of Washington 
Township, was born in Bedford County, Va., February 1, 1814. He is the son of 
Alexander and Anna (Anderson) Roberts. He went to school in an old-time log 
schoolhouse until he was thirteen years old. His father then moved to Kentucky, 
where for about five years he was employed as overseer of slaves; then mov^d to 
Ross County, Ohio, where John S. worked at farming; then for about three years 
he worked in an iron mill in Scioto County, Ohio. In 1839, the subject of this 
sketch came to Indiana, and bought land in Jasper (now Newton) County, in Sec- 
tion 27. During the succeeding few years, he was employed in iron furnaces, when, 
in 1843, he returned to Newton County, settled on his land, built a log house, and 
commenced again the life of a farmer. On March 1, 1846, he married Nancy Mont- 
gomery, daughter of John Montgomer}-, of Jasper County. Ten children have 
been born to this union — Thomas J. (deceased), infant girl (deceased), Amanda J. 
(deceased), Mary E., Virginia M., James B., Matilda E., John W., William A. and 
Charles A. Mr. Roberts lived in this old log house till 1875, when he built a fine 
two-story residence and outbuildings. By industry, he has added largely to his first 
purchase, until he now owns 800 acres of as good laud as there is in the township. 
He deals largely in cattle, shipping about five car loads every year; also deals in 
horses and hogs. Mr. Roberts' wife died October 3, 1878. She was a member of 
the Baptist Church, he of the M. E. Church. In politics, he was a Jacksonian 
Democrat. He is a much-esteemed citizen. 

ALEXANDER M. ROBESON, son of Moses and Hannah (Divens) Robeson, 
of Pennsylvania, was born October 4, 1834. He attended school, also worked at 
an iron furnace as assistant to the general manager. When about fourteen, one of 
his duties was to collect money for the firm. He traveled over the Alleghany Mount- 
ains on his collecting tours, with large sums of money, and, although but a boj-. 
such was his care and method, his accounts were always correct. In January, 1852, 
he married Jane Kern, daughter of John Kern, of Pennsylvania. Their living chil- 
dren are Frank, Mary, John, Grant, Greeubury and Lillie. He went to Michigan 
in 1862, and in 1863 to Jasper County, Ind., where he superintended the boring of 
an oil well, and also farmed. In 1873, he purchased 120 acres in Section 23, Wash- 
ington Township, Newton County, which is now well improved. He also raises 
horses for market. He is a Royal Arch Mason, Chapter No. 89, Kentland, Ind. 

WILLIAM RUSSEL, son of Prior and Anna (Hays) Russel, was born in Madi- 
son County, Ind., November 30, 1829, to which county the parents moved from 
Wayne County, where they were married, and of which they were very early settlers. 
When our subject was about one year old, his father moved to Tippecanoe County ; 
his mother died when he was quite young. He was sent to school in an old pioneer 
log schoolhouse, but worked on the farm during the winter months. He remained 
with his father until his marriage, January 1, 1854, to Sarah A. Shafer, daughter of 
M. and Rebecca (Wcstlake) Shafer, of Carroll County, Ind. He settled on a leased 
farm in Wabash Township, farmed there for about two years, and then entered 160 
acres of Government land, and purchased an eighty-acre tract in Jasper (now New- 
ton) County, moved there and improved the same. He now owns about 800 acres, 
all under a good state of cultivation, with a fine dwelling house and outbuildings. 
He is a general farmer and stock deah-r, dealing largely in stock. He was one of 
the first to circulate a petition for the division of his county, and the formation of 
the new county of Newton; was one of the first County Commissioners elected in 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 777 

this county; was a Democrat up to 1872, since then a Greenbacker; is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity; he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Ciiurch, he being a Ch\ss Leader; in 1874, he was ordained a Deacon of his church, 
and has ever been instrumental in buildiuL? churches and schoolhouses, and is one 
of the highly esteemed and pultlic-spirited citizens of Washington Township, his 
home. 

ZECHARIAH SPITLP]U was l)orn in Shenandoah County, Va., March 18, 1817, 
and is the third of five children born to Abraham and Mary (llosenberger) Spitler: 
both natives of Shenandoah County, Va. The parents were born in 1787 and 1786 
respectively, and were married in IHll. The father was a magistrate in his native 
county about thirty years. He died in 1864; his widow in 1880. Both were mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. Zechariah Spitler received a good English education, 
and in 1838 came to Newton County, Ind. He was for two years Deputy Sherill of 
the territory comprising Newton, Jasper and Benton Counties. He owns nearly 
600 acres of cultivated land; has a beautiful residence, and has been very successful 
in business. He was the first Circuit Court Clerk in Newton County. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat with strong Greenback tendencies. 
Mr. Spitler was married, in 184'3, to Miss Sallie Rider, a native of York County, 
Penn. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living— Daniel, Mann. 
William, Henry, John R. (who died in 1864, aged eleven years), Zechariah, George 
M. and Joseph W. Mrs. Spitler came from Ohio to Newton County, Ind., in 1836, 
and is one of the oldest residents of the county. Mr. Spitler is now si.xty-si.x years 
of age, and has never been confined a single day to his bed on account of sickness. 

ASHER M. STROLE was born in Virginia July 13, 1846. When about eleven 
years of age, his parents, William A. and Sarah A. (Kibler) Strole, came to Illinois, 
where the father farmed, the little boy attending school and assisting on the farm. 
In 1859, they removed to Washington Township, Ind., and purchased wild laud, 
the boy still in school and working some until twenty-one years of age, when he 
worked steadily at farming. On March 20, 1872, he married ^lartha E. Downey, 
daughter of Eliezer and Lydia Downey, of Virginia. The}' have two children- 
John J. and William A. In 1870, he purcha.sed eighty acres of land in Section 
24, Washington Township, which is now well improved, and provided with fine 
buildings. He is a Master Mason, member of Brook Lodge, 458, of Brook, Ind. In 
politics, he is a Democrat of liberal views. He attends the church of the United 
Brethren; his wife is a member of same. 

YOUNG THOMPSON, son of Jabez and Rebecca Thompson, was born May 4. 
1828, in Ohio. Soon after ids birth, his parents moved to Warren County, Ind. ; he 
attended school in the log schoolliouse of the olden time, and farmed at intervals. 
After the death of hi.s parents, he continued farming until in later )'ears he was in 
company with his brother Al)el, in the saw mill on Pine Creek, in Warren Countj'. 
On July 28, 1849, he married Catherine Magee. daughter of Josiah B. and Sarah 
(Morrison) Magee, formerly of Butler County, Ohio. Four children are the fruit of 
this marriage— Rachel A., George W., Josiah R. and Sarah E. In 1852, he bought 
a farm in Section 3, Washington Town.ship, Newton County, where he commenced 
in earnest the life of a farmer. At the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted in Com- 
pany E, Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry Volunteers. After one years hard service. 
he was taken sick and sent to the military hospital at St. Louis, Mo., where he soon 
after died, and his remains are now resting in the National Cemetery near St. Louis 
He left his family well provided for. Since 1848. he had been a member of the 
United Brethren Church. His widow is still residing on the old farm with lier son. 
Josiah R., who, on October 5. 1882. married Fannie Gerrard, daughter of Henrv II. 
and Euphania (Doty) Gerrard, early .settlers of Warren County. 

ABEL THOMPSON, son of Jabez and Rebecca Tiiompson, was born January 
8, 1830, in Warren County, Ind.. where the parents were early settlers. His father 



778 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

was a farmer and a blacksmith. Abel worked on the farm and attended school 
until the death of his parents, which event took place when he was about seventeen 
years of age, after which he continued farming. On February 6, 1850, he married 
Matilda Magee, who bore him one child, Matilda E., deceased. His wife died No- 
vember 26, 1853, On January 15, 1854, he married Susanna McFarland, daughter 
of Moses McFarland, of Tippecanoe County, Ind. The children born to them were 
Jasper Newton (deceased), Elizabeth J., William Otterbein, Martin L. (deceased), 
Norvill E. (deceased). Our subject was in the saw mill business until 1859, when he 
exchanged his mill for farming land in Washington Township, Newton County, 
where he removed his family and carried on general farming, also dealt some in 
stock, he being the first to bring to this county some fine imported hogs. He pros- 
pered, and added to his possessions until he had 190 acres of good farming land. 
An aflBiction of rose cancer, however, cut short his prosperous career, and, after 
much suffering, as well as the efforts of many able physicians to save his life, he 
died at Indianapolis November 22, 1878; he was esteemed by all, and was a member 
of the United Brethren Church, of which he was a Class Leader and Steward; his 
widow is now living at the old homestead with his son William Otterbein, who mar- 
ried, September S't, 1880, Cynthia J. Best, daughter of John B. and Mary (Moflfett) 
Best. Two children have been born to this union — John A. (deceased) and Walter 
S. William is a member of the United Brethren Church, his wife of the Baptist. 
JOSHUA J. TIMMONS, the oldest inhabitant of Washington Township, New- 
ton Co., Ind., was born March 1, 1831, in Warren County, Ind.; his father, Bassett 
Timmons, and mother, Sarah (Johnston) Timmons, were early settlers of Pickaway 
County, Ohio, where they were married after a romantic courtship. Bassett's first 
glimpse of his future wife was as she walked beside the wagon, when her parents 
were hunting a place to locate. He made the remark, "She shall be my wife," and 
soon after they were married. In 1835, the subject of this sketch being three years 
old, they came to what is now Newton County and entered 320 acres of wild land, 
and established the Timmons Ford, now Timmons Bridge, across the Iroquois 
River; he cultivated his land till his death, which occurred in 1840. Joshua had no 
opportunity to attend school until twelve years of age, then in an old log 
house. In 1847, his mother married George Myers, and he left home, going to work 
for Benjamin Timmons, in Newton County, for $8 a month, saved his money and 
bought eighty acres of land in Benton County. April 8, 1852, he married Ann 
Troup, daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Deardorflf) Troup, born in Stark County, 
Ohio, January 27, 1834, and came to Newton County. Five children were born 
to them— William W., Emma, Albert, Warren and Clara. They lived until 1869 in 
a log house left his wife by her deceased father, then built a fine frame. He now 
has 255 acres under cultivation, and eighty in Jasper County; raises some stock. 
He takes an active part in politics, being a Republican; was elected County Com- 
missioner in 1882; is a Master Mason of Iroquois Lodge, No. 506; attends United 
Brethren Church; his wife is a member of same. 



IROQUOIS TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 779 



IROQUOIS TOWNSHIP. 

NICKOLAS BECHER is a native of Germany, and i.s a son of Conrad and Mar- 
garet Bechor, likewise natives of Germany. His fatlier was a farmer and weaver, 
and died in Lake County, Ind., in 1867. Niekolas Beclier was twenty-two years of 
a/^e when he arrived in America. He came to Lake County, Ind., and purchased 
forty-seven acres, which he afterward sold and then purchased eighty acres of his 
present home, to wliich he has since added eighty more. In 1870, he married Mis.s 
Mary Geier. a native of Germany, who departed from life in 1877. His second mar- 
riage, in Newton County, Ind., was to Miss Dora Oeliring, a native of Chicago. 
Mr. Becher is the parent of four children; by his first wife, Annie, Minnie and 
Dora; by his second wife, Bettie. Mr. Becher is the owner of a very fine prairie 
farm, with improvements, among which are one and a half miles of hedge. He 
averages from 2.000 to 2,500 bushels of corn, 300 to 400 bushels of oats, and from 
fifteen to thirty tons of hay each year. Mr. Becher is a successful farmer and 
worthy gentleman. 

A. J. CHAPIN, farmer, is a native of Grundy County, 111., was born in the 
month of May, 1849, and is a son of E. W. and Ann (Harrison) Chapin. the former 
a native of Connecticut, the latter of England. Thej^ now reside at Francesville, 
Ind. Our subject resided in his native county until he was eighteen years old, 
after which he farmed and ran u threshing machine for .seven years; he also spent 
one year and a half in California, whence he returned to Newton County, this 
State, and married January, 1880, Miss Catherine, daughter of Samuel Craig, a 
Grundy County farmer. This union was graced with one child — Luelia. Mr. 
Chapin has now a comfortable farm of forty acres. E. W. Chapin, fathe^ of the 
subject of this sketch, is a pioneer of the State of Illinois, where he located one 
year after the close of the Black Hawk war. He also assisted in the removal of 
the Indians. 

JOHN DUNLAP, merchant at Julian, was born in Cincinnati in 1850, where 
he lived until ten years of age, when he removed with his parents to Bartholomew 
County, Ind., where his mother died; his father died in Newton County in 1878. 
John Dunlap remained on the home farm until he was nineteen. He then went to 
Newton County, where he worked by the month for Dr. Caldwell, and in 1871 mar- 
ried Miss Grettie, daughter of William A. Crisler, and a native of Bartholomew 
County. Mr. Crisler opened the first store at Pilot Grove. Mr. Dunlap is Justice 
of the Peace, and as such he has served since 1880. He was formerly located at Sa- 
lem for six 3'ears, and came to his present location in March, 1883, where he has the 
only store in the place. He carries a stock of f 2,000, and will be grateful for con- 
tinued confidence and patronage. The post office is connected with his store. Mr. 
and Mrs. Dunlap are parents of five children — Cora, William W., Bessie E., John 
A. and Lillie (deceased.) 

JOHN B. FOHESMAN, farmer, stock-dealer, and drain-tile manufacturer at 
Foresman Station (named after the suliject of this sketcli), is a native of Ohio, born 
in 18^32, and is tlie .second of the nine children of Robert A. and Sallie (Bear) Fores- 
man, the former a native of Northumlicrland County, Penn., the latter of Picka- 
way County, Ohio, wlio died on the home farm; tiie father is yet living, aged sev- 
enty-eight. They wero pioneers of Tipi>ecanoe County, Ind., having gone thither 
in 1833. John B. Foresman lived with his parents until 1H.")5, when he married Miss 
Minerva Davis. They have nine living children— William D., Frederick R., Alice, 



780 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

Ida, Mary, Mattie, Nettie, John B. and Frank. After marriage, Mr. Foresman 
rented 200 acres of land, and afterward, by means of his savings, purchased 193 
acres, and this he exchanged for 490 acres, giving as a difference the sum of $3,000. 
To this land he added until he now owns 650 acres, of his present farm, and 200 
south of Goodland, which he gave to his son William D. Mr. Foresman has usu- 
ally from 100 to 200 heads of hogs, and is a large and constant shipper. He has 
perhaps the largest tile manufactory in the State, with a capacity for making 6,500 
daily. 

WILLIAM FORESMAN, manufacturer of drain tile, is a native of the State of 
Ohio, but was early brought to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where his boyhood was 
passed. He resided on the home farm with his parents until he was married to Miss 
Jeanette Peters, daughter of J. A. Peters, who is now living, aged seventy-three 
years. This union was happy in the number of five children — Charles, R. B., 
William, Marcus and Harvey. Mr. Foresman lived and farmed in Macon County. 
111., until 1880, at which time he removed to his present location. In that year he 
entered into partnership with his brother, J. B. Foresman, to which business he has 
^iven his whole attention. The factory for making tile, in which our subject has a 
half interest, has a capacity for making 6,500 tiles daily. Besides the domestic 
trade, they ship largely, and their production is thought to be the best in the market. 

HENRY T. GRIGGS, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Morris, Grundy 
Co., 111., was born October 29, 1845, and is the fifth of the six children of Peter M. 
and Catharine (Moore) Griggs, both natives of Pennsylvania, and pioneers of Grun- 
dy County, where they improved two farms, and where Mr. Griggs died in 1849; 
Mrs. Griggs is yet living at Piper City, 111. Henry T. Griggs enlisted January 2, 
1864, in Company C, Seventy-sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry; he was in the battle 
of Mobile, in several skirmishes, and was discharged June 6, 1866. March 30, 1869, 
he married Miss Clara, daughter of Peter Retterath, which union was honored with 
two children — Fraukie (deceased) and Ella. In 1868, Mr. Griggs purchased 140 
acres of his present farm, to which, he added until he has 440 acres of very excellent 
land, with a fine frame house and other desirable improvements, including three 
miles of beautiful hedge*. Mr. Griggs raises and ships considerable stock, 45 to 50 
head of cattle, 50 to 75 head of hogs, and 10 to 15 head of horses per year; he also 
raises from 4,000 to 5,000 bushels of corn, 1,000 to 1,500 bushels of oats, and 200 to 
400 bushels of flax. He is a prosperous farmer. 

J. R. HERSHMAN, farmer and Township Trustee, was born in Benton Count}'- 
Ind., in 1848, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Edmoudson) Hershman, the former 
a native of Ohio, the latter of Tennessee. Jacob Hershman was an early settler of 
Hamilton County, Ind., of which his father was a pioneer. J. R. Hershman passed 
his boyhood in White County, and remained at home until, in 1871, he married Miss 
Hannah, daughter of John Lyons, a pioneer of Newton County, who died in 1863. 
Mrs. Hershman is a native of Newton County. For the first year after his marriage, 
Mr. Hershman rented a farm, and afterward purchased eighty acres of his present 
home, to which he later added forty acres, the same constituting a fine farm, con- 
taining comfortable buildings and desirable improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Hershman 
are the parents of two children — Ray and Lloyd. Mr. Hershman is a member of 
the Republican party, and was elected Township Trustee, first in 1880, and again in 
1882; he is a much respected citizen. 

■ EDWIN- G. HOFF, farmer, is a native of Will County, 111., and is a son of 
Horace and Sarah A. Hoff ; the former died in Joliet, the latter resides in Chicago, 
aged seventy-three, the wife of a Mr. Morrison, whom she married when seventy 
years of age. Mr. Hoff was owner of 16'J acres in Will County, which he sold and 
came to his present location. He was married in Will County to Miss Caroline, a 
daughter of Edward and Rosella (Searls) Law, and born September 1, 1846. Five 



IROQUOIS TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 781 

children followed this union — Evelyn, Florence, Caroline (deceased), Horace, and 
Rostlla (deceased) Mr. llofl has a fine prairie fann of IGO acres, with 300 rods of 
hediie, which he has owned since IMHl. He raises from 2,i)00 to 3,000 bushels of 
corn, and about 1,200 l)ushels of oats annually; he also raises some Hereford cattle, 
the finest stock of the world, from fifty to seventy-tive hogs a year, and has six 
working horses. Mr. Hoff is an excellent man, and one of the representative farm- 
ers of the township. 

MORRIS A. JONES is a native of Ross County, Ohio, his parents being Cor- 
nelius and Matilda (Minshall) Jones, likewise natives of Ohio. Cornelius Jones was 
a farmer, and died in this county ?n 1858; Mrs. Jones is yet living, about seventy 
years of age. Morris A. Jones remained in Ohio until ten years old, when his par- 
ents moved to this county, and here he has since lived, except the time spent in the 
service. In 1864, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-seventh Regiment Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, in which he served one and a half years. He took part at Res- 
aca. Peach Tree Creek, in the Atlanta campaign, and at Gold.sboro. X. C, and was 
mustered out at Indianapolis. In 1868, in Newton County, he married ^liss Sarah 
Whittaker, daughter of James Whittaker, and a native of this State. From this 
union have descended three ciiildren — Minnie I., Ezra G. and Edith A. Mr. Jones 
has resided on his rented farm of ninety-two acres since the year 1871. 

A. C. LESTER, farmer, is a native of Parke County, Ind., was born February 
10, 1823, and is a son of Joseph E. and Elizabeth (Phillips) Lester, the former a 
native of Virginia, the latter of North Carolina. They were pioneers of their 
county, and their neighbors Were Indians, one of whom made his home with Joseph 
Lester, who died on the homestead in 1832, as did Mrs. Lester, in 1848. Our sub- 
ject's youth was passed in the wilds of his native county. In 1843, in Vermillion 
County, Ind., he married Miss Malinda, daughter of Philip French, and a native of 
Butler County, Ohio. By said union were born eight children — Adaline, Henrietta, 
Stanton P., Sarah ()., Felix, Mary, John (deceased), and Flora. Mr. Lester rented 
land for three years in Vermillion County, afterward in Newton County for one 
year, and later pre-empted his present farm of 160 acres, which he improved by 
tree-planting, particularly walnut trees; he has also 500 rods of hedge, a good 
grapery, and some of the best fencing in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Lester are 
members of the Church of God, of which the former has been an Elder and Deacon 
for many years. 

JOHN LOWE, farmer and stock-dealer, is a native of Tennessee, and came 
witli his parents, about 1848, to Jasper County, of which his father was a pioneer, 
and where betook a claim, made some improvements, and later removed to another 
part of the county; he improved. in all, three farms, and is now a resident of Kentland. 
In 1861, John Lowe enlisted in (Company B, Fift3'-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. He was engaged at the battles of Perryville and Munfordsville, and on 
the forced march of Gen. Buell from Stevenson, Ala., to Louisville, Ky. After fif- 
teen months' .service, he was discharged on account of illness. In 1863, he married 
Miss Keziah Jones, daughter of Cornelius Jones. This union was honored with four 
children— Charles C, M. E., Bennett and Greenberry G. Mr. Lowe has a fine and 
productive farm. He usually plants 100 acres of corn, raises from fifty to sixty tons 
of hay, 200 head of hogs, and seventy-five to eighty head of cattle every year, be- 
sides 1,200 to 1,5(K) bushels of oats. 

DAVID E. LOAVE, dealer in drugs and groceries, Foresman Station,'is a native 
of Tennessee, born in 1847, and a son of Francis and Sarah (Keeiicy) Lowe, both 
natives of North Carolina. Francis Lowe was a pioneer of Jasper County, he now 
resides at Kentland. David lived with liis parents vmtil 1H75. when he married Miss 
Ella Smith, daughter of Nathaniel Smitii, an early settler of Newton County, of 
whicli Ijer grandfather was a pioneer, who is yet living, and more than eighty years 



782 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

of age. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have three children — May, Lola and Clarence. After 
his marriage, Mr. Lowe farmed for three years, and thereafter began his present 
business — first at Brook, a village in Iroquois Township, where he remained three 
years. Mr. Lowe has the only drug store at Foresman Station, where he sold the 
first bill of goods in February, 1882; the post office is connected with his present 
business. He is an upright, fair-dealing man, and hopes thereby for a continuance 
and increase of patronage. 

AARON LYONS is a native of what is now Newton County, was born in 1832, 
and is a son of John and Anna (Jones) Lyons; the father of Virginia, the mother of 
Ohio, who were pioneers of Newton County, to which they moved about the year 
1831, and where Aaron passed his boyhood on the paternal farm. About 1853, Aaron 
purchased a half interest in 1865 acres, and in the same year married, in Newton 
County, Miss Sarah Smith, a native of Benton County, by which union were born 
six children— Anna, Ella, Grace, Luther, Flora and Arthur. Mr. Lyons now sold 
his tract of land and purchased his present farm, first of 160 acres, to which he made 
an addition of thirty acres, the whole being 190 acres, with 200 rods of hedge. He 
has served two terras as Treasurer of the township, when three constituted the board. 
Mr. Lyons plants from fifty to sixty acres of corn, twenty-five to twenty-eight of 
oats; raises about twenty-five tons of hay, and handles about fifty head of cattle 
and twenty-five head of horses annually, with about six for farm use. 

J. B. LYONS, farmer and stock-dealer, is a native of Newton County, born Feb- 
ruary 23, 1845, and is the eldest child of Samuel and Margaret Lyons, the former 
being a farmer. Our subject was married in this county to Miss Mary C. Hess, a 
daughter of Andrew Hess, likewise a farmer. Mr. Lyons purchased eighty acres of 
his present home in 1868, and has since added 120 acres thereto, making, in totality, 
200 acres of very excellent farming land and a comfortable home; there are also, as 
improvements, commodious buildings, and 500 rods of Osage hedge. Mr. Lyons is 
a successful and prosperous farmer, and has served foxiv years as Township Trustee. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lyons are parents of six children — Lawrence E., Oliver P., Fred, Elsie, 
Elmer and Lulie. 

JAMES McCLINTOCK, farmer and minister, is a native of Ireland, and the 
third of five children born to Robert and Nancy McClintock, also natives of Ireland. 
His mother died in 1848, and in 1850 his father emigrated to America, where he died 
in 1878. James McClintock was brought up to linen making, which he abandoned 
after coming to this country. In 1855, he married Miss Margaret G., daughter of 
Simeon and Nancy Avrett. Simeon Avrett was an Illinois pioneer, and is supposed 
to have shot Joseph Smith. Mr. and Mrs. McClintock were parents of six children — 
Robert S. (deceased), William H., James B. (deceased), Sarah E. (deceased), Ida M. 
and Cecil J. (deceased). Mr. McClintock is a minister of the M. P. Church, and 
was an itinerant for fourteen years. He afterward rented a farm for five years in 
Iroquois County, 111., and removed to his present farm in this township in August, 
1870, where he had purchased eighty acres in 1869, since which period he has pur- 
chased and inherited 160, making 240 in all— a very good and desirable farm. Presi- 
dent Arthur's father and Mr. McClintock were reared within five miles of each 
other. 

A. J. MONTGOMERY, farmer, was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., and is a 
son of John and Jane (McMillin) Montgomery, the father a native of Virginia, the 
mother of Tennessee. They were pioneers of Tippecanoe County, where the latter 
died. About 1833, Mr. Montgomery removed to Newton County, and purchased a 
farm, which he improved; he is yet living, at the age of eighty-two, and resides in 
Kentland. Our subject was married to Miss Mary Dewese, a native of Ohio, who 
died about 1868. He next married, in 1871, Miss Eliza, daughter of Nelson and 
Amanda (Blankenbeker) Conn, all natives of Kentucky. Mr. Montgomery is the 



IROQUOIS TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 783 

parent of three children — Charles E., John and James N. He "owned 260 acres at 
one time, twenty of which were timber, thd rest very fine prairie land; this he sold, 
and has occupied since 18G3 his farm of 190 acres. Mr. Montgomery raises largely of 
hogs and cattle, also of oats: he has many improvements, including 160 rods of beau- 
tiful hedge. 

LEANDER REED (deceased farmer), was a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, 
and a son of William and Prudence (Doty) Reed, the fonner a native of Virginia, 
the latter of Ohio. William Reed shipped the first load of tan bark to La Fayette, 
and was a pioneer of Tippecanoe County. Leauder Reed was a partner with his 
father in boating previous to his marriage, which took jilace in Tippecanoe County. 
to Miss 3Iary, daughter of Henry Stair, a farmer and pioneer of that county, where 
he ended his life. Mr. Reed first purchased fifty acres adjoining his father-in-law, 
later bought sevent}' acres, and inherited forty; of this lie sold ninety, and purchased 
157 acres of his present farm about 1870, on which he lived until death closed his 
labors, in 1873. He was the parent of ten children— Mary E., W. H., E. F., T. M., 
C. A., Sarah E., L. L., C. A., W. P. and P. O. Mrs. Reed is living on the home- 
stead, which is cultivated and managed by her eldest son, W. H. Reed. 

JOHN W. SAPP, farmer, is a native of Madison County, Ohio, and was born 
in 1886, his parents being Thomas and Nancy Sapp, the father a native of Pennsj'l- 
vania, the mother of Ohio. They were pioneers of Henry County, Ind., and both 
died on the same da}' in 1879. The boyhood of John W. Sapp was passed on his 
parents" farm. In 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-sixth Regiment Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, and continued in the service until December 24, 1864; he was 
in action at Stone River, Chickamauga, and through tlie Atlanta campaign; he was 
wounded at Atlanta, and also at Chickamauga. In Henry County, Ind., he married 
Miss Theresa, daugliter of George Rogers. Mr. Sapp's first location of land was on 
forty-two acres in Iowa; his second on forty acres in Grant County, Ind.; his third on 
land rented in Henry County, Ind.; and finally on his present location, where he first 
purchased ten acres, and has added thereto until it aggregates 120 acres, and is 
adorned with a fine residence. Mr. and Mrs. Sapp have six children — William H., 
George R., John W., Nelson M., James W. and S. Mabel. 

GEORGE L. SAWYER was born in January, 1843, and is a son of Louis and 
Rebecca Sawyer, pioneers of Illinois, where thej' made and improved a farm. George 
enlisted in 1863, in Company I, Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, and afterward in the 
Ninety-first Regiment. He was injured by a railway accident on the way to Chi- 
cago, thus being rendered unfit for dut\', and, after h'ing for three months at Joliet, 
he returned home. In March, 1866, at Ottawa, 111., lie married Mi.ss Millie Dyke, a 
natire of La Salle County, 111., by which marriage he became the parent of .-^ix chil- 
dren—Fred, Frank, Ida M. (deceased). Addle, Carl L. and Iva M. In 1866, Mr. 
Sawyer purchased eightj' acres in Illinois, which, after three j'ears, he sold and re- 
moved to Kansas, where he remained one year. He then returned, and in 1872 piu'- 
chased eighty acres of his present place, which, by additions, he has enlarged to 
200 acres, which is good, productive prairie land. Mr. Sawyer handles from 30 to 
40 head of cattle, and 60 to 70 head of hogs annually; he produces in corn from 
3,000 to 4,000 bushels, in oats about 800 bushels, and keeps from 12 to 15 head of 
horses. 

JOHN SHAEFFER, fanner and stock-raiser, was born in Berks County, Penn., 
in 1824. His parents were George and Maria (Baddorf) ShaefTer, the former a native 
of Lancaster, the latter of Lebanon Count}'. Penn. Mrs. ShaefTer died in Berks, and 
Mr. Shaefifer in Lancjuster County, Penn. John ShaefTer passed his youth in Ins 
native county. In 1850, he married Miss Auguslina Schlascnuin, of Berks County, 
who died three years to a day from date of marriage, leaving two children — .lames 
and Agnes. His second marriage was to MissSarali Sclilaseinan. sister <>{ his former 



784 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

wife, who also gave being to two cliildren — Wilson and Malinda. While in Berks 
County. Mr. Shaeffer purchased eight acres, which lie sold, and removed to Henry 
County, Ind., where he rented land for two and one-half years; thence removed to 
this township, in 1862, where he also rented land, then purchased the same, sold it, 
and came to his present place of 100 acres, to which he added sixty acres; he after- 
ward purchased 320 acres in Jasper County, later forty-live more, and still later 115 
in this county, then forty-five acres more in Jasper County, and eighty of timber 
north of his present farm, making a total of 765 acres. Mr. Shaeflfer is a successful 
farmer, handling much stock, raising largely of corn and hay, and keeping from 
twenty to twenty-five horses. He is a Democrat in politics. 

JAMES SHAEFFER is a native of Berks County, Penn., was born June 5, 
1853, and is a son of John Shaeffer, a fanner by occupation. James Shaeffer is like- 
wise a farmer, and was married in Newton County, in 1878, to Miss Priscilla Jones, 
a daughter of Cornelius Jones, one of the pioneer farmers of Newton County, where 
he ended his earthlj' existence. Mrs. Priscilla Shaeffer is a native of Ross County, 
Ohio, and has been favored as the mother of two children — Katie M. and Mattie G. 
Mr. Shaeffer has resided on his present farm since the year of his marriage, which 
farm he owns, and which comprises 103 acres. He plants about fifty acres in corn, 
twenty-five acres in oals, also handles fifty to seventy-five head of hogs, twenty-five 
to thirty head of cattle, and about thirty tons of hay each j-ear. Mr. Shaeffer has 
a productive farm, and is located two and one-half miles from Foresman Station. 

JOHN A. SIMPSON, farmer and stockdealer, is a native of Orleans County, 
Vt., was born in 1855, and is a son of Alexander and Margaret (Patterson) Simpson, 
the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Vermont; they are now living in 
Illinois, and farming. In 1875, John A. Simpson married Miss Eliza, daughter of 
John and Mary Antcliff, and a native of England. To this union has been granted 
two children — Alice M. and Grace J. Mr. Simpson farms upon 320 acres of rented 
land. He cultivates 170 acres of corn, forty of oats and fortj^ tons of hay; raises 
about 140 head of hogs, and fifty of cattle each year. Mr. Simpson has 696 acres of 
unimproved land in Kossuth County, Iowa, on which tract breaking has now lieen 
begun. 

6. B. SMITH, M. D., is a native of Hancock County, Ind., was born April 12, 
1843, and is the eldest of the six children of Josiah and Hannah (Braddock) Smith, 
the former a native of West Virginia, the latter of Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and 
English descent, who located in this township in 1852. Mr. Smith was a farmer 
and carpenter. G. B. Smith was reared in Newton County, and in 1861, enlisted 
in Company B, Fifty-first Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry; he was a corporal 
and took part at Shiloh, Stone River, the siege of Corinth, the raid of Gen. Streight, 
and was wounded at the battle of Crooked Creek, April 30, 1863. He was honor- 
ably discharged, after three years' service, in December, 1863. On April 16, 1872, 
at Remington, he married Miss S. J., daughter of David Chambers, of Montgomery 
County, Ind., where Mrs. S. J. Smith was born. To this union has been bestowed 
one child — Mary E. Dr. Smith is now a practitioner of medicine and surgery at 
Foresman Station, where he has erected a fine residence; he also practiced at Brook, 
and formerly at Chili, Miami County. He is a graduate of 1873 from the Indiana 
Medical College at Indianapolis. 

GEORGE SPAULDING, farmer, is a native of Waukegan, 111., and is the eldest 
of the six children of Chester andRoxanna(Tuttle) Spaulding, natives of New York. 
They were pioneers of Illinois; the former died at Waukegan, the latter at the home 
of her son George. Our subject passed his boyhood days in Chicago, in the pur- 
suit of the trade of carpentering, and after two years spent in Chebanse, he enlisted, 
August 15, 1862, in the Thirteenth Illinois Volunteers, and was at the siege of Vicks- 
burg and the battles of Champion Hills and Arkansas Post; he was also engaged in 



IROQUOIS TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 785 

many skirmishes, and was discharged after three years' service. He then purchased 
a houso and lot in Chcbanse, which he sold and bought 120 acres of his present 
farm, which he occupied in 1874. The place contains many improvement.s— such 
as groves of white ash and maple trees, and 400 rods of hedge. In November, 1879, 
he married Miss Helen, daughter of Andrew Johnson, of .loliet, 111., and from this 
union has sprung one child— William. Mr. Spaidding is a thoroughgoing farmer 
and a respected citizen. 

HARRISON TYLER, farmer, is a native of Indiana, and a son of George and 
Animy (Blankenbeker) Tyler, natives of Kentucky, and pioneers of Southern Indi- 
ana, whither they emigrated in 1818, at which period the}- had to pen their calves 
and lambs to save them from the avoIvcs. Mr. Tyler removed to Kentucky, where 
he died; Mrs. Tyler is yet living at the advanced age of ninety years, and is active. 
Harrison Tyler passed his boyhood in Kentuckj', where he remained until twenty- 
nine j'ears of age, and where he married Miss T. Isabella Blankenbeker, also a na- 
tive of Kentucky, a daughter of Felix C. Blankenbeker. In 1856, Mr. Tyler re- 
moved to Clark County. Ind., where he purchased, improved and lived some time 
on seventy acres, to which he afterward added fifteen acres, until 1866. This he 
sold and removed to Brook, Newton County, where he lived two years. He after- 
ward purchased 160 acres of his present home, then wild land, but now a finely cul- 
tivated farm; to this he added until the farm now numbers 265 acres with good 
buildings, and other necessaries and conveniences. Mr. and ^Irs. Tyler have si.x 
children — Milton, Felix, Newton J., Mary E., Edmond and William A. (deceased). 

JOHN L. VOSBURGH, boatman and farmer, is a native of Onondaga County, 
N. Y., was bom November 15, 1826, and is the eldest of the fourteen children of 
Henry I. and Martha (Kilby) Vosburgh, the former a native of New York, born 
August, 1796, the latter of Connecticut, born January, 1802, the one dying in 1848, 
the other in 1857. John L. Vosburgh followed the occupation of boating from 1843 
to 1855. December 29, 1852, he married, in Lysander, N. Y., Mi.ss Nancy M., 
daughter of Seneca and Hannah (Bradway) Allen, natives of New York and Ver- 
mont respectivel}'. and aged eighty-three and seventy-nine years; they reside with 
Mr. Vosburgh, who in 1855 removed to Michigan and engaged in lumber dealing 
until 1857, when he located in Illinois, where he worked for a railroad company. 
After renting land for nine years in Illinois, he purchased eighty acres of his pres- 
ent home in 1869, broke ten acres and located on the same in 1870, cultivated and 
improved; he has a number and variety of shade trees and strawberry grounds, also 
many fine horses. 

PAUL WEISHAAR, farmer and stock-dealer, is a native of Prussia and a son of 
George and Hannah Wei.shaar. Our .subject emigrated to this country when twenty- 
one years of age. He is a mason by trade, but worked thereat onlj'^ long enough to 
save sufficient money to buy a farm. In 1853, he went for and in 1854 brought his 
parents to America; they died and are buried in Hamilton County, Ohio. In 
August, 1855, he married, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mi.ss Catherine Werner, a native of 
Germany. Their union was productive of ten children — Paul, Anne, Elizabeth, 
George, Frank, Mary, Clara, Emma, Tillie and Rosa. In 1861, Mr. Weishaar pur- 
chased 160 acres, which he improved, and to which he added until he has now 550 
acres. He has good buildings and various and many improvements. He keeps 
about twelve horses for farm use; raises from 4,000 to 5,(HI0 bushels of corn, seventy- 
five to 100 tons of hay, and handles, by average, 100 hogs per year. It will he seen 
that Mr. Weishaar is a buccessful farmer, all of which is due to his thrift and toil. 



786 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP. 

ISAAC W. BEMENDERFER, furniture dealer and undertaker, Morocco.began 
business in 1873, which was solely undertaking, until 1881, when he opened his 
present store, and added a stock of furniture. He is doing a good business, and has 
as large and well selected a stock as can be found in the county. From 1874 to 1880, 
he had D. M. Pulver associated with him as partner. Mr. Bemenderfer is a native 
01 Stark County, Ohio, was born September 4, 1840, and is one of nine children of 
William and Sophia (Lichtenwalter) Bemenderfer, the latter a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, the former of Maryland, from which State he came, when quite young, with 
his parents to Virginia, where he grew to manhood, when he went to Stark County, 
Ohio, where he married and remained until 1853, when he came to Fulton County, 
Ind., where he owned a farm until his death, January 27, 1881. His wife still lives 
on the same farm. Isaac remained at home attending the common schools until 
twenty-one, where he rented and worked farms until 1869, after which he learned the 
carpenter's trade, which he has followed more or less since. He came to Newton 
County in the spring of 1865, and rented various farms until the fall of 1869, when 
he came to Morocco. November 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Forty-sixth Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry, and served with the regiment until discharged on account 
of sickness, in July, 1862. He was married, April 8, 1863, to Melissa A. Enslen, a 
native of Allen County, Ohio, and a daughter of Frederick and Anna (Burch) Enslen. 
Eleven children have been born to them, six of whom — Mary E., Elida L., Melville 
E., Lillie D., Ionia and Ted — are living. He and his wife are bpth members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He is Superintendent of the Sunday school, and 
leader of the choir at Morocco. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and an 
Odd Fellow. He has been Justice of the Peace for four years. In politics, he has 
been since the war a Republican; previous to that time, was a Democrat. He is one 
of the prominent men of the township and county. 

DANIEL BRADY was born in Darke County, Ohio, March 12, 1828, and is one 
of nine children of William and Elizabeth (Crumrine) Brady, the former a native of 
New Jersey, the latter of Pennsylvania. William Brady, when a young man, went 
to Darke County, Ohio, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade for ten years. 
In March, 1841, he came to Newton County, Ind., and settled in Iroquois Township, 
buying what is known as the "Jacob Wright farm." He afterward removed to 
Barton County, Kan., where he now lives. Daniel attended the schools of Newton 
County, and remained with his parents until twenty-one, when, in connection with 
his brother, he bought a farm, which they owned but a short time. He entered 120 
acres adjoining, living upon it two years. He then entered 160 acres in Ii'oquois 
County, 111., where he lived four years. In 1860, he came to Beaver Township, and 
bought a farm of 190 acres, upon which he still lives. It is in a high state of culti- 
vation, and has one of the finest houses in the county. He gives considerable atten- 
tion to stock-raising. Mr. Brady was married, September 24, 1854, to Arlina Peck, 
a native of New York. They have had six children, four of whom, Mrs. Frances 
A. Clark, Mrs. Helen E. Elijah, Alma and Laura E. are living. Mr. Brady is in 
politics a Republican, and is one of the early settlers of the county. 

JOSEPH W. CHIZUM was born October 31, 1825, in Ross County, Ohio, being 
the eldest of eight children of Garrison and Nancy A. (Shafer) Chizum, the former 
of Irish descent, but a native of Maryland. In 1833, Joseph's parents came to 
Fountain County, Ind., where he received a common school education in a log 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 787 

scboolliouse. He remained with liis father's family until twenty-three years of age. 
On February 38, 1847, he married Mary .1. Hanger, a native of Virginia. Six chil- 
dren have been born to tlu-m, four of whom, William \V., James B.. Joseph M. and 
Albert, are still living. In 1850, he came to lieaver Town.ship, and entered eighty 
acres of wild land, to which he has added until he now owns 750 acres well iin- 
proved land. He gives considerable attention to stock-raising; he has served one 
term as Commissioner of Newton County, and is re-elected for a second. He 
and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Repub 
lican, prominent in the townshij) and county. 

WILLIAM W. CHIZUM wa; born June 22, 1850,inTippecanoe County, Ind.,and 
is one of six children of Joseph and Mary ( Hanger) Chizum. His parents came to 
Newton County when he was an infant, where be remained through his childhood, 
attending the common schools. In 1870, he went to California and Oregon, where 
he spent eighteen months working on a farm and teaming. He then returned to 
Newton County and bougiit the farm of eiglity acres where he now resides. It is 
in a good state of cultivation. April 17, 1872, Mr. Cliizum married Nancy J. Dear- 
durff. a native of Newton County, and daughter of George W. and Catherine (Ash) 
Deardurff. They have had five children, four of whom are living— Mary E., Flora, 
Omer and Ned; an infant, born in March, 1882, died in July of the same year. Po- 
litically, Mr. Chizum is a Republican, and one of the enterprising young men of the 
township. 

WILLIAM DARROCH was born in Parke County, Ind., December 31, 1848, 
and is one of six children of John and Caroline (Puett) Darroch, both of whom 
were of Scotch descent. William, after receiving his early education in the com- 
mon schools of his county, entered Asbury University at Greencastle, Ind., and 
graduated from that institution in 1874. While in college he also studied law with 
William A. Brown. After leaving college, he taught several months, still pursuing 
his legal studies, in 1875, he opened a law office at Morocco, Ind., and still contin- 
ues the practice of his profession, principally in the courts of Newton County. 
June 23, 1878, he was married to Emma V. Samraons, a native of Wellandport, 
Canada. They have one child — Ethel, born July 21, 1879. Mr. Darrock was Trust- 
ee of Beaver Township for four years; is a prominent attorney of the county, and 
a Democrat. 

JOHN S. DEARDURFF, a native of Tippecanoe County. Ind., was born March 
10, 1842, and is one of ten children of Daniel and Lucinda (Heckethorn) Deardurff, 
the latter of German descent, born in Virginia, th(! former a native of Ohio, from 
which State he removed with his parents, when four years of age, to Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., where he grew to manhood, married and remained until 1844, when 
he came to Beaver Township, Newton County, and located on the farm now 
owned by D. Owen, remaining tliere until 18S3, when he removed to Kentland, 
where he still lives. His wife died in April, 18S1. John received his education in 
the common schools of Newton County, remaining at home until April 12, 1861, 
when he enlisted in the State Militia, in which he served until July, when he was 
discharged on accoimt of sickness. In September of the same year, he enlisted in 
Company D, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with the regiment until 
mustered out at Indianapolis, Septeml)er 29, 18(5i. He participated in all the cam- 
paigns and marches of the regiment, and the battles of Greenbrier, Shiloh, Corinth. 
Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta cam- 
paign, and many lesser engagements. He was wounded three times; at Shiloh his 
leg was broken on a reconnoitering expedition; he received a .shot through the leg 
at Woodbury; at Cliickamauga In; received a shot through the left shoulder. Al- 
though thus badly wounded, he has never applied for nor received a pension, prefer- 
ring tO; make his own support independent r)f the Government. After his return 

47 



788 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

from the war, he bought the farm of forty acres, to which he has since added until 
he now has 130 acres, well improved, upon which he lives. He gives some attention 
to stock-raising. Mr. Deardurff was married February 1, 1865, to Rachel A. Thomp- 
son, a native of Warren County, Ind. Five children liave been born to them — Alfred 
A., Daniel Y., Jolm O., Cyrus R. and William E., all of whom are living. Mr. 
Deardurff is a member of Morocco Lodge, No. 372, A., F. »fe A. M., and Morocco 
Post, No. Ill, G. A. R. In politics, he is a Democrat, and he is one of the well- 
known citizens of the township. 

ANDREW DOTY was born in Butler County, Ohio, December 26, 1825, and is 
one of eight children of Joseph and Effie (Thompson) Doty. His parents, natives 
of Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio when young, where they lived until 1830, when 
they came to Warren County, Ind., where the father still lives at an advanced age. 
Andrew received his education in the primitive schoolhouse of the frontier, residing 
with his parents until attaining his majority. He then worked on a farm, renting- 
for three years. He then came to Washington Township, Newton Co., Ind., enter- 
ing 120 acres, to which he afterward added 280 acres more, and upon which he 
erected good buildings. In March, 1883, he removed to Morocca, purchasing 15 
acres, with a fine house, where he now resides. Mr. Doty was married March 18, 
1849, to Elmira Doty, of Warren Co., Ind. Twelve children have been born to 
them, four of whom— Leander, Lydia, Zella and Charles— are living. Mr. Doty is 
a prominent man in the county, being one of its early settlers. In politics, he is a 
Republican. He belongs to the church of the United Brethren ; his wife and 
daughter are also members. 

LEVI S. EWAN was born in Genesee County, N. Y., June 6, 1815, and is one 
of nine children of Samuel and Mercy (Sprague) Ewan, the former of Scotch de- 
scent, a native of New Jersey, from which State he removed, when a young man, to 
New York, where he lived until 1819, when he went with his family to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, thence to Indiana, where he remained until his death July 18, 1848. Levi 
received his education in the schools of Dearborn County. He remained with his 
father's family until twenty-four years of age. He learned the cooper's trade, 
which he followed several years. In 1837, he entered a half-section of land in Jen- 
nings County, Ind., to which he removed eight years later, and where he lived 
twenty-two years. In October. 1867, he removed to Beaver Township, and located 
on a farm of over 300 acres. He retains 121 acres, upon which is a fine house, where 
he lives. The rest he has sold and given to a son. In 1842, he began the study of 
law, with James Brown, of Lawrenceburg. He was admitted to the bar in Jennings 
County, under Judge Gushing. He has, however, practiced his profession l)ut little. 
He was married December 16, 1838, to Elmira E. King, a native of Dearborn County, 
Ind. Nine children have been born to them, five of whom, viz., Phineas B., Mrs. 
Catharine Day, Mrs. Cordelia B. Edmunds, Mrs. Florence Goddard and Charles C, 
are living; one, Isaac Newton, fell at Vicksburg, in the service of his country. Mr. 
Ewan and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, in which church he has been 
a local minister for over twenty years. He is a stanch Republican, and, previous to 
the formation of that party, was a Whig. 

JOHN D. GODDARD was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., November 9, 1842, 
and is one of five children of Benjamin H. and Nancy (Deardurff) Goddard, the latter 
a native of Ohio, the former of Maine, whence he emigrated, when a young man, to 
Tippecanoe County, Ind., remaining there until 1846, when he came to Newton 
County and settled on a farm, where he died the next year. John, who was five 
years old when his father died, attended school in Newton County until his mother's 
second marriage to Andrew Murphy, who died at Nashville, Tenn., when he went 
with her to Tippecanoe County, and remained seven years, coming again to Newton 
County, where he worked by the month until September 7, 1861, when he enlisted 



BKAVKR TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 780 

in Company D, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served witli the regiment 
until mustered out at C'iiattanoofra September 7, 1H(54. He particijjated in the 
battles of Greenbrier, Stone River. Chiekamauf^a, the Atlanta campai;j;n, and many 
lesser engajjements. At C'hiekamauga, he reeeived a slight wound. After liis 
return from the war, he purehased a farm of 120 acres, to which he lias added, so 
he now has 383 acres well improved, and also upon it one of the best houses in the 
county. He gives considerable attention to stock-raising. Mr. Goddard was mar- 
ried, February 15, 1H6<5, to Mary J. Ivesler, a native of Newton County. Six chil- 
dren have been born to them, live of wiiom, viz., Clara, Anna (}., Rachel E.. Will- 
iam A. and Nancy B., are living. lie and his wife are members of the M. K. Churcli. 
He is also a member of Morocco Post, No. Ill, G. A. R. Politically, he is a Rei)ub- 
lican, and one of the large farmers of the county 

CAPT. DANIEL M. (IRAVES was born in Coshocton County, Oliio, January 
5, 1830, and is one of ten children of Benjamin and Mar}' (Pierce) Graves. He 
received a good practical education, principally in the schools of Johnson Countj', 
Ind. While attending school, he often taught a winter term. After finishing his 
studies, he owned and worked a farm ia Newton County, still continuing to teach. 
In 1877, he sold his farm and went to Kentland, where he engaged in the general 
merchandise business for about a j'ear. He then came to Morocco, and in connec- 
tion with his brother pursuecP the same business, under the firm name of Graves 
Bros. In 1879, he sold his interest to D. ^I. Johnson, since which he has l)een deal- 
ing in horses and mules. In October, 18(53, he enlisted in Companj' A, One Hundred 
and Twenty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, but l)efore being mustered in was 
commissioned bj^ the Governor to recruit a cavalry company, which lie did, and was 
mustered into service January 7, 18G4, as Captain of Companv K, Twelfth Indiana 
Cavalry, in which capacitj' he served until mustered out November 21, 1865. He 
participated in all the marches, raids and campaigns of this regiment, and was pres- 
ent at the capture of Mobile. He was also in numerous skirmishes in Georgia and 
Mississippi. Under the military government of Mississippi, he commanded the sub- 
district at Starkville until 1865. when he was sent with a detachment of three com- 
panies to Austin, Miss. He was then sent as a member of a court martial to Jack- 
son. Capt. Graves is a charter mem])er of Morocco Post, 111, G. A. R., and has 
been its commander since its organization. He has been three times married: First, 
September 2, 1854, to Elizabeth Graham, a native of Marion County, Ohio, who 
died in 1861, leaving three children— Flora P., Charles M. and Frank F.. all of 
whom are living. In September. 1862, he married Mar}' A. (iraham, a sister of his 
former wife, and after her death, which occurred in 1864, he was married, in 1874, 
to Rachel A. Parkhurst, of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have four children— Orth. 
Mildred M., LoUa B. and Annie R. In politics, Capt. (traves is a Republican, hav- 
ing voted for every Presidential candidate of that party since Fremont. At the 
second election of Lincoln, in 1864, he was sent home in care of a detail of 400 
men. 

GRAVES &, JOHNSON, general merchandise, Morocco, Ind.; began business 
December 13, 1877, under the firm name of Graves Bros., who conducted the busi- 
ness for about eighteen months, when D. M. Johnson bougiit the interest of D. M. 
Graves. The above firm have since conducted the business, and have a large and 
well selected stock of goods. J. W. Graves, senior member of the firm, was born 
at La Fayette, Ind., November 17, 1H38, and is the youngest of ten children of Ben- 
jamin and Mary (Pierce) (Graves, both natives of Virginia, from wliicli State, soon 
after their marriage, they removed to Ohio, remaining a short time, wl>en. in 1828, 
they came to Tippecanoe County, Ind.; located upon a farm, where they lived thirty 
years, when they moved to Newton County, where tlie father died in 1868. J. W. 
Graves received a more tiian common school education, having attended Leoni Col- 



790 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

lege, Michigan, for a time. August 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-ninth 
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with the regiment until it was mustered out 
at Indianapolis, June 16, 1865; he participated in the battles of Viclisburg, Mission 
Ridge, Jackson, Lookout Mountain, the Atlanta campaign, the march to the sea, 
and through the Carolinas, and was not wounded nor sick a day during the entire 
service. After his return from the war, he went to Minnesota, where he married, 
August 8, 1865, Jemima B. Brennesholtz, a native of Indiana; he then came to 
Newton County, Ind., but soon returned to Minnesota, pre-empted a homestead, and 
lived there eleven years, holding the office of Slieriff of the county two years. In 
1876, he again returned to Morocco, where, besides his mercantile business, he con- 
ducts the Morocco Hotel. He is a member of Morocco Lodge, No. 372, A. F. & 
A. M., and Morocco Post, 111, G. A. R. Five children have been born to them, four 
of whom— Orlando M., John C, Cora E. and Sherman A., are living. Politically. 
Mr. Graves is a standi Republican, and is one of the prominent men of tlie county. 
Dempsey M. Johnson, junior member of the firm of Graves & Johnson, came to 
Newton County, Ind., in 1848, residing on the farm now owned by John F. John- 
son, in Beaver Township, there being at that time but fifteen families within its bor- 
ders; he remained there until 1876, when he came to Morocco, and bought the house 
and lot of I. M. Kinney, which he owned until 1883, when he exchanged it with D. 
M. Pulver for twenty acres near Morocco, where he'still lives; he was born in Clin- 
ton County, Ohio, September 1, 1827, and is a son of Micajah and Margaret (Carson) 
Johnson; he received a practical education, remaining at home until twenty-one; 
he was married, in April, 1850, to Louisa Graves, a native of Ohio. Four children 
have been born to them, two of whom— Mrs. John R. Archibald and Elizabeth— are 
still living. In politics, Mr. Johnson is a Republican; before the formation of that 
party, a Whig. For the past fifteen years he has been a minister in the Christian 
Church, preaching at various places in Newton, Jasper, White, Cass and Benton 
Counties, Ind., and Iroquois and Kankakee Counties, 111. 

JOHN F. JOHNSON was born in Montgomery County, Ind., May 22, 1834; he 
is the youngest of eleven children of Micajah M. and Margaret (Carson) Johnson, 
both natives of Virginia, removing soon after their marriage to Greene County, Ohio_ 
crossing the mountains on horseback, each carrying a baby. John's early childhood 
was spent in Montgomery and Tippecanoe Counties, where he received a common 
school education. In 1857, his parents removed to Washington Township, Newton 
Co., Ind., where his father died in 1859; he remained upon the home farm until after 
the death of his mother, when, in 1876, he moved to Kentland, having been elected 
County Treasurer, which office he held four years. At the expiration of his term 
he came to Beaver Township, bought a farm of 160 acres, where he still resides; 
he was at one time Commissioner of Newton County; has also been Assessor and 
teacher in common schools. April 17, 1858, he married Mary Graves, a native of 
Tippecanoe County. Four children have been born to them, three of whom— Orley 
A., James L. and Edwin G., are living. Mr. Johnson and wife belong to the Chris- 
tian Church. In politics, he is a thorough Republican, and one of the prominent 
men of the county. 

WILLIAM KENNEDY, dealer in hardware and implements, Morocco, Ind.; 
began business October, 1874, in connection with John Smart, under the firm name 
of Smart & Kennedy. In 1877, he bought the interest of Mr. Smart, since which 
he has been sole proprietor. Besides having a large and well selected stock of hard- 
ware, he is agent for the Piano Harvester and Mower, and the Buford and Wier 
Plows. Mr. Kennedy was born in Montgomery County, Ind., February 11, 1841, 
and is a son of David and Susan (Gooding) Kennedy, natives of Virginia. William 
received his early education in the schools of Newton County, remaining with his 
parents until twenty-one, when, with two brothers, he bought a farm of eighty 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP— NEWTOiN COUNTY. 701 

acres, to which they afterward added forty more. In 1S()9. he carne to Beaver 
Town.'^hip. aud purchased a farm of 2'20 acres, whicli lie still owns, and upon which 
he resided before coming to Morocco. He was married, October 1, ISC)."), to Mary A. 
Smart, a native of Newton County, and daughter of John and Lucinda Smart, botli 
natives of Ohio. They have two children— Stella and Gertie. Mr. Kennedy served 
in the late war, enlisting in April. 1861, in Company II, Fifteenth Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantry, and serving until discharged March 12, 18(53. He participated in all 
the marches and battles of the regiment; was at Greenbrier, Va., Pittsburg Land- 
ing and Stone Kiver, where he was severely wounded in the hand, on account of 
which he was discharged. Politically, he is a Greenbacker; is a prominent man, 
and one of the early settlers of the count)'. 

KENNEDY 6c KETCIIAM, dealers in hardware and drugs, began business in 
Morocco, Ind., in 1878, Kctcliara bujing the interest of Schaub, a former partner of 
Kennedy. Previous to Septembi-r, 1SH2, the business was .solely drugs, but tliey 
now carry a large stock, both of hardware and drugs, also operating a tin-shop. In 
1879, their builcjiug was destroyed bj' fire, and stock consideral)ly damaged, but with 
characteristic enterprise they re-built immediately, resuming business in seven days. 
Joseph Kennedy, the senior member of the firm, came to Newton County, Ind., in 
1853, and located on a farm four miles east of Morocco, where he remained until 
March, 1874, when he bought the store of which he is now one of the firm. From 
1878 until 1882, he was partner in a dry goods store. Mr. Kennedy also owns a 
farm, and is extensively engaged in shipping stock, principally cattle and hogs. 
He was born in Montgomerj' County, Ind., December 30, 1842, being one of nine 
children of David aud Susan (Gooding) Kennedj". He remained with his father's 
family until twenty-one, working at fanning. On September 20, 1802, he enlisted 
in Company E, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with his regi- 
ment in all its campaigns until mustered out on June 10. 18(55. He participated in 
the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson. Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, and the 
march to the sea, through the Carolinas, and battles of Bentonville and Averysboro. 
He was wounded at Jackson, Miss. Mr. Kennedy was married in 1867 to M. L. 
Warren, who died September 15, 1868, leaving one child, Charles W., now fifteen 
years of age. On December 31, 1872, he married Martha J. Ham. They have four 
children — Cary, aged nine; Ernest, aged six: Ethel, aged four, and Roxie. aged two. 
Politically, he is a Democrat, and is a i)rominent citizen and one of the early set- 
tlers of the county. D. E. Ketcham, junior member of the firm of Kennedy & 
Ketcham, was born August (5, 185.-), in Delaware County, Ohio, and is the eldest of 
five children of Norris F. and Helen (Wilkinson) Ketcham. of remote German de- 
.scent, natives of New York. He lived with liis parents in Ohio until about 1860. His 
father removed his family to Iowa, where they remained but a short time, moving 
to Kankakee County, 111., afterward to Vermillion County. D. E. Ketcham re- 
mained with his parents until about twenty, receiving a good, practical education. 
When fifteen, he entered a drug store in Kankakee, 111., where he remained until 
1877, when he came to Morocco. He was married, November 10, 1879, to Emma 
DeardurfT, a native of Newton Count\'. He was three years Notary Public, and has 
l)een Trustee of Heaver Township. In politics, he is a Republican, and is one of 
the most ente^pri^ing young business men in the county. 

FAYETTE H. LA.MPHERE was born in Will County, III., July 24, 18.-)2. and 
is the elder of two children of Joshua and Mary (Pepper) Lamphere, of New York. 
Joshua Lamphere came with his family, in 18,")0, to Will County, 111., where he 
owned a farm until his deatii in 1^<54. His wife has l»een twice married since, and 
is now a widow, living in Iroquois Township, Newton Count)-, Ind. Faj'ctte, wljo 
was onl)' two years olil when his father died, continued to live with his motlier, at- 
tending school .some until nine years of age, when he went to work Ity the month. 



792 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

on a farm, until 1875. He then rented and worked a farm for two years, when. 
July 27, 1877, he married Mrs. Ardilla Shriver, a native of Edgar County, 111., and 
daughter of Isaac and Anna (Smith) Vanhauten. Mrs. Lamphere has four chil- 
dren — Mrs. Sarah Collins, Mrs. Alice Archibald, Mrs. Emma Enfield and Miss Anna 
Shriver. They have a farm of seventy-one acres, and also work fifty acres belong- 
ing^ to the other heirs of E. T. Shriver. In politics, Mr. Lamphere is a Republican. 

PATRICK & ENSLEN", general merchandise, Morocco, Ind., began business 
in January, 1881. They have a fine stock of general merchandise and are doing a 
large and constantly' increasing business. William A. Patrick, a native of Fulton 
County, Ind., was born August 16, 1843, and is one of eleven children of John and 
Sarah (Burch) Patrick, the former born in Virginia, but moving to Ohio when a 
boy, where he lived until after his marriage, when he went to Fulton County, Ind. 
In 1859, he came to Beaver Township, where he still lives. William received his 
education in Fulton and Newton Counties, also attended the high school at Bat- 
tle Ground, Ind., and Kennedy Bros.' Business College at La Fayette, Ind. He en- 
listed, August 11, 1862, in Company E, Ninety-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
and served with the regiment until July 22, 1864, when, at the battle of Peach Tree 
Creek, he was severelj' wounded, being shot directly through the shoulder. He 
was in hospital until September of same year, and in November received his dis- 
charge. He is still much disabled. Before he was wounded he participated in the 
siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Jackson, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign 
and many lesser engagements. When he recovered from the effects of his wound, 
he taught school and studied. He also traveled in the Western States. In 1871, he 
came to Morocco and engaged in mercantile business. He also owns two farms, 
upon one of which he resides. He was married, August 16, 1876, to Mary E. Ewan, 
a native of Jennings County, Ind. Three children have been born to them, two of 
whom, Elmer and Leon, are living. In politics, he is a Republican, and he is also 
well known and respected. He was once elected Sheriff of the county, but resigned 
after a few months. Charles E. Enslen was born May 9, 1836, in Allen County, Ohio, 
and is one of four children of Frederick and Anna (Burch) Enslen. The former was of 
German descent, but a native of Pennsjivania, removing when a young man to Al- 
len County, Ohio, where he married, and lived until 1850, when he came to Fulton 
County, Ind., dying there three years later. His wife re-married, and is now living 
near Morocco. Charles remained at home until twenty-one, having at the death of 
his father become the head of the family. In 1865, he came to Beaver Township, 
Newton Co., Ind., and followed farming for some j-ears. His health failing, he came 
to Morocco, and held the position of clerk until the purchase of the present busi- 
ness. He was married, in Allen County, Ohio, November 20, 1857, to Julia A. Pat- 
rick. Five children have been born to them, four of whom, viz., Mrs. Daniel Stoner, 
Anna V., William F. and Carrie, are living. He and his wife are both members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the A., F. & A. M. and 
I. O. O. F. In politics, he is a Republican, and a prominent man of the township. 

DR. THOMAS PECK was born near Providence. R. I., September 14, 1813, and 
is one of nine children of Phillip and Avis (Brown) Peck, both natives of Rhode 
Island, from which State thej^ moved to Chenango County, N. Y., where they lived 
until their deaths. Dr. Peck received his education in the schools of New York, 
and remained at home until twenty-one, then worked upon a farm by the month for 
four years. He was married, March 8, 1838, to Alzina Medbury, a native of New 
York, and daughter of William F. and Betsey (Wilber) Medbury. He remained in 
Chenango County, N. Y., until 1843, then, after spending four years in Cayuga and 
Allegany Counties, N. Y.. he removed, in 1847, to Newton County, Ind.* and lo- 
cated on the farm now owned by Alonzo Skinner, in McClellan Township, where he 
lived eleven years. In 1838, he came to Morocco, and bought three lots, to which 



BEAVER TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 793 

he has since added eight lots, where they reside. Dr. Peck also owns a farm in Mc- 
Clellan Township, and ijives some attention to stock-raising and dairying, liis wife 
making her own buttt-r and cheese. He is still very active, and is known as one of 
the pioneer huntsmen, and one of the best marksmen in the county. His wife Is 
also equally active, weaving carpets, besides doing her own work in the house and 
dairy. Tliey have had si.\ children, four of whom, Mrs. Daniel Brady, Mrs. Maria 
C Skmner, Mrs. Helen E. Arnold and Mrs. Mary E. Peck, are living. Dr. Peck has 
practiced medicine thirty-five years, under the botanic system. In politics, he is a 
stanch Republican, and before tlie organization of that party was a Whig. 

JAMP]S H. RICE, a native of Pownal, Me., came to Newton County, Ind., in 
1875, and located in Beaver Township, on the cattle ranch of J. M. Gaff, of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, which he has since managed. It consists of 11,000 acres, all under fence, 
upon which are usually from (500 to 1,000 head of cattle. Mr. Rice has made manv 
improvements in fencing, building and ditching. He was born September 2, is:^2, 
being one of ten children of Rufus and Mary (Sylvester) Rice, both natives of 
Maine. When six years of age, his parents came to Dearborn County, Ind., and 
located at Manchester, where they remained three years, after which his father 
bought a farm near that place, where he resided until his death in 1839. He served 
in the American Army during the war of 1812. James H. received his education -in 
the common schools of Indiana, and at the age of thirteen went from home to work 
on a farm, where he remained six years. In 1851, he came to what is now Kanka- 
kee, 111., where he managed a farm ten years; he then spent four years in Iroquois 
County in farming and stock-dealing, then returned to Kankakee, where he remained 
twelve years, except an absence of six months in Dakota Territory, where he herded 
cattle. While there, he assisted in the erection of Fort Totten. He was married, 
January 1, ISol, to Hannah M. Taylor, a native of Ohio. Seven children have been 
born to them, three of whom, viz., Mrs. James M. Wheaten, Emma and Cora, sur- 
vive. He is a member of the M. E. Church, to which all his family belong. He is 
also a member of Morocco Lodge, No. 372. In politics, he is a Republican, and one 
of the prominent men of the county. 

BENJAMIN F. ROADRUCK was born July 8, 1841, in Warren County, Ind., 
and is the eldest of six children of Benjamin and Catharine (Stoner) Roadruck, the 
former of Scotch-Welsh, and the latter of German descent. His parents came to 
Newton County, Ind., in 1844, and located on the farm now owned by their son, 
Benjamin F., where they lived until the death of the father, with the exception of 
nine years spent in Minnesota; the mother still lives in Morocco. He remained 
with his parents vmtil Auijust 12, 1802, when he enlisted in Company E, Ninety- 
ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until .«ieverely wounded in the hand 
in a battle before Atlanta, August 10. 1864. He participated in all the battles of the 
Atlanta campaign, and many other engagements in Missi.ssippi, Tennessee and Ala- 
bama. He was married, October 2"), 1864, to Florence M. Butler, a native of Co- 
8ho('ton County, Ohio. Six children have been born to them— Charles E., Clara 
E., Anna M., Elma M., Guy A. and Marion H., all of whom are living. After his 
return from the war, he went to Minnesota, and pre-empted a homestead of 160 
acres, upon which he lived nine years, returning on account of his health to Mo- 
rocco. After his father's death, he bought the interest of the other heirs, and now 
owns his fatlier's farm and other property in Morocco. Mr. Roadruck is a member 
of Beaver Lodge. No. 378, I. O. O. F., and has passed all the ciiairs in tiiat lodge. 
and is at present D. D. G. M.; he is also a ciiarter member of Morocco Post. Ill, G. 
A. R. He and wife are tnenil)ers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, 
he is a Democrat. 

SHELDEN SMITH, a native of Allen County, Ind., was born January 17, IS'A. 
and is one of nine children of ('liarles II. and Murgarelte (DriscoU) Smith, the latter 



794 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

a native of Ireland, the former of Connecticut, from which State he came when 
quite young, with his parents, to Huron County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. 
He then went to Allen County, where he married and still lives on a farm. Shelden 
received his education in the common schools of his native county, remaining at 
home until twenty-one, when, in 1872, he came to Beaver Township, Newton 
County, and located on a farm of 120 acres belonging to his father, upon which he 
still lives. He also owns, with his brother, a farm of eighty acres in Section 35. 
Mr. Smith was married in March, 1875, to Louie E. Smith, of Ohio, daughter of N. 
G. and Elizabeth (Stephens) Smith. They have four children — George A., Amelia 
A., Joyce C. and Margarette. He is a Catholic in religion. In politics, he is a 
Greenbacker, and. though a recent settler, a prominent man in his township. 

GEORGE T. STONER was born June 29, 1827, in Muskingum County, Ohio, 
and is one of four children born to Daniel and Mary (Baker) Stoner, the former of 
German, the latter of Welsh descent. In 1830, his parents came to Fountain Coun- 
ty, Ind., where his father ran a grist and saw mill for ten years. In 1863, he came 
to Beaver Township, Newton County, Ind., and located on the farm now owned by 
his grandson, D. A. Stoner, which was his home until his death, which occurred 
December 23, 1879. Geoi-ge T. received his education in the log schoolhouse of th& 
frontier, in Warren County, principally, and remained with his parents until twen- 
ty-two, when he rented a farm for a year. He then purchased eight}^ acres of land, 
to which he added 440, a well-improved farm, upon which he now resides. Mr. 
Stoner was married, July 21, 1850, to Mary E. Clark, a native of Clark County, Ohio. 
Six children have been born to them, three of whom, Oliver F., Daniel A. and 
Louisa J., are living. Mr. Stoner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and his wife of the United Brethren; he is also a member of Morocco Lodge, No. 
372, A., F. & A. M., and Beaver Lodge, No. 378, I. O. O. F. He has held various 
civil offices, is a Democrat, and one of the most prominent farmers of the county. 

GEORGE W.THOMPSON is a native of Warren County, Ind., and was born 
September 12, 1851, being the second of four children of Young and Catharine (Ma" 
gee) Thompson, both natives of Ohio. Young Thompson, when a boy, came with 
his parents to Warren County, Ind., where he grew to manhood, was married, and 
owned a farm until 1853, when he came to Beaver Township, Newton County, Ind., 
and located on the farm now owned by John DeardurfF, where he lived until his 
death while in the army at St. Louis, Mo., in August, 1862; his wife still lives ou 
the same farm. George W. received his early education in the common schools of 
Newton and Warren Counties, and afterward attended Westfield College, at West- 
field, 111., also the Normal School at Danville, Ind.; he remained at home until 
twenty-one, then taught school in Newton County, for two years, after which he 
bought the farm now owned by W. B. Plummer, which he owned five years, then 
purchased the sixtj'^ acres upon which he now resides; he also teaches in winter. 
Mr. Thompson was married. August 13, 1879, to Elsa Jessen, a native of Newton 
County, and daughter of James and Mary A. (Hill) Jessen. They have one child — 
Daisy Bell, born May 15, 1880. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics, and one 
of the respected teachers of the county. 

CHARLES E. TRIPLETT, M. D., was bora December 13, 1834, in Fleming 
County, Ky., being one of four children of Charles and Clarissa (Duckings) Triplett, 
both natives of the "Old Dominion." though spending most of their lives in Ken- 
tucky, where they accumulated a large property. Charles was left an orphan when 
but two weeks old, and was adopted and reared by his paternal grandparents. 
Losing his grandfather at the age of fourteen, he went to Henry County, Ky., and 
began the study of medicine with Dr. James Humstun, with whom he remained 
four years. May 8, 1856, he came to Morocco, Ind., and commenced the practice of 
medicine, which he has continued until the present time, with the exception of 



BEAVER TOWNSFIIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 795 

three years spent in the army. lie enlisted in August, 1862, in Company E, Ninety- 
ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private, but before reaching the Held was 
commissioned Assistant Surgeon in tiie Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
receiving a commission as Surgeon in four months from that time. lie remained 
with the regiment until it was mustered out in June, I860, at Washington, D. C, 
having been in the battles of Perryville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, 
and through the Atlanta Camjiaign, the "march to the sea,"' and in the Carolinas 
at Bentonville and Averysboro, and many other engagements. Dr. Triplett was 
married, May 17, 1857, to Alice Pulver, a native of Newton County. Eight children 
have been born to them, of whom the followinir, Charles E., Chester L. and Ilattie, 
are living. He is a member of Concord Lodge No. 585, I. (). O. F., and a Demo- 
crat. In his profession, he has the reputation of being skillful, both as physician 
and surgeon. 




796 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

JOB B. ASHBY was born in the County of Sussex, England, May 21, 1849, and 
is a son of William and Mary Ashby. The former was injured to death, in conse- 
•quence of being run over by a heavy wagon; the latter died about one year later. 
After these deaths, Job B. Ashby and his sister, Sarah Ashby, were given to their 
^nandparents to be reared, in company with whom they emigrated to America in 
1857, and settled first in Wisconsin, then in Ohio, and finally in Pulaski County, 
Ind., where the grandfather died in 1872. In 1868, our subject began to learn 
blacksmithing under C. H. Robinson, of Edgerton, Ohio, and about one year later 
came with Mr. Robinson to Pulaski County, Ind., where he finished his trade. July 
30, 1871, he married Hannah E. Hall, who died May 23, 1872, leaving one child- 
Hannah I. (deceased). January 26, 1873, Mr. Ashby married Hettie A. Witham, 
and in the spring of that year removed to Francesville, thence, after one year, to 
White County, and in 1878 to this county, where he has remained. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ashby have had a family of four children — Arthur A., Hiram A., Sarah A. (deceased), 
and Larettie. 

THOMAS R. BARKER was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 4, 1813. 
His parents were John and Ann Barker, also natives of England, where they lived 
and died, leaving a family of five children — Joseph, Thomas R., John, Harriet and 
Ann. Our subject, Thomas R., emigrated to America in August, 1831, and landed 
at New York in September. From that city he went to White County, Ind., and in 
1832 to Fountain County, where he engaged in butchering. Thence he went to New 
Orleans, then to Texas, and to several Western States. In 1840, he came to this 
county, and later returned to Fountain County, where. May 15, 1841, he married 
Miss Mary J., daughter of John Myers, and, in 1842, again removed to this county, 
and settled, where he has since resided. Mrs. Barker died in 1866. Mr. Barker is 
one of the first settlers of Jackson Township, where he improved a quantity of wild 
land, having at present 700 acres as his own. He was one of the three first Trustees 
of the township, and was also County Commissioner from 1847 to 1849, besides hav- 
ing held other township offices. Mr. Barker is the father of eight children — John 
(deceased), William, Ann (deceased), Samuel, Malinda, Thomas B. (deceased), E. 
Lanier and Gallagher. 

JAMES T. BLANKENBEKER is a native of Preble County, Ohio, and was 
born December 24, 1834. His parents, Joel and Susan Blaukenbeker, were both 
natives of Virginia, where they were married, and whence, about 1833, they emi 
grated to Preble County, Ohio, thence to Bartholomew County, Ind., and thence 
in the fall of 1864, to this county, where they died — she shortly after coming hither, 
and he in 1869. They were the parents of nine children — Michael L., Mary, Nancy, 
Ellen, John, Louisa, James T., Sarah and Simeon. James T. Blankenbeker, our 
subject, came to this county in 1866, where, August 15, 1869, he married Eliza A. 
Crisler, and in the succeeding winter moved to the farm, on which he has settled 
and made a home. Mr. and Mrs. Blankenbeker have been favored with a family of 
four children — Wilbur E., Myrtle K., Simeon W. and William C. Mr. Blanken- 
beker is a respected citizen. 

J. J. BRENNER, of the firm of Brenner & Son, was born at Dayton, Ohio, Sep, 
tember 7, 1835. His parents were John and Frances (Etnire) Brenner, natives re- 
spectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The former's sire was Samuel Brenner, a 
native of Germany, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the early days, and, in 1830- 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTV. 7 97 

to Montgomery County, Ohio, where his life was closed. He was a soldier of the 
'[XVi wiir. John Brenner was born in Pennsylvjinia February 22, IHOO. In Ohio he 
married Frances Etnire, a native of Virj,nnia, l)orn November 17, 1817. In 1838, he 
removed to Warren County, Ind. Mrs. Hrenner died in 1849. He afterward mar- 
ried Betsey Brenner, and died in 1882, the father of ei^ht children— David, Jacob, 
Elizabeth, Samuel, Eliza, Susanna, John J. and Ephraim. J. J. Brenner, when 
quite young, learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed the same a number of 
years. In 18,')6, he came to this county, and February 9, 1K(51, married Sarah J. 
Kennedy, born in Greene County. Tenn., March 27, 1842, who died March 7, 1883. 
leaving seven children— John S., Mary A., Andrew J., Bertie L., Charlie. Clermont 
and Mattie. In 1879, in company with J. M. Ilufty, he opened a dry goods and 
grocery store at Pilot Grove, whicli. in 1881, he sold to Mr. Hufty, then engaged in 
the drug trade, and, in 1H8;1 moved to Mount Airy, where he follows the same busi- 
ness; he is also Postmaster at Pilot Grove. 

PHILLIP BROWX is a son of Wcntleand Nancy Brown, both natives of Penn- 
sylvania, where they married and early removed to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and 
there died. Their family consisted of six children — Daniel, William, Catherine, 
George W.. Matilda and Phillip. Our subject, Phillip Brown, was born in Tippe- 
canoe County. Ind.. December 12, 1838. Inasmuch as his parents died when he was 
young, he began the struggle for himself in advance. When sixteen years of age he 
came to this county, where he liad a l)rother, and remained until 1862. He also 
purchased land, and December 18, 1863, married Mary A., daughter of Ephraim and 
Elizabeth Bridgeman, ind a native of Newton County, born December 12. 1844. 
After marriage Mr. Brown settled on his present farm, which is a good one, and 
also a comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been favored with the follow- 
ingnamed children: Ephraim, Nancy M.. Martha E.. Effle (deceased). George W. 
and Willie. 

EDWARD BURNS is a native of County Down, Ireland, and was born Aiigust 
12, 1828. His parents were Edward and Isabel (Anderson) Burns, both natives of 
Ireland, of whose family he is the fifth. The former was born in 1783, the latter 
in 1795. They were married in County Down, and in 1838 emigrated to New York. 
Shortly afterward moved to Connecticut, and six years later to Newton County, 
Ind., and settled in this township, where they both died, he in 18.58, andshe in 1877. 
Their children were five, and named Alice, Mary, Catherine, John and Edward. Our 
subject. Edward, was married in tliis county November 14, 1870, to Rhoda, daugh- 
ter of Madison and Mary Collins, and a native of Warren County, Ind.. born Octo- 
ber 10, 1839. After marriage, Mr. Burns settled on the farm on whicli he now lives, 
and on which he has since remained, where he has a comfortable iiome. His family 
comprises four children — Wallace, Mary I.. James and Ella M. 

S. N. CALDWELL, M. D., was born at Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, December 
14, 1825. His parents were Samuel and Mary J. (Milchel) Caldwell, natives respect- 
ively of Kentucky and Virginia. Samuel Caldwell's father was Matthew Caldwell, 
of Belfast, Ireland, who came with his parents to Westmoreland County, Penn., 
and where, in 1781, he married Miss Mary Pinkerton, after which he removed to 
Ohio, and died October 25, 181(1. Sanuiel Caldwell was born in Fayette County, 
Ky , settled in Miami County. Ohio, and died July 12, 1840, leaving four children — 
Samuel N.. Eliza G., Ornisby and Mary J. Our subject, at the age of twenty-one, 
andafter a thorough education, entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which 
he graduated in 18.50. and immediately afterward conunenced practice at Piqua. 
Ohio, where he married Scptemlier 30, 1851, Miss Mary J. McKinney. who died Feb- 
ruary 23, 1873. July 29. 1871, he married Miss Henrietta Lester. Dr. Caldwell has 
been a resident of this county since 1865. and yet lives on the same farm, where he 
successfully pursues his practice. lie is the father of six children— Mary (deceased). 
Mack, Samuel ()., Newton G.. Myrtle M. and Grace . 



798 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

G. W. CLARK was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 28, 1829, and is one 
of the eight children of Allen W. and Martha Clark, natives of Henrico County, 
Va., the former born February 25, 1793, the latter June 27, 1803. They were mar- 
ried in Virginia, and in early life moved to Kentucky, where they remained until 
1833, and thence moved to Johnson County, Ind., where they died, she December 9, 
1849, and he September 21, 1867. Allen W. Clark was a soldier of the war of 1812, 
a member of the Baptist Church, and the parent of eight children — Sylvester, 
Elizabeth, Mary, George W., James, Sarah C, Lucy A. and Alexander. Our sub- 
ject began to learn the blacksmithing trade when eighteen years old, under Jamea 
C. Wilson, of Kentucky, served two years, was afterward an employe of Robert 
Todd, of Franklin, Ky., and subsequently moved to Morgantown, Ind., and en- 
gaged in business with Adam Wise. He then returned to Franklin, and was there 
married, April 17, 1851, to Eliza, daughter of Jacob and Ellen Sibert, and born in 
Lancaster Countj% Penn., April 8, 1828. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company 
P, Ninetieth Indiana Cavalry, and served until June, 1865, the date of his discharge. 
In 1867, he removed to and settled in this county, to resume his trade. Mr. and Mrs. 
Clark have had eight children— Amanda J. (deceased), Albert L. (deceased), Henry 
S., Laura A., James P., George T., Hiram G. and Charles C. 

S. B. COEN is a native of Jasper County, Ind., and was born April 12, 1861. 
His parents, Hugh E. and Mary (Yeoman) Coen, were born near Dayton, Ohio, the 
former July 4, 1833, the latter May 25, 1835; their place of birth were also the place 
of their marriage. After this event, they moved to and settled in Newton Town- 
ship, Jasper County, where they now are. Their family consists of the following 
children: Stephen B., Rosie S., Ulysses, Alvira E., William J., Edgar L., Ira C, 
Ernest J. and Bessie. On the 24th of February, 1883, in Jasper County, our sub- 
ject, S. B. Coen, married Alda A., daughter of Samuel and Hannah Fulton, of Jas- 
per County, and a native of Geneva, N. Y., born January 21, 1862. In 1883, Mr. 
Coen removed to Mount Aiiy, where he opened a lumber and coal yard. He also 
handles grain. 

HAMILTON CRISLER is a native of Preble County, Ohio, and was born Sep- 
tember 12, 1822. His father, William Crisler, was the youngest of the six children 
of Adam Crisler, and was born in Madison County, Va., where he married Mary 
Robuck, and whence he emigrated to Ohio, and later, in 1846, removed to Barthol- 
omew County, Ind., where he ended his life. He was the father of eleven children 
— Albert, William A., Eliza A., Adam, Sarah, Hamilton, Emily, Alfred, John A., 
Mary J. and Elmira. Our subject, Hamilton Crisler, married, in Preble County, 
Ohio, March 13, 1845, Miss Elizabeth M., daughter of Joel and Susan Blankenbeker, 
and a native of Madison County, Va., born October 14, 1822. This union gave 
issue to nine children — Emily J., William A., James A., Margaret E. (deceased), 
JohnH., Sarah A., Allison W., Margaret E. and Archibald. In 1846, Mr. Crisler 
moved to Bartholomew County, Ind., and in 1861 to this county, where he owns 240 
acres of fine land. 

GEORGE W. DEARDURFF was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., December 
17, 1837, and is a son of Daniel and Lucinda Deardurff, the former a son of John 
Deardurff, who removed from Ohio to Tippecanoe County in 1833, and thence to 
this county in 1847, where he ended his life. Daniel Deardurff was born in Ohio in 
1816, came to Tippecanoe County in 1833, and afterward married Lucinda Heck- 
athorne. He remained in said county until 1845, removed to Newton County, and 
now lives in Kentland. He was twice married, and is father to ten children — George 
W., Christian, John, Samuel, Daniel, Henry, Josephine, Sallie, Elizabeth and Ma- 
hala. Our subject, George W. Deardurff, was l)rought to this county by his parents. 
April 25, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, and served until June 1, 1864, during which period he participated in 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 799 

m.iny heavy battles, and was wounded at Mission Ridge November 25, 1863, by 
gunshot through the right shoulder and ankle, from which cause he remained in the 
hospital until discharged. August 27, 1HG5, he married Josephine Wolcott, born in 
Jackson County, Mich., July 14, ISTiO, which marriage gave issue to nine children — 
David, John, Mary. Alphonso, Alelha, Olive M., George W., Cora and James L. 

FHANKLIISr V. ELIJAH, son of Lewis and Sarah Elijah, is a native of Alle- 
gany County, N. Y., born October 13, 1820. His parents were born and married 
in New York, whence they moved, in 1835, to Newton County, Ind., and there died. 
They were the parents of ten children — Morgan J., Sarah A., Franklin V., Harriet, 
Oran, Louisa, Ransom, Millie. Hiram and James. October 26, 1849, Franklin Eli- 
iali married Elizabeth Elliott, born in Perquimans County, N. C, April 14, 1H30, and 
a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Elliott. After his marriage, Mr. Elijah removed to 
Iowa; thence to Kansas; thence, in 1863, to Illinois; thence, after one year, to this 
county; thence, in 1872, again to Kansas, and thence, finally after one year, again to 
this county, where he has made his home and is the owner of 120 acres of excellent 
land. He and wife are the parents of seven children, named as follows : Orrin, Ja- 
cob, Lewis, Ransom, Archibald. Ellen and Emma. Mr. Elijah deserves the com- 
mendation of the citizens, which he receives. 

RANSOM ELIJAH is a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., and born February 
3. 1835. His parents were Lewis and Sarah Elijah, the former a native of Delaware, 
and the latter of Vermont. They were married in New York, whence, in 1835, they 
moved to Newton (then Jasper) County, Ind., where they remained and died — she 
in 1852, and he in 1856. They were pioneers of the countj' and parents of ten chil- 
dren — Morgan, Sarah A., Franklin, Aaron, Harriet. Loui.sa, Vermelia, Ransom, 
.lames and Hiram. Our subject, Ransom Elijah, came with his parents to Newton 
Count}', where, January 25, 1S."")9, he married Mary J., daughter of William F. and 
Polly Williams, and born March 4, 1841. In 1864, Mr. Elijah went to Montana, 
where he engaged in mining, but returned to this county in 1866, where he has since 
remained, and now owns 640 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah are the parents of 
seven children — Charles A., Cynthia A., Franklin, James R., Luella, Alexander and 
Parmelia. 

JOHN M. C. GULDENZOPF is a native of Germany, and was born February 
26, 1828. His father, John H. Guldenzopf, was also born in Germany in 1802, and 
a son of Nicholas and Mary J. Guldenzopf, also natives of Germany. John H. Guld- 
enzopf married and lived in Germany throughout his life, leaving a family of four 
children — Marmon L., JohnM. C. John M. and Wilhelm M. Our subject, John M. 
C. Guldenzopf, is the only one of his family now living, and emigrated to Almerica 
in 1848, landing at New York City, whence he went to New Orleans, thence to Flor- 
ida and Tennessee, thence to Joliet, 111., and thence in 1855 moved to Jasper County, 
Ind., thence to Illinois, and thence again to Jasper County in 1856, where he was 
married July 12, 1.S60, to Amelia Zoborasky. This union was productive of seven 
(iiildren— Louisa I., John II., Emma N.. Ettie B.. Mattie A., Julius V. and Caro- 
line R. In 1862, Mr. Guldenzopf made a purchase of laud and settled where he now 
resides. 

WILLIAM R. HANDLEY was born in Athens County, Ohio, October 18, 1820, 
his parents being Michael and Rhoda Handley. The former was one of the three sons 
of Jeremiah Hanrlley, wiio many years ago emigrated to Virginia, and thence to 
Ohio, where he died. Michael Handley was born in Loudoun County, Va., October 
17, 1787, and moved to, and married one Rhoda Rosein, Athens County, Ohio, 
daughter of Jacob and Mary Uose, and born in (treeiu- County, Penn., in 1797. In 
18.50, they moved to this county, where they died, he in 1M69 and she in 1881; they 
had eleven children— Cliauncey P., Samaiitha. William U., Elizabeth. John, Horace, 
Morris, David, Jeremiah, Josiah and Ezra. William II. Handley, when eighteen 



800 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

years old, began to learn cabinet-making. In 1850, he came to this county, where 
he and Elizabeth, daughter of William and Rachel Lambkin, were joined in wed- 
lock February 28, 1857; the bride was born near London, England, January 27, 
1837. After marriage, Mr. Handley moved to the place on which he now lives, and 
which he had purchased in 1850, comprising 320 acres; he was one of the first set- 
tlers of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Handley have had ten children — Michael, John, 
Harriet, Samantha, Jane, Charles, Alice (deceased), George, Arabell and Chris- 
topher. Mr. Handley has been Justice of the Peace a number of years, and also 
Coroner. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

J. M. HUFTY was born in Greene County, Penn., July 12, 1839, and is one of 
the family of Thomas L. and Louisa Hufty, both natives of Pennsylvania. The 
father of the former was James Hufty, likewise a native of Pennsylvania, and who 
there died. Thomas L. Hufty married, in Greene County, Louisa Murdock, and in 
1856 removed to White County, Ind., where he now resides. He had six children — 
John M., Thomas C, Charles, Joseph J., Martha and George G. In White County, 
J. M. Hufty learned the carpentering trade, at which he worked for years, and No- 
vember 9, 1861, married Mary E. Chamberlain, of said county, born in 1845. In 
1865, he removed to Remington, thence to Kentland, and thence, in 1874. to Pilot 
Grove, where he engaged in mercantile business until 1883, when he removed to 
Mount Airy, opened a store, and is doing a fair business. In 1877, he was elected 
Justice of the Peace, and still holds said office. Mrs. Hufty died at Kentland Sep- 
tember 1, 1869, after which event, in 1871, he married Martha A. Webster. Mr. 
Hufty is a worthy citizen, and father of six children — William A., John C. and 
Hattie M., by the first wife, and Ernest E., Elmore T. and an infant unnamed by 
the second wife. 

ALEXANDER LARDNER is a native of Bucks County, Penn., and born 
August 24, 1845. His parents — Laurence and Maiy Lardner — settled in Berrien 
County, Mich., about the year 1848, where his mother shortly after died. Mv. 
Lardner subsequently removed his family to Waukesha County, Wis., where he 
died in 1878, leaving seven children, as follows: Hannah, George, Katie, Richard, 
Alexander, Lucy and Elizabeth. Our subject, Alexander Lardner, remained with 
his father until his twenty-first year, and thereafter engaged in business for himself. 
In 1870, he left Wisconsin and came to this county, where he married, December 
25, 1871, Miss Sarah A., daughter of Alfred and Jane Crisler, and born in Barthol- 
omew County, Ind., August 26, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Lardner are happy in a 
family of three children, James L., Jane C. and an infant yet unnamed. 

JOHN F. NICHOLS, merchant, is a native of Cambridgeshire, England, was 
born November 19, 1843, and is a son of Robert W. and Sarah A. (Jones) Nichols, 
who were also natives of England, the former having been born in 1809^ the latter 
in 1814. They were married at London in 1840, and in 1850 emigrated to Cook 
County, 111., where they now are living. Their family was composed of nine chil- 
dren — Infiint daughter (died unnamed), William L., James E., Emily, John F., 
Sarah A., Alfred C, Francis B. and Albert I. Our subject, John F. Nichols, 
moved with his parents to Cook County in 1850, and in 1876 came to Newton Count3^ 
Ind., where he engaged in farming until 1883, when he moved to Mount Airj- and 
opened his present business. On May 27, 1883, he married Miss Mary E., daughter 
of John and Nancy T. Roberts, and a native of this county, born June 23, 1852. 
Mr. Nichols is a man of energy, and has promise of success. 

IRA J. SAYLER is a native of Jasper County, Ind.. was born April 18, 1858, 
and is one of the twelve children of Lewis and Elizabeth Sayler, natives of Ohio, 
the former born in Marion Count}'^ in 1830. Lewis Sayler's father was Henry, and 
his mother Elizabeth Sayler, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio, and 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 801 

there closed their lives, leaving eleven children — Jacob, Michael. John, Samuel. 
Henry, Benjamin, Bernhard, Caroline, Sarah, Mary and Lewis, who married in 
Jasper (bounty, in I8r)7, Elizabeth Yeoman, and soon after settled in Newton Town- 
ship, where he still resides. He is father of the following children : Ira J., Laura 
v., Mary E., Lewis V., John B., Florence V., Cora A., Lawrence B., Lily A.. 
Horace C. and two infants (deceased). Our sul)ject, Ira J. Sayler, in the spring of 
1883, formed a partnership with K. J. Yeoman, and opened a business in hardware 
and farming implements at Mount Airy, and they are making a satisfactory trade. 

JAMES II. WATTS was born in Erie County, N. Y., July 8, 1842. His parents 
were James and Julia Watts, who were respectively natives of England and Ireland. 
The father of James Walts lived and died in England. James Watts emigrated to 
America, settled in Erie County, N. Y., married, and, in 1844, removed to Canada, 
where he died April 10, 1852. Mrs. Watts died September, 1857. Their family cm- 
braced seven children — Ann, John V., James H., Mary J., William, Nellie and 
Elizabeth. James H. Watts, after the death of his father, returned to Erie County, 
N. Y., and, in 1858, removed to Wayne County, Mich. In 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany II, First Michigan Cavalry, and served until March 28, 1863. He received 
three wounds at Brentsville, Va., in the foot, in the knee and in the hip ; lie was, 
besides, captured by the enemy, and passed three weeks in Libby Prison. In 1864, 
he went to Wayne C'ounty, Mi(;h., and the ne.xlyear to Cass County, where, Novem- 
ber 5, 1868, he married Kena 31., daughter of Daniel and Catherine Oyler, and a 
native of Cass County, born July 28, 1851. In INTO, Mr. Watts removed to Newton 
County, Ind., and has now 28H acres of good land. He has had four fine 
children — Frank (deceased), Willie (deceased), Edna M. and Clyde D. Mr. Watts 
is a member of the Masonic order, Trustee of the township, and belongs to the 
Baptist Church. 

W. L. WISHARD, of the firm of Willey, Sigler & Wishard, was born at Rensse- 
laer, in this State, July 9, 1856, and is a son of William W. and Mary Wishard. 
The former is a son of James L. AVishard, a native of Kentucky, who, about 1833, 
settled in Vermillion County. Ind., where he yet enjoys life at tlie age of eighty- 
nine. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, was twice married, and is the father of six 
children. William W. Wishard was born in Kentucky December 19, 1816, and was for 
years engaged in rafting on the ^lississippi River, and afterward as clerk at Clinton. 
Ind., where he was joined in wedlock to Mary Irwin, in 1849, a native of Kentucky, 
born 1H28. In 1850, Mr. Wishard removed to Ren.sselaer, where he engaged in mer 
cantile business witii his fatiier-in-law, Thomas Irwin. In 1877, he removed to the 
old home in Vermillion County, where he now lives. He was twice married (Mrs. 
Mary (Irwin) Wishard having died in 1H65), the second time to Lucinda Porter, and 
is the father of eight children — by his first wife Lulu, William L., Annie, Fannie 
and Thomas; by his second wife, Melvin B., Eflie and Ernest. Our subject, W. L. 
Wishard, was married in this county August 27, 1876, to Elmira, daughter of Alfred 
and Jane Crisler, and born in Bartholomew County June 19, 1861. In 1832, he 
became a partner with Willey Si Sigler, merchants at Rensselaer, and in May, 1883, 
they established a brancii store at Mount Airy. 



802 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



McCLELLAN TOWNSHIP. 

DAVID S. CALKINS was born February 9, 1833, in Onondaga County, N. Y. 
being the youngest of three children of David and Maria (Tinker) Calkins. His 
father came in 1840 with his family to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where he was Post- 
master and Justice of the Peace for several years. David received his education in 
the primitive log schoolhouses of Tippecanoe County. He remained on his father's 
farm until attaining his majority, when he rented a farm in Kankakee County, 
111., working there until 1869, when he came to McClellan Township, Newton Co., 
Ind., where he rented farms until 1883, when he purchased the farm of 160 acres 
where he now resides. During several years of this time, he gave his attention to 
stock dealing. He was married, June 5, 1851, to Harriet C. Holmes, a native of 
New York, and daughter of Israel and Betsey ^Shaw) Holmes. Four children have 
been born to them, only one of whom, Anna B., is living. Those deceased were 
Maria E., David S., and Charles, all of whom died when quite young. Mr. Calkins 
is a member of Morocco Lodge, No. 372, A., F. & A. M. He is prominent in 
politics, a Democrat, and has been Trustee of the township. 

ANDREW J. ELLIS was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 31, 1838, and 
is one of five children of Elias and Susan (Nash) Ellis. The father traces his an- 
cestry to three brothers who came from Wales at an early period of our country's 
history. He has spent his life in his native State, Ohio, occupied in farming. He 
was four years in the Ohio House of Representatives, and a similar period in the 
Senate. He was Colonel of militia several years, and at the beginning of the re- 
bellion offered his services, which were rejected on account of his advanced age. 
He and wife will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary September 24, 1883. 
Andrew, the subject of this sketch, received his education at Zanesville, Ohio, re- 
maining at home until his majority, when he enlisted in Company K, Sixteenth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three months. He then became Captain and 
half owner of a steamboat plying on the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. In 1867, he 
located in Newton County, Ind., purchasing 900 acres in McClellan Township 
where he now resides, farming and raising stock. He was married, December 29, 
1869, to Susan Peters, daughter of William and Mary (French) Peters, of Illinois. 
Five children were born to them, two only of whom, Elias and Horace, are living. 
The others died in infancy. Mr. Ellis is a member of Morocco Lodge, No 372, A-, 
F. »& A. M.. In politics, he is a Democrat, and one of the prominent men of the 
township. 

EDWARD E. PARSONS, a native of Kankakee County, 111., was born March 
4, 1851, being the oldest of two children of Elisha and Orpha (Sirpless) Parsons. 
He is of Irish and Welsh descent. In 1868, his parents removed to Lake Township, 
Newton Co., Ind., where his father piirchased the farm upon which he still lives. 
Edward E. remained with his parents until twenty-one, receiving a common school 
education. On May 5, 1875, he married Sarah M. Roberts, of Wabash County, 111., 
daughter of William F. and Rachel A. (Cokeland) Roberts. He employs most of 
his time in operating a ditching and grading plow, at present being employed on the 
farm of Lemuel Milk, of McClellan Township. He and wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and is serving his 
second term as Trustee of McClellan Township, being one of its prominent men. 



McCLELLAN TOW NSH IP— NEWTON COUNTY. 803 

JUSTUS L. SIMPSON was born in Otsego County, N. Y.. May 16, 1837. He 
is one of seven children of William and Lovina A. (Young) Simpson, natives of New 
York. lie received his education in the common schools of his native State. At 
the age of ten, he was adopted by S. Flatt, with wlioni he lived until twenty-one. 
He then worked ])y the month until 18(j2. when he enlisted in Company G, One 
Hundred and Fifty-second New York Volunteer Infantry', and .served with the reg- 
iment until discharged February 24, 1865. He participated in all marches of this 
regiment, being under (Jen. Di.x at the siege of Suffolk in the Peninsular campaign. 
During the New York riots, his regiment was ordered out, after which they were 
transferred to the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Grant. He was at the battles 
of the Wilderness, Spottsylvanla Court House, and, while charging the enemy's 
works at Hanover Court House, received a gunshot wound in the leg, which laid 
him up eighteen months, and from the effects of which he has never entirely re- 
covered. On December 22, 1869, he married Susan E. Clemans, of Wayne County, 
N. Y., daughter of Lorenzo D. and Sarah (Kelley) Clemans. Four children have 
been born to them, three of whom, Jennie A., Cora M. and Jesse R., survive. Ro- 
meo died in infancy. In 187."), Mr. Simpson came to McClellan Township, Newton 
<'o., lud., where he has since managed a cattle ranch for Lemuel Milk. It consists 
of 3,000 acres, upon which are several hundred cattle. In politics, Mr. Simpson is 
Republican, and one of the foremost men of the township. 

ALONZO M. SKINNER was born in New Berlin, Chenango Co., N. Y., May 
11. 1829. His parents, Sydney M. and Naomi (Peck) Skinner, are still living, at an 
advanced age, and will celebrate their fifty-eighth wedding anniversary October 8, 
1883. Alonzo received a good education at the schools of his native county; he re- 
mained at home, working on the farm until twenty-five years of age, when in 1854 
he came to McClellan Township, where he worked for a few years at the 
cooper's trade. January 1, 1857, he was married to Maria Peck, of Chenango 
County, N. Y., and .settled upon a farm of forty acres, where four children were 
born to them— Elmer E., Albert B., Elva N., and a son born June 19, 1883, all of 
whom are living. Mr. Skinner has added 180 acres to his farm, having now 220, 
well improved. He gives considerable attention to bee culture, having eighty-five 
Bwarms, with the latest improved hives. Mr. Skinner is Republican in politics, a 
prominent man, and has frequently held the office of Trustee, having been the first 
Trustee of the township. 



804 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



LAKE TOWNSHIP. 

CHRISTIAN L. BRANDT was born in Denmark December 3, 1847, and is one 
of four children born to N. M. and Ellen M. (Fredricks) Brandt, both natives of 
Denmark. N. M. Brandt followed farming in his native country all his life. His 
widow is living with her son in this township. Christian L. Brandt at the age of 
fourteen, began working by the month on a farm, continuing until 1868, when he 
came to Iroquois County, 111., where he farmed until 1879; he then came to this 
township, and settled on the farm of about 1,000 acres belonging to Lemuel Milk: 
he raises a large amount of stock. In 1883, he purchased a farm of 320 acres ad" 
joining the one upon which he lives, both of which he conducts. Mr. Brandt was 
married, November 7, 1870, to Ann S. Christiansen, a native of Denmark. They 
have five children — Mary, Christines, Winthrop P., Laurina and Edward. Mr. 
Brandt is a Republican, and a substantial farmer. 

GEORGE C. A. BRYANT was born in Cortland County, N. Y., January 7, 
1837, and is one of nine children born to James F. and Charlotte (Taylor) Bryant, 
natives of Massachusetts and Vermont respectively, both of remote Scotch descent. 
James F. Bryant and his wife when young removed to New York, where they lived 
upon a farm until 1863 or 1864, when they removed to Kankakee County, 111., where 
they passed the remainder of their lives. George C. A. Bryant left home when 
about fifteen years old, and followed carpentering a few years. In September, 1861, 
he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Cavaliy, and served until dis- 
charged in September, 1862; he participated in the sieges of Forts Henry and Donel- 
son, at the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, and in many lesser engagements. On the 
Tallahatchie River he was severely wounded, an ounce ball passing through his left 
lung. On the same day he was taken prisoner, and six weeks after was released on 
parole. He has never full}"^ recovered from the effects of the wound, and is still 
much disabled. After his return, he rented and worked farms in Kankakee County, 
111., for eight years, when became to Newton County, Ind., and owned farms in 
Beaver and McClellan Townships; he then operated a saw mill, in connection with 
a partner, until 1880, when he came to this township, and settled upon the place 
where he now resides; he sold the saw mill in 1882, and is at present engaged in 
farming. Mr. Bryant was married, February 10, 1863, to Mary E. Shaw, a native of 
New York. They have had seven children, four of whom are living — William A., 
Demaris, Mark A. and Eddie A. Those deceased were John, and two infants un- 
named. Mr. Bryant is a Democrat. 

JAMES A. DeWOLF, general merchant, Lake Village, began business in Jan- 
uary, 1874, in connection with C. B. Scott, purchasing the building and stock from 
H. Wilber. In 1876, they added hardware, and in 1878 Mr. DeWolf became sole 
proprietor. He has largely increased the trade, and has one of the largest and best 
selected stocks in the county. Mr. DeWolf was born in Upper Canada March 4, 
1840, and is one of four children born to Joseph and Waitty (Mott) DeWolf, both 
natives of Canada. When our subject was about two years old, his father died 
and at the age of ten years he came with his mother to Kankakee County, 111., and 
worked on a farm until twenty years old. He then rented farms until March, 1865, 
when he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantrj', and served until the regiment was mustered out, when he was transfeiTcd 
to Company G, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and re- 
mained until mustered out at Springfield, 111., in September, 1865. After the war 



LAKE TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 805 

he rented and worked farms for two years, and then bought a farm in this township, 
which he owned until he engaged in his present business. Mr. DeWolf was married. 
in September, 1861, to Ann Ilooton, a native of Indiana. Tliey have had si.x chil- 
dren, five of whom are living — Minnie. Mahlon F., Cora J., Lucy A. and Guy- 
James A. died when two years old. Mr. DeWolf has been Trustee of the township 
for twelve years. He is a Republican, and one of the prominent men of the county 

PETEH FEDDE was born in Holstein, Germany, November 1, 1834, and is the 
eldest of six children born to John and Margarette (Martens) Fedde. both natives of 
Germany. His parents passed tlieir lives on a farm, which they owned, in their na- 
tive country. Peter Fedde was educated in Germany, and by his own efforts has 
since acquired a practical knowledge of English. When twenty years old, he'came 
to {'hicago, and worked on railroads at different places for three years; afterward on 
a farm for seven years. lie married, March 23, 1862, A. M. Koll), a native of Ger- 
many, and daughter of Christian and Wipke (Rathman) Ivolb. They have had sev" 
en children, of whom five are living— John II., i\.nna W., Mary C, Alice M. and 
Eva R. Robert E. and Frederick A. both died in infancy. After working farms in 
Will and Kankakee Counties, 111., he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Shelbyville, 
111., continuing three years; then again worked a farm in that State, about three 
years. In 1874, he came to this township, and purchased the farm of 100 acres 
upon which he still resides; about one-half of the farm is improved. Mr. Fedde de- 
votes considerable attention to stock-raising. He and wife arc members of the Lu- 
theran Church. .Mr. Fedde is a Republican and a citizen of high standing in th^ 
community. 

JOHN W. GUILFORD was born in Kalamazoo County, Mich., August 30, 1835, 
and is one of five children (all boys) born to Erastus and Elizabeth (McElvain) Guil" 
ford, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of Penn.sylvania, and of Scotch 
descent. Erastus Guilford, when a young man, went to Michigan, where he pre- 
empted land, and was one of the first four settlers of Kalamazoo County, where he 
married and lived the remainder of his life. John W. Guilford was educated in his 
native county. His father died when John W. was sixteen years old, leaving him 
the head of the family, which position he held until twenty-one. He then worked 
by the month for a few years, after which he went to Kankakee County., 111., and 
bought a farm, on which he lived until 1871, when he came to this township 
and located upon the farm of 360 acres, his present home. It was then wild prairie, 
but is now well improved, and he is at present building a fine house upon it. Mr. 
Guilford was married, April 26, 1H60, to Ann E. McElvain, a native of Michigan. 
Throe children have been born to this union, two of whom are living — Lodema A. 
and Elmo A. Hamlin died at about four }'ears of age. Mr. Guilford has been 
Township Trustee. He is a Republican. 

JAMES HALLACK was born in New York January 3, 182."), and is one of thirteen 
children born to John and Sarah llallack, both natives of New York. The parents 
passed their lives on a farm in their native State. James llallack remained at home 
until twenty-one years old; then spent two years in Canada, following various oc- 
cupations. After that he lived two years in New York, and five years in Canada, 
and in 18.")5 moved to Kankakee Coimty, 111., where he owned a farm a short time. 
He then went into the fruit-raising business, continuing until 1862, when he came to 
this township and located upon the farm of 120 acres, upon which he still resides. 
Si.xty acres of this farm consists of or(;iiard, which is the largest in the county. He 
also owns 360 acres of land in different parts of the township. He gives considera- 
ble attention to the dairy business, having some high grade and thoroughbred Jer- 
sey cattle. Mr. Hallack was married, October 18, 1847, to Mary Gleasoii, a native 
of Canada. They have had ten children, of whom eight are living— Mrs. L. N. 
Wells, Mrs. John White, Mrs. Fletcher Bunton, Nettie, Charles, Abraham, Ransom 



806 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 

and William. Mr. Hallack was Commissioner of Newton Countj' for one term, and 
also served a term as Township Trustee. He is a Republican, an early settler, and a 
prominent citizen. 

SOLOMON KENRICH was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, August 7, 1833, 
and is one of four children born to Isaac and Magdelena Kenrich, natives of Ohio, 
and of German descent. Isaac Kenrich, was married in Ohio, and followed farming 
until his death. His widow married again, and is living in Momence, 111. When 
our subject was three years old, his father died. Solomon remained with his mother 
until twenty years of age, when he bought a farm of 200 acres in Kankakee 
County, 111., which he owned until six years ago, when he exchanged with Mr. Gar- 
vais for 120 acres. His farm comprises 850 acres, most of it in this township. It is in a 
high state of cultivation, and has good buildings. He gives considerable attention 
to stock-raising, principally cattle, having some high-grade Durhams. Mr. Ken- 
rich was married, September 8, 1864, to Mariah Bennett, a native of Trumbull 
County, Ohio, who died June 16, 1873, leaving four children— Isabel, Rose, Adacah 
and Ray. Mr. Kenrich next married, April 15, 1874, Cora Metcalf, a native of Kan- 
kakee County, III. Four children have been born to them, of whom there are liv- 
ing — Jay, Effle and Ora. Ivy died when three years old. Mr. Kenrich and wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Republican, and highly es- 
teemed in the community. 

GEORGE W. MILK was born in Port Byron, Cayuga Co., N. Y., November 
30, 1850, and is one of five children born to William W. and Elizabeth (Criss) Milk, 
the former a native (probably) of Massachusetts, and the latter of New Xork, and 
of English and German descent respectively. William W. Milk removed to New 
York when quite young, and was there married, and lived until his death in Decem- 
ber, 1871. George W. Milk moved to Kankakee County, 111., when fourteen years 
old, and worked on a farm by the month for three years; afterward he rented and 
worked a farm for one year. He then returned to New York and worked in shoe 
factories at Auburn and Utica for five years, when he came to McClellan Township, 
Newton Co., Ind., and managed a farm for his uncle Lemuel Milk for two years. 
He next spent about three years in Kansas and Colorado, following stage driving, 
mail carrying, etc., after which he returned to Newton County and located on the 
farm of 2,800 acres belonging to his uncle, which he still operates. He keeps a 
large amount of stock, sheep, cattle and hogs, and does an extensive business. Mr. 
Milk was married to Mrs. Mary A. Kay, a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind. Mr. 
Milk is a Republican, and one of the most enterprising farmers of the county. 

JOSEPH PACY was born in Lincolnshire, England, November 8, 1829, and ia 
one of four children born to Robert and Ann (Houlton) Pacy, both natives of En- 
gland. The parents spent their lives In their native countr}\ Subject's paternal 
grandfather was in the marine service during the Napoleonic war, and was twice 
shipwrecked. Joseph Pacy worked on a farm in England until 1857, when he came 
to Cook County, 111., where he farmed until 1865. He then worked under contract 
for excavating and macadamizing for the city of Chicago and real estate men until 
1875. He built and graded the three parks, Douglas, Humboldt and Garfield, and 
also paved many of the streets, having been the first to use cinders for that purpose. 
After spending two years in England, he came again to Chicago and continued as 
contractor until 1882, when he came to this township and bought the farm of 330 
acres upon which he now resides. He is improving the place very much, and will 
soon have one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Pacy was married in Decem- 
ber, 1875, to Mrs. Harriet Cleal, a native of England. She has four children — Jo- 
seph, Lila, Elizabeth and Hugh. Mr. Pacy has never become a naturalized citizen. 
ELISHA PARSONS was born in Vigo County. Ind., August 13, 1821, and is 
one of eleven children born to Elisha and Hannah (Taggert) Parsons, natives of 



LAKE TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 807 

Massachusetts and Rhode Island respectively, the former of remote Welsh, and the 
latter of English descent. The parents when young removed to New York, where 
they married, and in 1818 removed to Vigo County, Ind., and in 1885 to Parke 
Connt}', where Mr. Parsons, Sr., died in 1837. The family returned to Vigo County. 
April 11, 1869, Mrs. Parsons, Sr., died in Kankakee, 111. Elisha Parsons, our sub- 
ject, after his father's death became the head of the family. When twenty-five 
years old, he went to Kankakee County, 111., and lived with his brother two years, 
after which he owned and worked farms until 1868, when he came to this township, 
and soon after bought the farm of 560 acres upon which he still resides. Mr. Par- 
sons has been twice married, tirst. May 1, 1840, to Orpha L. Sirpless, a native of 
Ohio, who died October 10, 1854, leaving two children — Edward E., and Frank C. 
(who died in April, 1883). Mr. Parsons next married, March 30, 1856, Eleanor J. 
Gartrell, a native of Mar^iand. By this union they have had seven children, live 
of whom are living — Charles A., Mary E., Henry T., Lucy G. and John E. Mr. 
Parsons held various civil offices in Illinois, and is Ilecorder-electof Newton County, 
Ind. He is a Republican, and one of the prominent men of the county. 

ENOCH SPRY was born in Estill County, Ky., December 27, 1830. and is one 
of nine children born to John and Vina (Kimbrell) Spry. John Spry was a native 
of North Carolina, from which State he moved when a boy, with his mother, to 
Kentucky, where he passed the remainder of his life on a farm. Enoch Spry was 
married, July 12, 1850, in his native State, to Mary Burton, a native of same State. 
Their union has been blessed with three children, two of whom are living — Mrs. 
Isaac Kight and William. Elizabeth died when nine years old. Mr. Spry rented 
and worked farms until 1855, when he moved to Kankakee County, 111., and con- 
tinued farming three years, after which he worked in a grist mill six years, and 
then resumed farming. In 1867, he came to this township and settled on a farm 
for six years. He now manages the farm belonging to A. Gregory, of Chicago, 
consisting of 1,280 acres, of which about 320 acres are improved. The business is 
extensive, and a large amount of stock is kept on the farm. Mr. Spry is a Demo- 
crat and a prominent farmer. 




808 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 



LINCOLN TOWNSHIP. 

ALBERT M. BOYLE was born in Bureau County, 111., February 33, 1843, and 
is one of six children born to Oliver and Elizabeth (Wilson) Boyle. For sketch of 
parents see biography of Ed T. Boyle. Albert M. Boyle was educated at Prince- 
ton, 111. Oliver Boyle died when our subject was eight years old. Albert remained 
with his mother working on a farm until December 5, 1861, when he married 
Charlotte,M. Hook, a native of Daviess County, Ind. By this union there are six chil- 
dren — Marion D., Charles M., Elizabeth A., James O., William H. and Minnie B. 
Mr. Boyle rented and worked farms for two years. In June, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
served until mustered out at Springfield, 111., in November of the same year. His 
service was principally in Missouri and Kansas. After his return, he managed the 
wintering of 1,300 head of cattle in Putnam County, 111. In March, 1865, he came 
to Lake Township, this county, and bought a farm near Blue Grass Landing; sub- 
sequently he made two removals in same township, and in 1875 came to this town- 
ship and bought the farm of eighty acres, upon which he now resides. He has 
been a contractor for railroad work. Mr. Boyle has been Justice of the Peace in 
Lincoln Township for four years, and is a Republican. He is one of the earliest 
settlers in this part of the county; at the time of his arrival, the nearest family on 
the east was sixteen miles distant. 

EDWARD T. BOYLE was born in Bureau County, 111., April 4, 1844, and is 
one of six children born to Oliver and Elizabeth (Wilson) Boyle, natives of Virginia 
and Kentucky respectively. The parents when young removed to Illinois, where 
they married, and where Oliver Boyle was partner in the firm of Boyle & Temple- 
ton, at Princeton, 111., until his death, November 36, 1850. His wife died July 16, 
1881. Edward T. Boyle was educated in Princeton, 111., and attended the college at 
that place about a year. After his father's death, his mother removed to a farm 
upon which Edward worked until August 36, 1863, when he married Sarah J. Hook, 
a native of Daviess County, Ind. He then worked two years upon the farm which 
he owned in connection with his brother; then spent about three years in Dade 
County, Mo., after which he went to La Salle County, 111., and bought a farm, 
which he owned until 1868. He next came to this county and remained on his 
brother's farm near Lake Village a few years, when he came to this township and 
bought the farm of eighty acres upon which he now resides. He has since added 
eighty acres, and it is well cultivated and improved. Mr. Boyle was Township 
Trustee three terms, and is a Republican. He has three children — Clarence O., 
Charles A. and Clara J. 

EDWIN W. GOULD was born in Jeflferson County, N. Y., October 2, 1834, 
and is one of twelve children born to James and Lydia (Goodwin) Gould, both na- 
tives of New York, the former of remote German descent. The parents were married 
in New York, where they lived on a farm until 1839, when they moved to Geauga 
County, Ohio, and in 1846 went to Will County, 111., where they passed the remain- 
der of their lives. Edwin W. Gould attended" the high schools at Joliet, 111., after 
which he taught school four years in Illinois, and two years in Arkansas. He next 
owned a farm and store, and also engaged in the lumber trade, getting out staves, 
etc., all of w-hich he lost on the breaking-out of the war. September 4, 1861, he en- 
listed in First Battery, Kentucky Light Artillery, and served with the Battery (ex- 
cepting two years when he was on detached service), until mustered out at Louis- 



LINCOLN TOWNSHIP— NEWTON COUNTY. 809 

ville, August 31, 1865. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Donelson. 
Corinth, Perryville, Liberty and Hoover's Gap, in the pursuit of Morgan, and in 
many minor engagements. September 15, 1865, he married Mary L. Bruechet, a 
native of Switzerland, and daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Lopinat) Bruechet. 
They have had six children, live of whom are living — Ada, Lydia, Eva, Edwin and 
Joseph. 3Ir. Gould then went into the mercantile business at Gardner, 111., next 
rented and worked his father's farm until 1875, when he came to this township and 
bought the farm of '.?8() acres upon which he now resides. The greater part is well 
cultivated and improved. Mr. CJould is a Greenbacker, and one of the prominent 
men of the township. 

KELLER, CRAIG &. CO., general merchants, Rose Lawn, Ind., began busi- 
ness May 10, 1881, in their present building, which was the first foundation laid ift 
Rose Lawn. Their business is the most extensive, and they carry by far the largest 
and finest stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, implements, etc., in the county. 
They owq a large warehouse, and handle grain and all kinds of produce, and also 
operate a hmiber yard. They have an annual trade of $60,000 to $75,000. Jacob 
Keller, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in October, 
1847. When a boy, he removed with his parents to Pulaski County, Ind., and was 
one of the earliest settlers of that county. At the age of eighteen, he went into 
the mercantile business at North Judson, Ind., in which business he still owns a 
half interest. In 1878, he opened a store at Winamac, and has since opened similar 
stores iu Lowell, Crown Point, and a commission house at Chicago, in all of which 
he owns a half or third interest. In 1881, he removed his residence to Chicago, in 
order that he could the better manage so extensive a business. He is considered 
the heaviest buyer for the retail market, purchasing goods in Chicago. He also has 
a large banking interest. Mr. Keller isj^et a young man, and has made every dol- 
lar of his property. As a business man, he probably has no superior in the State. 
Lon Craig, the second member of the firm, was born in Jennings Count3% Ind., 
February 13, 1847, and is one of eight children born to John and Lois (Sanford) 
Craig. John Craig, a native of Scotland, came to the L'nited States when he was 
seventeen years old. He soon after began business as a contractor for stone work on 
railroads, and worked in nearly every State in the L^nion. He had the contract for 
the stone work and bridges on the first railroad built in Indiana. He died March 
16, 1863. Lon Craig, in February, 1864, enlisftid in Company D, Twenty-ninth In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out December 10, 1865. He 
participated a*, the battles of Dalton and Decatur, on Hood's campaign to Nashville, 
and in other minor engagements. After his return, he followed various occupations, 
such as driving team across the prairie to New Mexico, railroading, etc., until 1873, 
when he engaged as clerk with L. and J. Keller, at North Judson, where he re- 
mained until 1879, when he took charge of a branch house at Winamac, remaining 
there until his removal to Rose Lawn. He was married, March 9, 1879, to Nellie 
Gilkey, a native of Montgomery County, Ind. Mr. Craig is a member of North 
Judson Lodge, No. 438, A., F. & A. M. He is a Republican, and one of the most 
enterprising business men of the county. 

WILLIAM M. KENNEY, general merchant, Thayer, Ind., began business in 
May, 1883, and has the only business of the kind in the village; he carries a well- 
selected stock, and is doing a large and increasing trade. He is also agent for the 
stations of Thayer. Water Valley and Shelby, on the L., N. A. & C. R. R., and is 
Postmaster at the first-named place. Mr. Kenncy was born in Ontario, Canada, 
August 24, 1847, and is the only child of Absalom H. and Charlotte C. (Smith) Ken- 
ney, both natives of Canada, where the latter is still living. When our subject was 
ten years old, his father died. William M. lived with his mother until he attained 
his majority, spending consideraljlc time traveling in the United States. He then 



810 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES; 

rented and worked farms in Canada until 1879, wiien he came to this township, and 
erected the first store building in the township; conducted a general merchandise 
business until 1882, when he removed to his present location. Mr. Kenney was 
married, December 23, 1879, to Alice M. Freeman, also a native of Ontario, Canada. 
They have had one child. Mr. Kenney is a Republican, and one of the enterprising 
men of the county. 

JOHN D. SINK was born in Cass County, Mich., July 22, 1842, and is one 
of five children born to Silas and Frances (Layman) Sink, both natives of Virginia, 
and both of German and English descent. The parents when young removed to 
Michigan, where they were married, and lived upon a farm until 1856, when they 
went to Grundy County, 111., remaining until 1865, when they came to this county, 
where they still reside. The father, Silas, in 1863 enlisted in the Fourth Illinois 
Volunteer Cavalry, and served about two years, participating at the battle of Shi- 
loh, and other engagements. John D. Sink remained with his parents until twenty 
years old; went with them to Illinois; then returned to Michigan, and followed car- 
pentering four years; afterward worked in a saw-mill three years. In 1868, he came 
to this township, and remained on his father's farm two years; then managed the 
farm of John Adams, of Chicago, until 1873, when he came to the farm of eighty 
acres upon which he now resides. Mr. Sink was married, June 4, 1868, to Emma 
Garrett, a native of England. They have two children— Frances G. and Myrtie B. 
Mrs. Sink died, and Mr. Sink next married a daughter of Aaron Wilson. He was a 
Justice of the Peace from the organization of the township until elected Trustee, 
which office he still holds. He is a stanch Republican. 

AARON WILSON was born in Union County, Ind., June 21, 1837, and is one 
of eleven children born to Daniel and Sarah (Sunderland) Wilson, both natives of 
Ohio, the latter of Irish descent. The parents were married and lived in Ohio until 
1823, when they moved to Union County, Ind. In 1856, Daniel Wilson removed to 
Cass County, Ind., where he resided until his death. His wife died just previous to 
his removal from Union County. Aaron Wilson was married, November 18, 1847, 
to Bridget J. Hester, a native of Union County, Ind. He rented and worked farms 
for two years, then bought farms in various places in Indiana and Illinois until 
1866, when he came to this township, and purchased the farm of 120 acres (70 acres 
of which he has since sold) upon which he now resides. He gives his attention 
largely to fruit-raising and gardening. August 4, 1863, he enlisted in Company A, 
Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment until Sep- 
tember, 1863, when he was transferred to the Invalid Corps. He was at the battle of 
Munf ordsville, after which he was taken sick, which prevented further active service. 
Mr. Wilson's first wife died in January, 1857, leaving one child, now Mrs. P. A. 
Downer. November 1, 1857, he married Mary Ray, a native of Union County, Ind., 
and daughter of Robert and Hannah (Fordyce) Ray. They have three children — 
William F., Mrs. John Sink and George M. Mr. Wilson was the first Trustee of the 
township, and one of the early settlers. He is a Republican. 







